write in by : Akmal Rahman
technician in a factory, 35 years old, Bishan
My Old House in Bukit Batok
I have been staying in Bukit Batok area for almost 16 years before I shifted to another neighbourhood at Bishan. As far as I can remember vividly of my scary encounter when I was in my old estate, there was this one incident which I will never forget as long as I'm alive..it was the first and the most scariest moment..I was only 8 years old back then.
At that particular night, after my mom tuck me to sleep, my eyes somehow could not be shut. I toss around trying my hard to sleep but to no avail. From where I was lying, I could see the entrance of the kitchen and the kitchen lights were on as my mom was on her sewing machine, doing her last minute adjustments. I could even heard the machine noise as well. At about 03:45am, suddenly I heard my mom was talking to someone. At that era...mobile phones was not popular yet and we didn't own a cordless phone as well. I start to ponder to myself..who is she talking too in the wee hours?? Curiosity triggered my mind to take a peek. I began to walk closely to her and by seconds was somewhere behind a wall but the whole kitchen area was within my view. As I starred at her, I realize she was talking to 'something' at the kitchen window. I turn my head and saw the most hideous creature in my entire life. It was a headed creature with its internal organs hanging. The local Malays recognized this creature as a Penanggal. In the Malay beliefs, a Penanggal is a demonic creature who fly through the night looking for blood of a newborn child. It is believe to be a conjure of a black magic practitioner..and its main purpose is to suck blood so it will be stronger. But the one that I saw was a bit different. This is where the irony comes in. The 'thing's' jaw was like kinda dislocate and was hanging by a piece of attached skin. It was very eerie when it moves. And yes, my mom was talking to it and it response back. It had an echoing voice...the same ambience that we got when we are inside a cave. I got goosebumps all over my place. It was sharing a story with my mom.
Long before, the area where the flat now stand, there used to be a small hut or 'pondok'. The time was way back before Singapore starts its first modernization. The owner of the hut was a black magic practitoner...and one particular night, he needs blood for a certain ritual. An offering to the Dark Lord himself..Satan. The hut owner got a daughter...and he sacrifice his daughter to make the ritual more powerful. What he did was, he grab his daughter while she was sleeping and chop her up to pieces. One of the blow hit her jaw and cut the jaw..moreover dislocate it. He then bury her under the hut...and after a few years, the hut owner dies of old age. After the hut owner passed away, the restful spirits starts to wonder around and unfortunately...the creature which I saw my mom talking too is the soul of the victim girl. As things are hard for me to bear, I quickly ran inside my room and stayed on my bed till it is 06:15am and time for me to get ready for school..
I normally will prepare things all by myself for school. As usual and without any thinking any of the scary incidents which happened in the wee hours..I unlock the door and went out alone. While I was walking down the stairs from third floor...I felt a cold atmosphere. I began to feel scared but continue my steps down the staircase. Upon reaching second floor staircase landing, I heard the creature's voice calling out y name...with the same echo effects!! I was too frightened and I race down the staircase. I felt that I was going down the longest staircase in the world. I ran without stopping until I get to the main road...where a lot of passerby. What happened to me makes me phobia to go down unlit staircase...whenever there was a blackout in my recent flat, it gives me the creep when I look at the unlit staircase...reminds me of my ghostly encounter...back then...
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Sender : Anonymous
My Special Gift
Due to my gift,my parents have always disallowed me from overnight. During my sec 3,the school organised a complusary camp. If anyone is not going, you must still come to school and stay with the teacher in charge for the whole day. I literally need to beg my parents to allow me to go.So my parents decided to allow me but my dad say, don't wander off alone and make sure dont say we didnt warn you. At a age of 15, all i wanted was to have fun with my friend and super excited.
I dont remember the campsite but the moment we arrived, i regretted my decision.I saw "beings" "walking" aimlessly.Red blood shot eyes. There was one kept looking at me. While walking to our sleeping area, i didnt dare to look up. Walking with my head low and from the soil i saw hands trying to reach out to us.And yes one of us did fall.i knew my face turn pale but who am i to say this to. Will they laugh at me? So i kept quiet. Upon reaching our sleeping area,i told myself. You are already here. So why bother.
First day was as usual. i just ignore them. But i still see the one that kept looking at me. As if he trying to tell me something and was pointing to the boys bunk. And it was around seven then, i looked up and saw clearly, she was there. She saw me looking at her and she looked back at me. BLOODSHOT EYES.i froze and i fainted.The next thing i knew when i woke up it was already dark and i was in the camp intsructor room.And i saw the same being laughing at me. For first time, i could hear the laughter of the being. It sound very cold and high pitch. This was only the start i told myself.
The second day to my horror, the girls and guys need to change bunk so that the girls will be nearer to the instructor but i know the guys saw her and it was only a cover up.All of a sudden during lunch, one of the guy instructor approach me and say, whatever you saw ignore them coz they cant hurt u if they know u are strong. I look at him and smile and he gave me a blue sachet holding stones and told me if being are bad. This stones will become wet. I wanted to ask his name but he went missing. So i kept these stones in my pocket. Thru out the rest of the camp i saw these beings but when i saw the one who laugh at me, i felt the stone was wet and he look the angry. He somehow was commanding me to throw away stones.I still have the stones till today. For the camp instructor i didnt see him for the rest of the camp. Whoever or whatever he is, i am thankful.
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