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TICK-TOCK . . .
TICK-TOCK . . .
The relentless sound of the clock, ensconced in the shadowy corner of my dimly lit room, echoed like a sinister heartbeat. Each tick reverberated through the silence, amplifying the oppressive atmosphere that enveloped me. Darkness draped itself around the walls like a suffocating shroud, thick with the whisper of unspeakable fears lurking just beyond the edge of light.
Outside, the wind howled with an eerie hunger, slipping through the cracked window like a spectral hand, its chilling breath weaving a dreadful lullaby that wrapped around me, a soothing melody twisted with menace. The very air shimmered with unease, as if the night itself held its breath, waiting for something—something I couldn’t quite name—to emerge from the shadows. In that moment, I was a child adrift in a sea of palpable dread, heart racing against the tide of impending doom that painted the edges of my imagination with darkness.
I hugged my knees, resting my chin just below my kneecaps, as fear began to swirl in my chest. It felt like an unquenchable fire, a demon I couldn’t vanquish, a menace I couldn’t control. Despite my mother's advice to be brave, the barriers I had erected around me felt flimsy against the lurking shadows behind the veil of darkness that enveloped me. I could sense their presence, and no amount of courage could push them away.
He was just outside.
I knew it.
He had finished with my mother and now lurked outside my room, like the creep he was. I knew he was dangerous, too strong for me to confront. My small hands felt helpless, and who would believe me if I called the police? When I confided in my teacher, she dismissed my fears, admonishing me not to destroy the reputation of Mayor Ignacio M. Ramos. To the world, he was a God, untouchable and blameless, a figure of authority who could never mean harm.
When I turned eight, he began looking at me with an intensity that felt unsettling, as if I were a prized dish he couldn't resist. I often caught him glancing at my body with an unsettling desire, but I tried to brush it off, convincing myself it was just a trick of the light. As long as he kept his distance, I told myself I’d be fine. But when he started creeping into my room at night, standing by my bed and watching me sleep, fear finally took hold.
The door creaked open, and a jolt of fear shot through me. He knew I was awake, yet he still chose to invade my space. Shadows retreated as he stepped inside, the dim light spilling in from the hallway, transforming my dark room into an eerie canvas of half-lit terror.
“S—sir . . .” I whispered, and tears started to gather at the side of my eyes.
“Shh…” He whispered as he slipped inside. “We wouldn’t want to wake your mother; she’s had a long day after her business trip, right?”
“A—ano pong ginagawa niyo rito?” I grabbed the quilt, slowly covering my body with it.
“You are slowly turning just like your mother. Fresh and young . . .” He tried to hold my face, but I immediately turned my face away before he could do so.
