The Man's voice

For the umpteenth time, I went to check the locks on the door to ensure it was in place. The ticking of the clock synchronized with the jingle of the church bells. It was a few minutes to midnight, all I had to do was make it to midnight and everything would end.

I was on my fifth cup of coffee yet I was still restless. I knew I mustn't fall asleep so I kept myself busy with various things. The house was so bright due to the excess Christmas lights I had installed earlier. In a bid to keep myself awake, I sang along to every hymn sung by the choir. The plan was to keep my blood running but not too much so that I get exhausted and crash.

"I mustn't fall asleep" I chanted

I thought about attending the carol hosted by the church down the street. It was Christmas Eve and the street was busy. A perfect situation to keep me awake, only I was afraid to leave the house.

My life wasn't this chaotic until I took something I shouldn't have taken. Even after six days of torment, regret was the last thing I felt.

"Just one more night and I would have the world at my feet" I whispered

I felt the wave of exhaustion flow through me so I sat down to clear my head. I stared at the object of my torment and signed.

It all began a week ago when I discovered that the folktale my mother used to tell me as a kid was real. My life was at its wit's end and I had given up when I met the Strange Man.

I had helped him in his hour of need and in appreciation of my kind gesture, he said he would grant my one wish.

I wished for a car when he wouldn't take no for an answer but I received the shock of my life when a car mysteriously appeared.

It was at that moment everything clicked. He was exactly how my mother described him in her tale.

"As pale as a ghost was his skin

As dark as coal was his eyes

Though he appears as a child, there is no greater man than him

The lamp that guides his way holds all the mystery of life and beyond."

Standing before me was the infamous Kakodämon, a creature who held all my wishes. I knew I needed to act immediately so I did. I pounced on him and smashed his head with a stone.

An opportunity to change my life was presented before me and I took it. His lamp was all I needed so I took it after killing him. The second part of my mother's tale was my escape.

"Whosoever lits the lamp holds the world

His wishes and desires the force obey

For seven days his soul be plagued

As the fire burns still

But as the eight quenches the fire

His soul shall be free

Never to hear the cries of the Kakodämon."

Today was the seventh day and all I needed was to make it to midnight. What Mother's tale had left out was that my soul would be plagued by the cries of the Kakodämon in the real world and the dream world.

The countdown began immediately after I lit up the lamp. By day, the loud piercing cries of the Kakodämon made me run mad. It made my ears bleed and my headache. By night I was tormented by a recurring dream.

The Kakodämon would chase me across an empty field and when he caught up with me, he would maul me to death with a stone.

"Something is different," I thought to myself

The night was bright but the moon was absent. I looked around for the source of light and found an enormous version of the Demon's lamp. The piercing cry could also be heard, only this time it was accompanied by the wail of others

"No! I need to wake up" I screamed

I was rooted to my spot and couldn't move. I watched the Kakodämon walk up to me with a stone in his hand.

"Please, spare me." I pleaded

"You can have your lantern back, I promise to give it back"

My pleas fell on deaf ears and my screams were the only sound that echoed.

Narrator's voice

The Demon stood over the man's body with a grin on his face. As the hands of the clock raced to hit the midnight mark, the man could be seen taking his last breath.

He was beaten beyond recognition. His skull was broken and the crumbs of his brain were scattered all over.

As the bell went off at midnight, the final part of the tale which was hidden from man was told.

"Whosoever lits the lamp holds the world

His wishes and desires the force obey

For seven days his soul be plagued

As the fire burns still

But as the eight quenches the fire

His soul shall be free

Never to hear the cries of

the Kakodämon.

For he shall become the demon

As the man before him did."

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