"Mother, I'm going off to market. You must wait for me inside the house. Do not come out unless I return and most importantly... You mustn't open the door for anyone. Mother, do you understand me?" A young girl said to her old mother.
The lady was sitting on an old wooden arm-chair, her hair white and unkept. She kept staring at one spot, her pupils were white.
Hearing her daughter's worried tone, the old lady smiled faintly. "You always say these things to me whenever you are leaving the house, my child, Of course, I know.... Monsters are everywhere and I must not open the door until you return. And before I open the door, I must hear you knock three times. Unless that, I won't open the door for anyone." She sighed. "Of course, Rain. I won't forget."
Rain could say she was relieved after her mother had recited what she'd always tell her before stepping out of the house.
Rain and her mother lived in a remote village. They had once lived in the City but things went bad after she was born. Her father was suddenly killed— they had found his body on the road on a broad daylight with bizarre wound marks all over his body. Upon investigation, they found out that it was done by some wild creatures. How and why... No one knew.
Ever since then, things became bad for the mother and child. The mother had to leave the City and return to her maternal home which is where they are living now. She began a small farm job so she could take care of her child but things were difficult for her as people said she killed her husband. What's worst, she ended becoming blind after being stung by a wild insect. It started with one eye, after years of not getting it treated, the other eye soon got infected, leading to her total blindness.
By then, Rain had grown up a little so she began to help her mother. Doing the farm works like planting, harvesting, and then going to the market to sell them. She was lucky to be loved by the villagers because of her unique features.
She was born with blue eyes that made her extremely beautiful. With her frail looks, no one would believe that she was strong and capable of doing hard works.
Today was just one of those usual days where she would wake up as early as five in the morning, go to the farm, and begIn to plug fruits or harvest foods. After that, she would then carry them to the market and sell... The money gotten, she would either buy the things they don't have at home or save it for future use.
But recently, they had been cases of strange monsters attacking the villagers, at night and even during the daytime. Funny enough, these monsters were very intelligent, they are capable of mimicking human voices, as well as taking their shapes. Which is why Rain was sternly reminding her mother to be careful and wait for her to return.
"Mother, I'm off already!" She yelled outside.
"Be back before noon, Rain," her mother replied.
"I will, mom. Bye!"
Rain pulled the cart and left. She seemed happy as she sang her favorite song.
~little girl by the river, staring beyond the horizon
joy, joy, joy... the little girl... La li la... la li la
Little girl by the fire, watching the stars far above the sky
Sing, sing, sing... the little girl... La li la ... La li la~
She continued singing as she made her to the big market which was in the next village. The neighboring village wasn't far, only a bit far for Rain who had no means of transportation. Still, she had never for once complained about it. She was happy in everything she did.
Soon, she got to the market, the place was bustling with activity — men and women going about selling their things, children, running around the streets, singing or screaming happily. Store owners yelled out to buyers to come buy from them — everyone seemed happy.
One lady sighted Rain from afar and called out to her. "Little Rainy, come over here! I have been waiting for you!"
Hearing her name called, Rain smiled and made her way to the lady — she knew the lady, of course.
"Madam Sara, good day," she greeted.
"Good day to you, Rainy, what did you bring for us today?" The lady asked and began to go through what Rain was carrying in the cart.
"Fruits," Rain replied.
"That's lovely. How's your mother doing by the way?"
"She's fine."
"That's good. Let's get down to business so you will be able to return before noon."
Madam Sara and Rain began arranging the fruits carefully on a mat. The scent of ripe mangoes and freshly plucked guavas filled the air. Sara picked one of the fruits, inspected it, and nodded in satisfaction.
"These are fresh," she said, smiling. "You always bring the best, Rainy. How much for the basket?"
Rain wiped a bit of sweat from her forehead and answered softly, "Three copper coins, Madam Sara."
"Three? You're too kind," the woman said with a laugh and handed her the coins. "You should raise your price one of these days, child. The city merchants would pay double for these."
Rain smiled faintly, shaking her head. "It's enough. Mother always says greed brings bad luck."
Sara chuckled, "Your mother's a wise woman. Send her my greetings."
"I will," Rain said, bowing slightly before loading her now half-empty cart.
She spent the next few hours selling the rest of her fruits. Most villagers adored her, often buying more than they needed just to help. When the sun rose higher, painting the streets in gold, Rain knew it was time to head back home. She bought a few supplies — flour, some salt, and dried meat — and packed them neatly in her basket.
"Be safe, Rainy!" one of the women called out as she began to leave.
"I will!" Rain waved with her usual bright smile.
She hummed her little song again as she pushed the cart along the dirt road leading to her village. Birds chirped in the distance, and for a while, everything felt peaceful. But as she drew closer, something felt… wrong.
The forest around the path was too quiet. No crickets, no rustling leaves, not even the wind.
Rain stopped. Her hands tightened around the wooden handle of her cart.
"Strange…" she whispered.
She continued walking, a little faster now. The usual smell of burning firewood and evening meals wasn't in the air. Instead, the scent of smoke — thick, burnt — reached her nose.
Her heart skipped.
"No…"
She pushed the cart faster, her legs trembling as she broke into a run. The sound of her own footsteps echoed unnaturally loud against the silence.
When she reached the edge of the village, she froze.
The houses were still — doors wide open, roofs half-burned. Smoke coiled lazily from broken walls. The once cheerful laughter that always filled the streets was gone. The air felt heavy… suffocating.
Her cart slipped from her hands, the contents spilling onto the ground.
"Mother…" she whispered, voice trembling.
Then she ran.
Her bare feet splashed through puddles of blood she hadn't seen until it was too late. She stumbled, almost fell, and when she looked down — her stomach turned.
It was a body.
A man she knew — the blacksmith's son. His eyes were open, staring at the sky, his throat torn apart as if by claws.
Rain gasped and staggered backward. "No… no, no—"
She began running again, tears blurring her vision. Each step revealed more horror — limbs, blood, shredded clothes. The smell of death grew stronger with every turn.
Her song — the one she'd been singing all morning echoed faintly in her head, mocking her now.
She choked back a sob.
"Mother! Where are you?!" she screamed, her voice cracking.
The silence that answered her was worse than any monster's growl.
She turned a corner — and stopped at her little house.
There, beside the old wooden armchair on their porch, lay her mother. The door behind her was broken open. Her white hair was matted with blood, and her wrinkled hand still gripped the handle of the chair as if she had tried to stand one last time.
Rain's legs gave way beneath her. She fell to her knees beside the old woman, trembling.
"Mother…" she whispered, her voice barely a breath.
Her fingers touched her mother's cheek, it was cold and lifeless.
Her heart shattered. The sound that tore from her chest was not a cry but a scream — one that pierced the heavy silence and echoed through the dead village.
Then, faintly, she heard it — a footstep behind her.
It was slow and heavy, not belonging to a human.
Rain froze.
Her heart pounded violently as she slowly turned around…