MONSTER'S TATTOO

My name is Artie. I lived with my family, mom and my dad, in the jungle. We had no neighbors but only listening to the sweet melodious voices of the singing birds from the jungle. I grew up from the house and never moved out.

My parents used to tell me I was the only reason for their happiness so I made sure to keep them smiling.

I was a type of girl who liked watching fantasies so I always wished to make the impossible possible.

One day on my birthday, dad asked me to make a wish. I just told them I wanted a tattoo on my thigh instead. My mom scolded me for asking such a stupid thing on my day but it's what I wanted.

Few weeks after my birthday, I was twenty four years by then. My mom had gone to visit her parents and my father too wasn't at home so I decided to break the promise I made to them to not move out of the house. Slowly but steadily, I broke out of our house and entered the thick Forest. It was very dark in there but I was so excited as it was my first time to step out of the house. I liked adventure though I wasn't able to leave the house before.

I was so happy but a little scared when I saw many wild animals in there. "Wow! It's so beautiful and cool here!" I breathed. The animals seemed friendly as they didn't try to feed on me. I was scared of them at first but later I realized they were not interested in feeding on me. I then relaxed. After walking a long way, I decided to rest under the big tree for fresh air.

As I was laying down there, a bat came from nowhere and appeared before me. It sounded so sweet that I only wished it not to end.

It was singing a "hi hi hi" song and I liked it for some reasons.

After having enough rest, I went back home. Still my parents were not there yet. I decided to sleep for a while.

The moment I closed my eyes, I started recalling how the bat sang for me a nice song in the sweetest voice I have ever heard all my life.

I wished to go back but I knew my parents would come back home anytime then I stayed.

My mother didn't come back home, only dad returned and then went back the next morning. It was a great opportunity for me to go back to the jungle. I made my house chores and went. This time I went directly to the big tree but unfortunately my friend Bat was not there. Maybe it had gone somewhere else. I started looking for it in the dark Forest but never found it. I then relaxed under the fig tree, started crying for wasting my time in looking for it.

While I was still crying, I felt like someone was nearby. I moved my eyes around but never seen anyone. I got scared but had no where to run to. I prepared myself for whatever comes to me. I started shivering in fear.

A strong wind blew suddenly and just like that, my friend Bat appeared from nowhere. She was still singing the same song "hi hi hi".

I got to know that it was also aware that I liked its way of singing.

Strangely, all my fear disappeared and I felt safe with him around me.

I kept visiting the jungle to meet my friend Bat there. We became friends and that's when I told him about my life.

From then, I started walking in the jungle freely not fearing anything because I knew my friend would be there to save me in case of any danger in there.

I started to feel some connection with the bat. Maybe I was going crazy but I didn't care. Whatever it was, I liked it because I had found a friend to talk and share my thoughts with. I liked my friend so much.

Some months later, I told my friend about my wish to have a tattoo on my thigh and he told me not to worry about it so much. That every wish of mine would be fulfilled with him by my side.

Laying down on my pillow without feeling any pain, I fell in a deep sleep. The very deep sleep that seemed like forever. On waking up, I felt much pain in my back. Something felt like a huge wound on my back, I rushed to the mirror to check what it was that was paining me so much. To find out, it was a bat tattoo. I didn't cry instead I felt so happy.

I ran into the jungle to share the good news with my friend. Unfortunately he wasn't there. I felt nothing but disappointmentat the moment before I went back home to find my mom still asleep. Heaving a sigh of relief,I tiptoed not to wake her up little did I know she was already up, she was even in my room.

Fortunately she didn't see the pool of blood that was on my bed.

"Where were you this early morning?" Mom asked.

"I was just outside walking in the dew." I lied

"Don't complain to me when you get cold."she was good at scolding me.

"I promise I won't complain." I smiled and left her in the living room, I was feeling uncomfortable because of the pain on my back.

I went to my room and started talking alone like a crazy girl.

I wondered why my friend didn't come to meet me in the jungle. I cried for some time and then went out to start a new day.

Life seemed normal during the day but things changed at night.

When I entered my room to sleep in the evening, I felt like someone else was in my room. I could feel someone's presence, his breathe and a male fragrance. "Someone is in here."I thought inwardly.

Fear covered me up and I feared to move out and call mother.

Dad was not at home yet. I checked around my room and even checked under the bed but I saw nothing, then I decided to sleep with the lights on.

That night, I met my friend Bat in my dreams. He told me he is the one who put that tattoo on my back. He told me it's not a mere tattoo. It's a magical one that it will control me and sometimes it will make decisions for me.

I woke up shivering and found my mom sitting next to me on my bed. I thought maybe she has heard my conversation with my friend Bat about the tattoo on my back. I stared at her with my eyes widely open waiting for her to say something about the tattoo but she showed me she didn't know anything about it. Meaning she hasn't heard anything.

Hiding a big wound is something not easy. I could fake a smile yet I was burning in my back.

"Mother,why are you here?" I asked after a long wait for her to say anything.

"Nothing big dear, am here to spend some time with my daughter, that's all." She said.

She was a mother after all, she has the right to spend time with her daughter but to me it wasn't the right time. I was not in the mood. I was already stressed out and worried because of what my friend Bat had told me in the dream. I was still terrified but wanted to pretend to be fine before mother. Her spending time with me would create a room for suspicion so I had to find an excuse before anything wrong happens, but what?

"Mother, let's spend more time together tomorrow. I still want to sleep please."I begged.

"It's alright dear, I came here just to check on you since I have heard you screaming but I see you are okay, right?" Said mother.

"Did I scream?"I asked.

"Yes, so loud too."

"What! Did I say anything else out loud?" I was curious to know.

"No dear, you just screamed. I will leave now. Sleep tight darling." She said and left.

"Thank goodness. That was really close."

I thought it was necessary to close the door to my bedroom this time otherwise I would be in great trouble if I happen to dream again.

I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes, still thinking about the dream and didn't realize when sleep took me off.

I wanted to wake up so late but I felt like something inside me was forcing me to wake up so early and go to the jungle, but why so?

Without knowing, I found myself in the jungle eating figs. They tasted so good to me. After there I went back home and found my mom still asleep, that might have been my lucky day, I thought.

I then went back to my room and slept again.

I got a dream again but this time it wasn't about my friend Bat, someone else voice was thanking me for feeding him. I wondered who could it be that I have fed this early morning.

I didn't stress myself that much about this dream. I thought it was a mere dream.

After waking up, all my heart and mind were thinking about my friend. What could have stopped him from meeting me the other day. Why would he give me a tattoo and just left me like that.

"It's all my fault. How could I befriend a bat." I cursed myself.

When my mother called me for breakfast, i didn't refuse but I could feel the meals smelling so awful to me. I sensed that something was wrong with me, my mother always prepared the best meals with the most delicious aroma ever.

"Is it possible that the magical tattoo is trying to control me?" I asked myself." No please friend, this can't be happening to me. Don't let your tattoo control me, do something and stop this please." I cried out in my thoughts.

I then sat down at the table for meals. This time I was going to force myself to eat something for Mom not to suspect anything. I didn't want to worry her.

A month elapsed and my wound got healed. This time the tattoo became so visible on my back. I knew any slight mistake my family would know about this.

The second day in the second month with my tattoo, my father returned home. We were happy to see him again but unfortunately he found me outside the house with my mom waiting for him.

He wasn't happy about that, he never wanted me to move out of the house. He immediately dropped whatever he had in the hands and started to scold me. All the smile I had on my face faded right away. I then ran to my room and started crying.

As I was crying, the same familiar voice asked me to stop crying that he doesn't like it to see me cry. It was my friend Bat's.

I immediately wiped down my tears and started looking around for him. He wasn't in the room.

"Where could you be my dearest friend. I miss you a lot. You are the only one who understands me much. I know you are very close to me though I can't figure out where exactly. Please show yourself to me, just for one minute.

After a second I fell asleep and saw him in a dream. He was waving at me from a distance. I could see he didn't want to come to me, but why? What did I do to deserve this from him.

When I walked towards him, he walked backwards too. I tried to run to him but he ran back too. I got confused and stopped somewhere wondering why is he doing this to me, his best friend.

"Maybe he never felt comfortable with me. Maybe he never considered me as a friend." A lot of questions ran through my mind and then woke up from the dream.

"This is strange. I won't see you physically anymore? Won't I meet you if not in dreams? What really happened please friend? I don't think I have given you a reason to hate me. I really can't believe this. I considered you my best friend in just in day but it seems you don't care about my emotions. Why can't you see that you're hurting me. Can't you see it? Anyway, but why am I even mumbling all this when you are not even bothered. I promise that one day you'll realize how special I wanted to make you in my life. I guess I have to forget about you since you've already done the same."I talked to myself like a crazy girl.

All I wanted was to see him and we spend time together chatting and having fun like how we used to do but no, this wasn't happening.

Still wondering, I heard someone knocking on the door. It was dad he had followed me. Maybe he wanted to scold me again. I opened the door and then he came inside.

" I am sorry my dear daughter. You know I didn't mean to hurt you this much but you have made me so mad. How could you step out of the house.

You see my intentions are pure for you. I only wish you the best this world could provide. I am your father, protecting you from any danger is my responsibility. Please try to understand your father.

When your mother was pregnant with you, she went into the jungle and met a stranger woman who told her that she will give birth to a beautiful girl child and that that child will get married to a monster. The son of the devil (the king of the jungle).

We had planned to do something to you but the happiness you brought to us was and still is incredible so we decided to raise you and not letting you step out of the house in order not to meet with the devil's son anywhere.

And today when I found you outside, I couldn't control my anger but I know you are innocent since you didn't know why we are not letting you move outside the house.

You are now 21 years old. You can make decisions for yourself so that's why I have shared this with you so that you can always think about it as you are going to take any decisions." He said while crying.

At first I behaved like I was not listening to him but when he mentioned about the stranger woman's words to my mom, I became so attentive to get it all well. It was really scaring but I wondered why I didn't get scared at all.

I thought that maybe he was trying to scare me so I can stop moving out of the house.

But why would he keep me inside like this if all this is a lie? I kept asking myself after he has left my room.

A familiar voice whispered in my that whatever dad said is true.

" How do you know that?" I asked as if I was taking to someone yet I was the only one in the room. I kept quiet for a moment waiting for the voice of the unknown person to reply to me but it never did. I was getting used to this voice and I wasn't scared of it anymore but I wondered whose voice it is.

I wanted to find out but from where since I was kept inside all the time. I couldn't share with my mom what was bothering me since she knew nothing about my tattoo and how I got it. I knew she wouldn't keep it a secret if I told her about it. She would scold me and then tell Dad about it which would mean trouble for me.

Ignoring this voice, I went out of my room. I needed to find answers from my mom. I knew if all this is true, she will tell me everything while crying and she won't cry if it's all made-up stories.

"You look worried dear, what's the matter?" Mom asked me after seeing me panicking.

"I need to know why you are keeping me inside the house like a prisoner mother. Am I not like other people? Why are you doing this to me?" I asked sounding soft and hurt.

This left mother with no other choice but to tell me everything. I wasn't surprised when she told me the same story. So that's when I believed dad's words.

They were doing everything to protect me and as for me I kept questioning them every time and again. I needed to apologise.

In the evening at the dinner table after our meals, I got a strange feeling. Something was forcing me to say sorry to my parents, "what could it be?"I wondered. So there I started.

"Dad, Mom, am very sorry for being a bad daughter to both of you. I kept questioning your intentions for keeping me inside this house like a prisoner. I didn't know you were doing all this to save me from meeting with the devil's son. You are the best parents one could ever ask for in this whole universe. I love you so much." I said as tears rolled down my eyes.

"Don't blame yourself my darling daughter. We are the ones to be blamed for this. We kept the truth from you thinking you would be shattered after hearing this scaring news. We are so sorry please. Forgive us if you can."said both mom and dad.

After sometime we went to our bedrooms to sleep.

Dreaming had become my daily life. That night in my dreams I again met with my friend Bat. This time he wasn't alone, he was with a very tall and giant old man who had red eyes that were glowing in the dark. They were both coming to me.

I tried to run from them but it wasn't helping me at all since these guys could flutter in the wind and then land in front of me.

"What are you doing please friend Bat. Who is this strange person you are with and why are you chasing me like this. You know am now scared of both of you. I can't believe you want to let your friend feed on me." I cried.

Opening my eyes, I was on my bed.

"Oh thank God it's just a dream."I comforted myself but I was still so terrified about the dream.

I forced myself to sleep again but couldn't find sleep. Maybe I have started to fear falling asleep again.

"Am sorry to say this, but that wasn't just a dream. It's your reality which is looking for you. You can't run any longer. You have to accept your destiny and welcome it willingly my dear. That's all I can share with you right now. I will go."the familiar voice said to me interrupting my thoughts.

"Destiny? Reality? What are you trying to tell me." I asked the voice forgetting that it would never respond to my silly questions.

Everytime I asked, it just ignored me. It was my stupidity to think it was going to reply to me this time.

Soon I fell asleep again. This time I slept peacefully till morning but whenever I recalled about the dream I had, I could feel extremely worried and scared.

For a moment I thought of telling my mom what was going on with my life. But I would imagine how she would scold me and then thought what would happen if father gets to know about this, due to much fear I continued to keep it with me. I didn't want to get them worried. I thought this would end soon but this wasn't the case instead it was the beginning.

All seemed to be going well before the day I came to my room wrapped in a towel after a shower in the morning. Unfortunately I had left the door to my room open so my mom had entered in.

I was almost half-naked because I had only covered the lower part of my body.

I wasn't aware that my mom was in my room, the moment I entered, she saw the tattoo on my back and screamed surprised.

"Wh-what happened to your back? What's that I have just seen?" She asked standing up and coming closer to me.

I tried to turn around and hide my back but it was too late to do anything. I started to panick because I knew trouble has come my way and I didn't noticed that I had started crying already.

"How did you get this on your back?" Mom asked with a harsh voice.

I didn't know or have what to say. I just shook my head.

"What do you mean by that?" She was really angry with me. But why? I wondered.

"I don't know how I got this mother, trust me please." I cried when I noticed she was thinking of sharing this with Dad.

"I have to tell your dad about this. This is impossible and I can't believe you in this." She said while leaving my room.

My heart was bouncing inside my chest instead of beating. For a moment I felt so much pain in my back, the tattoo was itching so much. Maybe it has just seen how mother scolded me for it's sake.

" Unbelievable! This is a tattoo, it doesn't have ears to hear anything." I kept questioning myself as I replied to myself as well.

I ran to my mirror to check on it, it was glowing without producing flames. I couldn't believe my eyes so I went back to my washroom where there are two mirrors in opposite sides. Still I saw that my tattoo was glowing.

Shock put me down on the floor. I wasn't able to think right but my mind reminded me I was still half-naked so I went back to my room to dress up.

After putting on my trouser, Mom came in and told me to cover my breasts that dad is coming inside.

I felt like I had fainted but I was still well standing before my mom, after a moment,dad entered in with an angry face. I knew he has come to finish me.

"Show me your back right now." He commanded.

I immediately turned around but still with my back covered with my towel. I was imagining how rough he would be to me after seeing it but I had no other choice but to show him my back.

I closed my eyes and then removed the towel on my back. I stood there waiting for slaps to hit my face.

"How is this possible? I saw the tattoo in form of a bat on her back a few minutes ago. I can't believe it's gone." Mom's words interrupted me from my waiting.

"What are you saying. Have you lost it?" Dad asking mother.

This was hurting because I knew mother was telling the truth but I had no choice but to defend myself as well by denying the truth.

"I swear I saw it. Do you think am a crazy woman to imagine things here." My mom tried to stick to her words but dad didn't listen as he hasn't found the tattoo on my back.

I myself was wondering how this happened. I guessed my mom was also finding it strange and hard to swallow.

After father has left, mom asked me again about what has just happened. I told her I knew I had a tattoo on my back but I didn't know how I got it and where it has just disappeared to and why.

When my mom left, I went to witness by myself. For sure the tattoo wasn't there. Something was scaring here.

Still wondering how all this happened, I fell asleep and got into a dream. I saw my friend Bat. He was alone this time.

"I know you must be wondering how your tattoo disappeared all of a sudden. I remember I told you it's not just a tattoo, it's a magical one.

It can hear, see and talk when angry. And I also remember I told you I won't let any harm come to you but it's like you never trusted me. I saw how your mom was heartbroken after seeing your tattoo and then guessed she might tell your dad about it and bring trouble to you. You are my best friend, protecting you is my pleasure. So now wake up and have a physical look at me. Find me in your washroom if you really want to see me."

After like a second, I woke up. I ran to my washroom because I really wanted to see my friend Bat becauseit's been so long since I last saw him physically.

To my surprise he was indeed there hanging from the ceiling upside down.

When I entered the room, he came to me and landed on my shoulder. I didn't bother to brush it off because I had missed it so much. Brushing it off would mean that am chasing it away.

I got it from my shoulder and carried it in my arms, and then pecked its wings.

He really saved me today.

I kept it in my room till night.

The next morning, my friend Bat wasn't there in my room. Maybe it has gone back to the jungle, I thought after looking for it everywhere and couldn't find it.

I knew it could take good care of itself so I didn't mind so much about it.

I still wanted to check for my tattoo on my back. Coming in front of a mirror, I saw my tattoo. I felt happy to see it again. I loved it, not because it was magical but because I always wished to have a tattoo on my body. It was my wish come true.

I didn't care how I got it or why did it disappear last time. All I wanted was to always see it on my back.

Two days later, my mom felt weak and unwell. I was the one to be blamed for her sickness but my luck was that dad never believed whatever she said last time but I felt guilty about it.

"Mother I know you are shocked after what happened the other day. But please forgive me because I also have no idea how all this happened and why. And am sure you know I can't do something like that to you. I didn't mean to let you seem like a crazy woman to dad." I talked to her in private.

"But I still don't understand how that tattoo disappeared all of a sudden. Show me your back again." Said Mom.

I then showed her my back without hesitation. My tattoo was still there but this time it wasn't glowing.

"I can't believe my eyes anymore. How did it come back?" My Mom wondered. I saw I was making her uncomfortable so I covered her and left her room.

I was the one to prepare meals since mother was ill.

Standing in the kitchen, everything seemed new to me. I couldn't remember how I used to prepare meals so I went to ask mom how I could prepare Chinese rice." What's wrong with you my darling daughter, is anything bothering you? Am sure this isn't you because the real you knew how to prepare every meal. I can't believe you are asking me how to prepare Chinese rice." Mom replied trying to get up from the bed.

"Easy easy mother." I helped her to sit upright.

"Don't even touch me. You are not my daughter. You are just her illusion."she said reaching the knife that was in the fruit basket that was on the nightstand near the bed.

"Who are you and where is my real daughter?" Mom asked holding a knife to my throat.

"Don't kill me mother. It's me Artie, your daughter." I cried.

"No. You are not my daughter. You are someone or something else. I can't believe you." She has started to hurt me with the knife. I had to do something to prove it was the real me but how since she had me in her arms already. I then remembered something. We used to blink our eyes three times repeatedly so I did that and my mom recognized me. She dropped the knife and hugged me so tight while crying like a little kid.

"What's happening with you my child? I still can't believe what am seeing. How did you get this tattoo and when?" She asked.

"You are again talking about the tattoo? Can't you find something else to talk about." Dad interrupted as he came in the room.

We wiped down our tears and faked the smiles.

"I told you you were imagining things but you can't believe me. This is going to be the last time for you to talk about this. Let Artie show you her back for the last time." He said.

This felt like a razor blade cutting through my heart. I felt I was done for when he asked me to show mother my back.

" Like last time, I closed my eyes and removed my blouse on my back. I stood there waiting for Dad to scold me but he didn't. I thought that maybe my tattoo has again disappeared but no, I still had it on my back but instead both my parents had become statues.

"Mother, father please come back to normal. What has happened to both of you?"I cried as I didn't have any idea of how I can revive them.

I then remembered my mom had Holly water. I started to look for it and finally found its bottle in the nightstand drawer.

Turning to face them, I didn't find their statues there. They were all gone.

"Unbelievable! Where have they gone? They are still statues and can't walk from here. How did they just disappear and why? Are they dead or something?" I wondered.

"Am I imagining things? But no am not, my parents are really gone."

I dropped the bottle of Holly water and ran outside to look for them. They were not there either. Where could I search for them?" I asked myself.

" No need dear. We are here." My mom's voice interrupted my thoughts. I couldn't believe it at first so I had to look behind me to first confirm if she was the one.

Indeed she was the one. I was so shocked but couldn't stop myself from running to them and hugged both of them. They were alive. But how did all this happen? How did they come back to normal and who helped them? I got so many questions in my mind. I needed to know what was behind the whole story but how?

" What happened my dear, why do you seem worried?"mother asked as if she knew nothing about what happened to them.

" I can't believe this, they even don't know what has just happened?"I talked to myself. Anyway thank God that they are back and don't remember anything. I got relieved to hear that they don't know anything.

"Tell me please. Why are your eyes so red? It's like you have been crying." Mom spoke again.

" It's nothing mother. A bug has flown in my eyes, that's why I look like l have been crying." I made an excuse.

We entered the house but to my surprise, dinner table was already set. Who could have done this, that too he/she has prepared what I wanted to prepare for dinner. I got so much scared but had to pretend as if nothing was going on. I had to pretend as if am the one who has prepared the meals.

"Your meals are so delicious. I like this aroma. You never cooked like this before, how did you prepare this?" Mom was being questionable.

" My mom wasn't at home. I was here alone. No one else was here and I didn't see anyone preparing meals. Where did it come from?"I wished to share this with my parents but I knew they wouldn't believe me and that would bother them which I didn't want.

I had to find out by myself but how?

After our meals everybody went to sleep and I felt like there was someone in my room though I couldn't see him or her.

"Why are you scared of me. Show yourself if you are so brave." I wanted to provoke that person to show him / herself to me but it's like my trick didn't work on her.

After a few minutes, a strong wave of wind blew in my room and then an old woman stood in front of my mirror with her face covered by her long grey hair.

Trying to see her face, she warned me.

"Don't even bother because you won't see me unless I let you to." She said with a smiling face. Her voice was so nice but she sounded rude to me.

" Who are you and why are you here?"I asked sounding scared.

"You don't have to worry about me. You are going to know me very soon. In fact you will know the real me tomorrow." She said smiling again. Maybe it was her habit to smile over everything. I got confused.

"Won't you leave my room, I need to sleep." I asked.

"Are you requesting or you are demanding? It's like you don't know who you are talking to." She said.

"I am really sorry."I said panicking.

"But anyway it's okay. I will let you sleep."she said and disappeared.

"Thank God she has left but who is she and what does she want. Why did she choose my room?"I got puzzled but I was feeling so sleepy.

After switching off the lights, I heard like footsteps coming towards my bed, I then switched it on to check.

"Oh God! When will all this end?"I asked myself. I didn't see anyone in the room so I tried to sleep again but this time I left lights on.

Feeling like falling asleep, I heard someone trying to cover me properly but when I opened my eyes I didn't see anyone. "Could it be my imagination? But no this blanket wasn't here. I had placed it on the couch but it's now here on the bed. This proves that someone else is in the room but who could it be this time?"

I then felt it was high time I informed my parents about what was going on with my life. Coming closer to my parents'room I saw the same old woman standing next to their room, I stood there shocked. I thought she had left our house but she was still in here. I started walking in reverse.

"She suddenly disappeared and appeared in front of me and whispered in my ears.

"Where do you think you are going? This is not good for you please. I advise you to go and try to have some sleep because the end results of this might not be good for you and your family."she warned and then I went back to my room and closed the door, laid down on the bed and started to think about what I have just seen. It felt like a lie but surely I had seen everything but I knew it would be difficult for my parents to believe in me.Thank God that sleep took me off.

Opening my eyes I saw light coming from the window, it was morning already but I still felt sleepy and yet I didn't want to make my parents worried. I then woke up, had a warm shower and got ready for the day.

It was like at midday, both my parents were outside the house having a wonderful conversation as a couple when the strong strange wind blew and there appeared an old woman.

Hearing that strange wind blowing outside, I remembered the last time I heard the same wind and how an old woman appeared from nowhere. I was certain that the same old woman has come so I ran outside to witness. Yes my suspicions were right. It was the same old woman.

When I was about to step out of the house, I remembered Dad's warning. He never wanted me to step out of the house but the situation outside was urgent. Without thinking much about, I just ran outside and joined my parents.

"Run back to the house please Artie." Dad said with a warning tone. Hearing that, I walked two steps backwards. My heart was telling me to refuse to Dad and keep outside. I followed my heart and ignored dad's words. I thought that maybe they were hiding something from me. Maybe this old woman has unfinished business with them and they don't want to let me know about it. I felt like losing my trust in both of them. Thinking all this, I stayed at the scene to find answers for my questions.

"It's you again. Why have you come here now?" My mom spoke rudely to the old woman. " This is serious, these people knew this woman?" I spoke to myself wondering if this is possible or maybe it's just a dream.

"Easy ma'am. The other time I was here to inform you about the good news but this time I have come with incredible news ever."she had an annoying way of answering the questions raised for her.

"What's that incredible news?"Dad finally spoke out.

"I said easy." She said.

"Tell us or just get lost."mom was losing patience. She couldn't wait any longer.

"I will tell you if you are both insisting. Well the thing is that "what was meant to be will finally be no matter what happens". She said and gave a heavy laughter I had ever heard all my life. Without realizing, she was gone. No one understood what she said and what she was trying to tell us.

My Dad and I just took her words lightly but Mom couldn't. Maybe she was being so protective for me.

After two weeks the same heavy wind blew. We all ran outside as we were sure that the same old woman has come back. Indeed she had returned back but why this time?

" You must all be wondering why I have come back. Yes I know it all because I can read all your thoughts but anyway am not here to explain all this to you. I am here on a serious note. I have come to explain my previous message to you. I remember I told you that "what was meant to be will finally be no matter what happens". I meant that your precious daughter will get married to the devil's son no matter what happens. No matter how much you try to stop this from happening, it will finally be, that I promise you. The last time I said this you all didn't understand me so I felt it's necessary to come and explain it to you." She laughed at the end of her scaring speech and disappeared.

"I knew I was right about this that's why I didn't take it lightly. I knew this old woman meant something connected with my daughter and the devil's son but I was not sure that's why I didn't tell you about my suspicion." My mom was shivering and sweating at the same time.

Due to much fear, we decided to shift to the city that was far away from the jungle. From there we started living a new life. I met so many friends. I liked our new home because I wasn't kept inside the house anymore but my parents kept a close eye on me and sometimes my movements were limited for some reasons and I could understand why.

Six months elapsed and I fell in love with a young good looking boy. He was from a different city. He was the CEO and the owner of JB company LTD which was prestigious in their city. His company had a branch in our city. Maybe he liked me because I was local and shy. Maybe I looked beautiful for him. Maybe he liked my ways because I always smiled at everyone who bypassed our new home. I was new to the city so I used to sit alongside the road to count cars regardless of my age. I still behaved like a child. I was used to seeing trees in the jungle through the window and now I was in the city.

Since my parents were in a hurry to get me married before the devil's son could, we started arranging for the wedding ceremony after five months of our relationship.

In the past five months, we got to spend time with his family members and we had confirmed he was a son of a man. We had forgotten about the monster. We believed I was already out of danger as things were going on smoothly and the old woman never appeared again. My parents were so happy that they made a best choice to shift from the jungle to this city but as for me I was always lost in thoughts about my friend Bat. Maybe he was so angry with me for accepting to leave the jungle and come here because he never showed up ever since we got here not even in my dreams. I guessed something was fishy but had no choice but to learn to live without it though it was so hard for me to deal with.

The night before my wedding I got a dream about my friend Bat. In the dream my friend was crying.

"Artie I know you are going to get married tomorrow and I know it's too late for me to change your mind but I can't fail to tell you that I love you so very much. I fell in love with you the first time I saw you in the jungle. I knew expressing my feelings to you would complicate things so I had to first befriend you. And when you told me you wanted a tattoo on your body, I tried to get you one but failed and I ended up entering your body to be like a tattoo on your back because am capable of doing anything in this world. I only entered your body not because I wanted to but I just wanted to make you happy. Your happiness has been my priority. That's even why I allowed you to fall in love with the guy you love because I could control you but I didn't do that. I only wished to see you happy always but I never thought I would lose you to someone else due to my ignorance. But anyway it's okay but so hurting to see a girl you wished to be with slipping out of your hands to someone else.

Am not saying all this to confuse you please Artie. I just want you to know that someone else is in silent love with you and he is willing to fight for you no matter what happens." He said while crying.

" What are you saying dear friend. I thought you are a mere Bat. How could you fall for me. Am not a bat." I said sounding shocked.

"I knew you would say that but to be honest with you I'm not a bat. I can change myself into anything I feel like."

" W-what?"

"Yes I mean every word of mine and if you really want me to prove myself to you, I have no problem with it. I can gladly prove myself to you."

" Okay prove yourself." I really wanted to see if he was telling the truth.

" But you will have to feel some little pain as I will first find my way out of your body." He said.

After like a second, my tattoo started to glow producing a bright light I have ever seen but this time I didn't feel any pain.

When the lighting was over, a bat appeared in front of me and started to sing a familiar song "hi hi hi". This reminded me the first time I met him in the jungle and became my first friend. I looked back to hide my tears from him.

"Did you like the song?" His voice interrupted my thoughts. Looking back to see him, there stood a handsome guy and I couldn't resist but to open my eyes widely and have a clear look at him.

He was incredibly handsome and if it wasn't for my wedding the next day, I would have fallen in love with him at first sight.

"Who are you?" I asked since I couldn't believe it was my friend Bat.

"It's me your friend. Don't run away. You wanted me to prove myself and I have done it but I see you are thinking of running from me."He said coming closer to me.

"Don't come close to me. Stop right there."I said walking two steps backwards but he didn't listen to me. Instead he kept coming closer and closer to me. To realize, there wasn't any space between us. I was already in his arms. Still wondering what to do next, I felt his soft lips on mine. It was a cool and first kiss of my life. I knew it wasn't right but I couldn't stop myself from wanting more.

Maybe I was getting insane because I held him tight and this sent him a message that I wanted more. So he gave me what I needed. It felt so good though not right. It was considered a sin according to our culture. Thinking about this, I pushed him away and that's when I woke up and realized it was just a dream.

Though it was a dream, it still felt like real but I just ignored it since I was getting married the next day.

On the day of the wedding,I was wearing a heavy makeup that brought out my beautiful face. I was looking extremely beautiful in a long white wedding gown. It was my day but I wasn't feeling happy at all since I was lost in thoughts about the dream I had last night.

"Is it true that my friend Bat is in my body. How can this be possible? Is it true that he isn't a bat? Can it be possible that he changes to anything he needs to change to?"these were the questions that ran through my mind on the day of my wedding.

I thought of looking at my tattoo. It was there but what surprised me was that my eyes were glowing with a purple flame.

"How is this possible? I thought of moving out and tell my mom about it but before I could, I looked through the window and saw the guests coming. My husband to be seemed so happy and I couldn't stand to ruin his mood . Then I decided to cover my face with a veil so that no one could see me in the eyes. But what was happening to me? Whatever it was, it was going to kill me soon because the fear I usually got was beyond normal.

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