The Spooky Night Episode 3: The Six Men, The Barn, and The Monster

The Storm

Six countrymen left their hometown looking for jobs. It was a long way to the outside world.

They were hit by a storm. Every step they made was harder than the last one. In the end, they could hardly walk. Luckily they found a barn and got into it for the night.

It seemed to be deserted for a long time. High ceiling, strong beams, thick roof, it was odd to find a large barn in the middle of nowhere. It had cracks everywhere but was strong enough to keep the wind outside. They tied the beat-up door with a rope, feeling lucky that they had a place to hide from the horrible storm.

The wind grew stronger, mixed with lightning and thunder. The barn seemed to start shaking. The six men cowered in the corner, gibbering about what’s waiting for them over the long night.

The Monster

Suddenly, as if the storm were able to read their minds, a large sound pounded through the wind, thump, thump, ……. coming to the barn.

Frightened, they watched outside through the cracks in the wall.

In the darkness, a giant figure walked toward them. Through a lightning strike, they could see it was a giant monster. It was as tall as the barn, the white fangs were like two rows of knives, the eyes like wagon wheels. They almost fainted with terror. Before they figured out the next move, the monster already got to the door.

Bang! The door crashed, debris flying inside the barn. The wind gusted in.

The monster didn’t get in. The door frame was too small. It started to shake the barn, the colossal hands would soon bring the building to ruins. No one could survive if the barn collapsed. The six men scattered everywhere, under the stable, behind the haystack, waiting for the end of life.

For a moment it stopped and walked away, turned back, roared to the barn. It seemed it didn’t want to destroy the barn yet. Riding on the howling wind, the cries hit the six men just harder.

Then it stopped roaring, too.

After a long time, the six men peeked outside. It was still there! Noticing the men moving inside, it started to roar again. Meanwhile, it showed a gesture that seemed to be saying, “Get out!”

It made them hide even deeper.

The barn shook more fiercely in the wind. It seemed if the monster didn’t come to smash it, it would be destroyed by the wind.

The monster’s cry grew more and more impatient.

The Bad Guy

The six men gathered inside the barn.

“It won’t leave until we step out and feed it.”

“Monsters are karmic creatures. It has come for retribution. Someone among us must have done something very bad. It’s come for the bad guy.”

Mathew played as a leader among the six men. He said, “Anyone here has done something that is punishable by God? Get you together and step out.”

No one moved.

“Come on! Be a man!” he raised his voice. “Staying here will get us all killed.”

Silence.

“We have to find this guy,” Mathew said. “Let’s toss our hats through the door. If your hat is blown out by the wind, you are the bad guy. You will get out.”

No one liked the idea, but no one had a better one either. They started to toss their hats toward the door.

The first two were hit by the gusty wind, flew back to the barn. The third one, by Julio, made a turn, flew out of the door. The next three were blown back inside.

Julio’s face turned deadly pale. Everyone else stared at him, their faces a mix of anger and relief.

“What have you done? You almost got us killed.”

“Now you will pay the price!”

Julio tried to argue. But no one would listen. The cry of the monster grew louder and more impatient with every passing second. They grabbed him, pushed him through the door.

He struggled to run back. But every time he got back in, it ended up he was pushed further outside.

The last time he decided to give up. He stood still, watching his friends run back into the barn. For the first time, he didn’t run after them. He turned back, looking in the direction of the monster. It was hard to look through. Then he heard the sound, thump, thump…...

He felt a mountain was moving toward him, with one step after another. He saw the giant body, then the face. For a moment, he was wondering that he saw worries and dread in the giant eyes.

Then he heard a huge sound behind him.

The giant barn collapsed.