The sun shone brightly over Sitio Pula, casting its golden light across the fields and trees. It was a calm, peaceful day, almost enough to make Raul and Rosa forget about the terrifying nights that had been haunting them. But a lingering dread shadowed their thoughts, growing heavier as evening approached. They had barely slept, kept awake by the horrific sounds outside, the whispers, the scratching, the “tik-tik-tik” that echoed through the night.
One afternoon, as Raul was tending to some chores outside their small home, he noticed a man standing in the distance, half-hidden by the tall grasses near the edge of their property. The man was watching their house intently, his gaze unblinking and his expression blank. A chill ran down Raul’s spine as he realized that the man was staring directly at him.
Rosa noticed the strange man as well. She stepped outside and joined Raul, her eyes narrowing as she took in the figure across the field. The man looked familiar—someone they had seen around the village, but they couldn’t recall his name or where he lived. He was thin and gaunt, his face pale, with sunken eyes that looked almost lifeless.
“What does he want?” Rosa whispered, clutching Raul’s arm tightly. “Why is he staring at us like that?”
Raul shook his head, watching the man with suspicion and fear. “I don’t know. But he’s giving me a bad feeling.”
The man continued to stand there, motionless, his dark eyes fixed on their home. It was as if he were waiting for something, observing them with a strange, unnatural intensity. Raul felt a sense of unease settle over him, like a dark cloud hanging just above their heads.
As the day wore on, the man eventually walked away, disappearing into the trees. But the memory of his cold, piercing gaze lingered, and Raul couldn’t shake the feeling that he and Rosa had been marked. It was as if the man were connected to the terrifying events that had been haunting them, a harbinger of something darker that was yet to come.
That night, as they sat down to dinner, Raul and Rosa discussed what they had seen.
“I don’t trust him,” Raul said, his voice tense. “There’s something not right about him. I’ve seen him around the village before, but he’s always kept to himself. He never speaks, never interacts with anyone… and the way he looked at us today…”
Rosa shivered, her hands clasped tightly together. “Do you think he’s… involved with the Tiktik?”
Raul’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know. But whoever he is, I don’t want him near our family. We need to be prepared. Whatever is happening… it’s getting worse.”
They decided to take extra precautions. That night, after putting the children to bed, Raul began gathering items that might protect them from the Tiktik. He remembered Nanay Mila’s words—the Tiktik was a creature of darkness, drawn to fear and life. It could be warded off, but only if they stayed vigilant.
Raul spent hours arranging the dried herbs Nanay Mila had given him, hanging them over every window and doorway. He even placed a small bundle of the herbs beneath each of their beds, hoping it would provide some extra protection.
Rosa, meanwhile, gathered candles and blessed salt she had received from the village church. She sprinkled the salt around the perimeter of their home, creating a protective barrier that she prayed would keep the Tiktik at bay. She lit the candles and placed them in each room, their soft glow casting comforting warmth over the house.
As they worked, the atmosphere grew tense, a sense of dread settling over them as they prepared for the coming night. They knew the Tiktik was close, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. They could feel its presence, a dark, oppressive force that seemed to press in on them from all sides.
Finally, when everything was in place, Raul and Rosa sat together in the main room, holding each other’s hands tightly as they waited for the night to fall. The children were asleep, unaware of the danger that lurked just beyond their walls.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the village into darkness. The air grew thick and heavy, a sense of foreboding settling over the house like a shroud.
And then, the sounds began.
Tik-tik-tik.
The noise was soft at first, a faint tapping that seemed to come from somewhere outside. But it grew louder, more insistent, echoing through the night like a heartbeat. Raul and Rosa sat in tense silence, their breaths shallow as they listened to the sound.
Tik-tik-tik.
It was closer now, louder, as if the creature were circling their home, searching for a way in.
Raul held Rosa’s hand tightly, his jaw clenched as he tried to keep his fear at bay. He could feel Rosa’s hand trembling in his grip, her fear as palpable as his own.
And then, they heard it—a low, guttural growl, so close it sounded like it was coming from right outside their door. The growl was followed by a scratching sound, slow and deliberate, like claws dragging across the wood.
Raul’s heart pounded in his chest as he tightened his grip on Rosa’s hand. They had prepared for this, taken every precaution they could think of. But the Tiktik was relentless, a creature that would not be stopped by mere herbs and salt.
As the scratching grew louder, Raul’s mind raced, trying to think of what else he could do. He knew that the Tiktik was testing their defenses, probing for a weakness, a way to get inside. It was a creature of darkness, and it would stop at nothing to get what it wanted.
The scratching continued, growing louder, more frantic, as if the creature were growing frustrated by its inability to enter. Raul and Rosa sat in terrified silence, their hearts pounding as they listened to the sound.
And then, just as suddenly as it had started, the scratching stopped.
The silence that followed was thick and suffocating, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves outside. Raul and Rosa exchanged a tense glance, their breaths shallow as they waited, listening for any sign that the creature was still there.
For a moment, it seemed as though the Tiktik had given up. The air grew still, and the oppressive sense of dread that had filled the room began to ease.
But then, they heard a new sound—a faint, distant tapping, coming from the children’s room.
Raul’s blood ran cold as he realized what was happening. The Tiktik was trying a different approach, going after the most vulnerable members of their family.
Without a second thought, he and Rosa sprang to their feet, rushing to the children’s room. They burst through the door, their eyes scanning the room for any sign of the creature.
But the room was empty, the children still asleep in their beds, their small bodies rising and falling with each peaceful breath.
Raul and Rosa exchanged a relieved glance, their hearts pounding as they took in the sight of their sleeping children. But the relief was short-lived, as a new sound filled the air—a low, menacing growl, coming from just outside the window.
Raul turned to the window, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the darkness. The faint glow of the candles cast a soft light over the room, illuminating the shadows outside.
And then, he saw it—a dark, hulking figure lurking just beyond the window, its eyes glowing with a sinister red light. The creature was crouched low, its body twisted and hunched, its claws digging into the earth as it stared at him with a hunger that chilled him to the bone.
The Tiktik.
Raul felt a surge of fear and anger as he met the creature’s gaze. He knew that it was testing him, trying to break his resolve, to force him to make a mistake.
But he wouldn’t give in. He had his family to protect, and he would do whatever it took to keep them safe.
He took a step forward, his jaw set as he glared at the creature. “You’re not welcome here,” he said, his voice steady despite the fear that gripped his heart. “Leave my family alone.”
The Tiktik let out a low, guttural growl, its red eyes narrowing as it stared back at him. For a moment, it seemed as though it would attack, its claws digging into the earth as it prepared to pounce.
But then, slowly, it backed away, disappearing into the shadows.
Raul and Rosa stood in tense silence, their hearts pounding as they waited, listening for any sign that the creature would return.
But the night remained still, and after what felt like an eternity, they finally allowed themselves to relax.
They had survived another night. But they knew that the Tiktik would return, stronger and more determined than before. It was only a matter of time before it found a way past their defenses, and when it did, they would need to be ready.
As dawn broke over Sitio Pula, Raul and Rosa stood together, their faces etched with determination. They had faced the Tiktik and survived, but the battle was far from over.
They would need to prepare, to gather whatever resources they could find to protect their family. They would need to be strong, to stay vigilant, to face the darkness head-on.
Because they knew that the Tiktik would stop at nothing to claim its prey.
And they were determined to fight until the very end.