My heart raced as he stepped closer and closer. It took all my effort not to get up and run. With every step the creature took it got colder and colder. Now that I think about it, this place isn't that warm for a desert. I immediately stopped questioning that, deciding now was definitely not the time. Sand kicked up around the creature, some circling him like planets orbiting a star. The creature didn't appear to be looking for anyone, but seemed to know we were hiding. He was walking perfectly straight and quickly, with a clear goal in his mind.
Eventually the creature stopped in the center of the town, near where we were hiding. He spun around for a second and then said something.
"Come out, little ones, if you wish to be freed. I don't feel like hunting today."
He spoke as if he was an simply an elegant person who somehow found themselves in a game of hide and seek, but his voice was low and cold and sent shivers down my spine. I crawled backward a little bit, hiding my face.
"Anybody willing to come out? I'm not leaving until someone does." The creature spoke loudly, sounding slightly annoyed, but still terrifying. I didn't get it, did he know he was the awfully scariest thing I remember seeing? He spoke as if he was just one of us.
And then, just as the creature turned around, an old lady stepped from behind a wall.
"GRANDMA NO!" Someone cried.
"Oh, hello there." The creature whispered quite loudly as he walked toward the lady.
"Why? Why are you here? What is wrong with you! Leave these people alo-" The lady cut off suddenly, staring wide-eyed at the creature, who was now meters from her.
The lady started screaming. Sand started to pile up around her, and then lifted her into the air like an arm, dangling her upside-down. She was screaming like crazy now. The sand squeezed her and started to carry her toward the exit, creature close behind. The lady looked tortured. Her eyes were darting around as if she was seeing things that weren't there. It was an awful sight.
And then a little girl, who appeared to be the lady's granddaughter, stepped out, running to the creature, trying to save her grandma. Sand lifted her up as well. In no time she was screaming, eyes darting around.
I don't know what I was thinking...
Before I knew it I was dashing toward them, not caring about my exhaustion. The creature stopped and stared at me. It didn't even bother to stop me until I was a meter away, and even then it just stepped out of the way. Only when I tripped did sand start to lift me. As I was carried, everything started to go black. The last thing I heard was my friend shouting "YOU IDIOT!" Ah, tour guide, you will always be remembered.
