We Just Want To Play

This story dated back when I was very little. I was 9 years old and my little sister was still a baby. My family, as well as other relatives went for a holiday at my late grandpa's house in the countryside. It's a typical wooden house in a typical village with fruit trees filling up the yard. There were not enough rooms in the house. So, to be fair, everybody had to sleep like refugees in the big TV hall upstairs. It was just a two-story detached house. That era, all the stairs to the upper floor will always have a big door. Children's rooms are upstairs and parents' are downstairs. During night time, the doors should be properly locked. I don't know for what reason. Maybe to avoid teenage kids from sneaking out at night or something. Or maybe just to avoid something from coming upstairs.

Coming back to the story, I was down with fever that day. So, I couldn't play along with my little cousins. I just lied down and drink barley juice to cool off. That fateful night, I couldn't sleep at all. My temperature went high but I was really freezing. So I got up and sat down quietly trying to warm my palms and feet while watching everybody else sleeping soundly. That was when I realize, I was placed about a few meters away, directly across the doors to the stairs. I just stared at the door blankly, imagining weird things that could happen. I checked the time on my digital watch (an old Casio kid's watch with a light for night view), it was about 2-3 am. For about 20 minutes, I laid down and trying to go back to sleep.

Then I heard loud noises coming from downstairs. It sounded like a bunch of old ladies cooking noisily and talking loudly in the kitchen. When I opened my eyes, the sound stopped. I had a weird goosebumps so suddenly. That was when I heard heavy footsteps climbing up the stairs. I turned my head to look at the door. Expecting my uncles or aunts or anyone I know to open the door. One by one until one step left for the person to open the door... I just waited. Then, nothing happened. For about a moment later, I drifted back to sleep after trying to sooth myself that it was just the side effect of my fever. Then, I heard a loud bang. I was so freaking shocked! I thought somebody was at the door and was too drowsy to open the door gently. I opened my eyes slowly... Looking at the door, it was still closed. And to my horror, the heavy footsteps continued walking towards...me.

I couldn't move. I barely could breathe. I couldn't even close my eyes. As the step getting closer and closer, I was nearly fainting and only one step left to get to me, the horror was gone. And I could breathe again. I got up straight. Sweating all over my body and fell down on my pillow. Next thing I remember, it was already bright day and everyone has started packing for a picnic. I followed them even though I was supposed to stay in bed and rest. My fever got worse but I didn't want to stay in that house.

I told my mom about that and cried on her shoulder. I was so scared. My mom said that it's an old house. Of course it made weird noises. I thought she didn't believe me. But when we left that house, she told me that I should never get up, even if I woke up, alone at night in that house. That's when they're all awake, she said. Not knowing what she really meant.

After about 10 years or so, I brought this topic back. Repeating every event that happened to me. She said long time ago, our ancestors seek protection for their future generation. But my late grandpa didn't want it. So this "guardian" is looking for a blood that it could hold on to. Until today, I still hear stories from my cousins, my cousin's children, about how they were disturbed. This spirit only seek children. It accompanies them in the form of an old lady with long gray hair. But when the children gets bigger, they can't see them anymore but only feel its presence. I thank God that at least I wasn't disturbed when I was a lot smaller and didn't get to see it. But one of my cousin's toddler, a 4 year old boy, had actually drew a picture of 'her'. He said 'she' likes to play games. If he doesn't want to, she'll follow him everywhere and make scary faces. But she has a daughter whom she wouldn't let him draw or even talk about.

My fingers are getting colder as I'm writing this story. It's the scariest thing that runs in my family. But we only seek the real protection from the Almighty. Yes... I became pretty religious after that.

Crazy, huh?