What Was That?

What Was That?

A shrill cry echoed in the mist.
I braked suddenly. Had I taken a wrong turn? No, that can't be. I had driven through this since I was twenty. Before that, I had no courage.
But the mist was never this thick. At least I was able to know where there is a stone, where there are trees. Today, I don't know what had happened to it. I came out of my car. It belonged to my boss. Ten years old, mandatory repairment every three days. Why the heck wouldn't he buy a new one? I always had a dream to drive a Ford, but no, he would give me this second-hand car of his to drop his children. They must have been frustrated by now. Right?!
Whatever, I locked the vehicle and walked towards the cry, it sounded like a masculine voice.
These misty moors, hide a lot more than it is hidden from the eyes!
I took the stony path to the top. I switched on the flashlight, but alas, it had been drained. Excessive use, I suppose. Without a flashlight, I am a tiny little mouse! I thought of going back, but that voice ringed still in my ears. I looked up, there was mist. I looked back, there was mist. Mist and mist. I gained courage, which I had done when I was twenty.
I improved my focus, and I could observe an entrance, though a small one. Realizing someone could have been trapped there, I rushed towards it. Outside, I saw a mat, half-torn, other half drenched with blood. That made no sense at all, but I became more cautious.
The door creaked as I gave a little push. Inside the room, I saw nothing, but warm that was. I felt relieved. The transition of the environment temperature from one extreme to other gives me a sense of relief. I started a search for any possible form of life, but lizards and cockroaches only met my sight. Oh! there were ants too!
 I climbed down the steps and found two more doors. One was open and rusted, and the other was closed. I peeped into the open one, nothing was there. I took a deep breath. I took a few strides towards the second one. As soon as I opened, I saw a person there. He was half-drenched with blood and had one eye absent. Oh! What a ghastly image! Not knowing what was going on, I shrieked! And instantly he vaporized and I was locked. I looked back to open the door, but everything was a singularity, black surrounded me, I was shocked. I was much more shocked to realize that I could not open my mouth. When I tried, all my effort was in vain.
I waited, I don't know how long. Well you know time varies. I heard footsteps approaching. The door near me opened. and then my door creaked - yeah, I could now see the door, and someone too. I saw Watson! He looked at me and shrieked as loud as possible. I vanished in front of his eyes.

Oh! How much I wanted to get out of this hell! How much! I had a vehicle, I had its key too. But it was futile, no matter how much I tried. I knew this place since I was twenty.
You know what, my name is Watson.

Siba Smarak Panigrahi