1 What am I?

The chilly night wind was blowing my hair and giving me shrills. It would have been wise if I had worn something heavy but then again it would have only caused trouble when fighting. The lane was deserted. The smell of sewage, blood and rubbish was making me want to vomit. I rolled my sleeves to looked at the time, it showed 2:15 pm by my watch.

I sighed. 'How long do we have to wait for them to appear?'

I looked ahead, Lee was already on guard with his sword pointed at the direction we all are looking at since we appeared here in the Lani Street.

I rubbed my arms and then slowly took out the pistol which was as cold as the fear which I was hiding beneath my skin. I am not too confident with what I do, but I have no other option. This is the only way I can survive and live through my curse.

"Hoong", I whispered. "How long do we have to wait, my body is almost numb. Are you sure...." I asked the guy who was few steps away from where I was standing with his riffle.

"Did we ask you to join us? It was you all the time, who wanted to be a part of all this charade. Now keep you mouth shut. One little carelessness and we would all end up as corpses. So you better focus on the task at hand", replied Hoong rather harshly.

This was nothing new to me, Hoong was the coldest one amongst us, with a sharp tongue he could kill people right on spot. But he was different to me. Never had he showed me his kind side. From the very day I turned up in Elocossa House, Hoong has treated me harshly. Was it because I was a stranger. But why would I be? I was definitely one of them . That is why Lee took me in, right? I ask this question everyday to myself.

Other than Hoong and Lee, Ruby and Jung are also a part of the Elocossa house. All of the members are related to each other. Jung and Hoong are fraternal twin brothers but are polar opposite in their attitude as well as in their looks. Sometimes I ask myself, how can they be twins? And Ruby is their sister, 4 years younger to them. She is really a kind woman who warmed up to me from day one. Lee is their Uncle. Calling him Uncle is a real understatement as, he looks quite young and not to forget I find him really attractive. Together they are a weird lot. And how I became a part of their family, well that's a story of another day.

Today Hoong and Lee came with me on patrol. It was a rule of the house that everyday three people would be allotted to patrol through the streets. It was always me and the boys as Ruby never stepped out.

As I was busy in my thoughts, I heard a sudden screech. It was so loud that any sane person would be already deaf by now.

I looked at the direction the sound came from.

"Lee, I am going there, you stay here on guard", Hoong shouted behind as he disappeared into the night from where the sound came.

I was trembling in fear and gripped my pistol more tightly. Everything was quiet, not a sound could be heard. Few minutes passed but still there was no sign of Hoong. I started to get really worried about him. Still on my guard with my pistol held in front, I walked up to Lee who was standing by the corner of the alley, also waiting for Hoong.

"Lee, I think I should go and see, what is taking him so long. I am, really scared, and hoping noting happens to him."

"You stay here, I will follow him. None of us are sure, what danger is lurking out there. Don't worry, stay on guard. I will be back in a minute."

Lee softly patted on my shoulder and then sped towards the way Hoong went.

I started taking rounds rather cautiously and prayed to God for their safety.

Suddenly, my eyes caught in the direction a mist was forming. It was so dense that I could make out nothing. Suddenly, the mist got cleared and their stepped not one but six ghouls.

I grew white in fear. They stated walking towards me. Neither was I able to take a step back, nor was able to pull out the gun which would kill them right away. But it was my first time dealing with six ghouls without anyone beside me. Fear made me loose my voice, no voice came out as I wanted to scream and wanted Lee and Hoong, or anyone by my side.

Out of a sudden I remember the artificial sunlight torch that Ruby gave me last year. I quickly took it out and shone the torch towards them.

The ghouls started screaming, and I started taking backward steps, my torch still lit towards them. Suddenly a ghoul came and leaped on me. I fell on the ground with a loud thud and taking the opportunity it snatched the torch away from me, causing a deep scar in my arm.

I kicked it and it flew right across and landed on a dumpster with a loud thud.

The joy of winning overwhelmed me but I was too quick to celebrate. The other five ghouls sped towards me. I hugged myself tight and screamed out with all my mind.

"Ahhhhh...Lee....help me!"

All the ghouls jumped on me and I could feel jolts of pain in my neck, arm and back and blood started streaming out. Pain, fear, humiliation, anger revenge made my blood boil. Suddenly, a light emitted from my right wrist and I found a new strength in me. I pushed all the ghouls together and stated shooting them one my one. Not a bullet missed the aim.

I was awed by my newly found strength. But something in me said, it was there all the time, waiting for me to take charge.

As I killed the last ghoul with my bullet, I could feel a sharp pain shooting in my head. Darkness crept all around and before I could get hold of the situation everything became black.