I turned the key to my front door as the familiar click echoed in the quiet morning. With only the occasional hoot from the nocturnal predator, the atmosphere was eerie.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed movement beside the big sign announcing the neighborhood watch. However, the closest thing to security in the community was the bug-eyed woman my husband nicknamed Ms. Maco. Her piercing stare made everyone uneasy. Including me.

Since my husband’s migration, the ‘watchdog’ took it upon herself to monitor me. And I felt compelled to keep her entertained.

Ah, satisfaction.

Upon relocating to this area, I soon realized I wouldn’t be the only one wandering the streets before sunrise. There were other morning people, their silhouettes moving briskly in the dim light. But unlike me, who woke to attend work, many people had no apparent purpose for their early rise. I had no complaints, though. Knowing that, if needed, help was only a scream away gave me a feeling of security.

I brushed off what I thought I didn’t see and made my way out of the gated yard, leaving the lime-green wooden structure behind. The shift was most likely my eyes as they got used to the streetlight, creating specks of light.

Yeah, that’s what it is.

First, I stared at the road to my right, its path disappearing into the far-off corner. Several houses stood in a neat row, their colorful facades lined on either side of the concrete strip. Their personal transports, a row of white corollas and dark-blue Subarus, were parked along one side of the road. Confident that there was nothing out of the ordinary in that area, I turned my back and focused on the street that led to the bus stop. It became routine to soak in the surrounding sights before setting off on my ten-minute journey to catch the staff bus. The road ahead resembled the opposite stretch and ascended to another corner. This was Grenada, a place where sharp corners seemed to be as abundant as the mountains.

The sudden movement immediately drew my attention. So, I shifted my gaze toward the top of the hill, where a streetlight stood tall, creating a mysterious ambiance among the trees.

Oh my!

I swallowed hard as I watched my neighbor, who found solace underneath the branches of the giant mango tree. He enjoyed the picturesque view of houses and palm trees in nothing but a snug boxer. This man left his chiseled chest on full display for me to ogle.

I forced down the lump in my throat and lowered my eyes to the ground, hoping my heart would beat at its normal rate. The early morning air felt icy against my exposed skin, intensifying my regret for the vows we both made.

With a quick, apprehensive glance in my direction, my neighbor retreated into his apartment, as if he could read my mind. Then I turned away, determined to suppress any temptations that might arise within me.

My attention shifted to where Mr. Temptation was looking, and that’s when I glimpsed it for the first time. I didn’t get a good look because it vanished in the blink of an eye and my brain struggled to process what my eyes had witnessed. Unsure if it was my imagination, I quickened my stride.

Better safe than sorry.

My lower limbs propelled me forward at double the pace despite the heels I wore and wished my uniform skirt wasn’t so tight-fitting, accentuating every contour of my slim body. It caused many stares, especially when combined with classy stilettoes, elegant jewelry, and tamed kinky hair. However, at that moment, it was a hindrance. With my legs restricted, I forced myself to fast walk around the corner, where another stretch of houses lined another stretch of road with another stretch of cars. This time, though, I went downhill and was greeted by a gust of cool air.

Halfway there.

On full alert, I noted every aspect of the community. I noticed the distant barks of the neighborhood strays and the occasional screeching from the nearby highway. I noticed the grating cawing of the natural alarm clocks and the faint echo in the distance. And, of course, I noticed the flickering lights in Mrs. Lil’s two-story home.

This short, light-skinned woman was a familiar face, although we had never exchanged a single word. The only thing I knew about her was her name, which I overheard during a conversation about the rolls the gray-haired lady had to bake for the breakfast sale. Mrs. Lil had reassured her junior that the bread would be ready by 7 a.m. Judging by the fermented scent in the air, Mrs. Lil was a person of discipline.

Umm. Nothing better than fresh bread in the morning.

As I passed her yard, I angled my head to get a good sniff of the staple. I did not intend to catch more than the aroma of warm, crusty rolls. However, I did.

Through the open kitchen door, I saw Mrs. Lil. Her hands were covered in flour as she kneaded the dough on her ceramic countertop. At her side was the most horrifying figure I had ever seen, its sharp teeth glinting in the light.

I couldn’t identify what it was, but it was a creature that contradicted both black and translucent, a mysterious shade that defied definition. It had a humanoid form, with two appendages for grasping and two feet, but its small, round, and smooth, bald head added an otherworldly touch. As the thing revealed itself further, its unusually long fingers seized my attention as it caressed Mrs. Lil’s plump cheek. It resembled a dog waiting for a tasty ham bone.

What the…?

When I saw it, my breath caught in my airway.

The critter swiveled, imitating the movements of an owl. Those eyes, crimson like rubies, pierced into mine, sending a chill down my spine. It looked at Mrs. Lil, who was meticulously dividing her dough into tiny, perfectly shaped balls. Then it turned towards me and caused me to lose my composure. That was more than I needed to see. It was too much to handle, so I ran, pushing my body to its maximum, feeling the heaviness of sleep as it completely vanished.

I sprinted down the hill as the wind rushed through my hair and my heels banged against the pitched surface. Too afraid of what I might witness, I did not dare look back. My fear was rooted in what Mrs. Lil failed to notice, in what had caught sight of me.

A few houses down, I saw a plump man enjoying a cup of tea on his veranda. Relief flooded my body, and I sprinted towards him.

His name was Henry, a worker in the nearby rum factory. I wasn’t sure what he did there, but judging by his heavy work boots and sturdy uniform material, it had to be physically tasking. He wasn’t in his uniform then. That morning, Henry wore shorts and a strained t-shirt. He lazed in the wrought-iron chair with his bare feet on the wall.

“Help, please! It’s chasing me.”

I turned around to show Henry the unknown entity, its presence growing more cautious.

“What are you going on about?” Henry looked over twice my age, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if he was younger.

“That thing is following me.” My voice was at a higher pitch and no matter how much I gestured or pointed, the older man only stared at me, a blank look etched on his face.

Within a few moments, I realized my attempts were in vain. So, I resumed my frenzied run.

Maybe someone on the highway can help.

I ran at such a fast pace my heel ached and my bag strapped slipped off my shoulder to my elbow. Every time I moved, it bounced against my side, so I let it drop. A container of oil down and cosmetics paled compared to the value of my life. My husband didn’t care about my appearance; all that mattered to him was my safety. Therefore, I relinquished my burden and sprinted even faster, and ignored the lancing foot pain.

I was almost to where the paved pathway met the crowded expressway, and the sound of rushing cars and buses filled the air. The help I hoped for stood in a cluster, but they were on the opposite side of the road. Vehicles raced in both lanes, and it was nearly impossible to get to them.

“Help.” I framed my mouth with my hand and strained my voice, which carried across the highway. I shouted to the men and women in matching clothing. Their focus shifted to me, and I strained my vocal cords even more, screaming for help, only to have my words swallowed by the discord of passing cars. So, with my finger, I directed their gaze to a specific spot. I gestured towards the figure approaching us, but they seemed completely puzzled by my actions.

No, not them too. Didn’t they see it?

At that point, I knew I had to be more forceful. That was my last chance. They were my last chance and the weight of desperation hung heavy in the air.

As I stretched my foot out to cross the highway, a surge of panic washed over me, and then darkness enveloped everything.