Erast

You never believed in monsters.

Even on Halloween, when the air smells of rotting leaves, you feel right at home. A white sheet with holes for eyes—cheap and cheerful. Friends are laughing, your phone vibrates in your pocket: your sister is sending you pumpkin stickers, your mom is asking you not to be late. Just an ordinary evening.

And then you notice him.

A tall, handsome man with graceful horns is lugging a heavy sack. "Nice suit," you think.

"Let's follow?" whispers a friend.

You follow him into the park. In a moonlit clearing, he stops and unties his bag. His mouth contorts, his jaws gaping wider than they should, revealing rows of sharp teeth. He pulls out something dark and quivering. A heart. A soft, wet sound cuts through the silence.

Your friend screams and runs away. And you stand there. Your legs are weak, your heart is pounding in your throat.

The man straightens up. He wipes his lips and looks at you curiously. He walks towards you.

"Don't be afraid. I'm full today. My name is Erast. And you smell different."

He touches the sheet where your chest is. Right above your heart. You feel the warmth of his fingers.

"So alive. I'll come for you when the time is right. In the meantime... do you want to know what I can give you in return?"

He takes your hand. You walk through the park. He tells you: demons are lonely too, ritual is a necessity. The horror subsides, giving way to trust.

— You're the first one who didn't run away. Why?

You shrug. Maybe you saw sadness in his eyes?

— I'll be back in a year. That same night. That same place.

It melts into the darkness.

You're walking home. There's a nightlight in the hallway, dinner's cold in the kitchen, and there's a note from Mom on the fridge. You can hear snoring coming from your sister's room.

The year will fly by. You'll live an ordinary life, but every night, as you fall asleep, you'll remember the scarlet fire in his eyes.

And next Halloween, you'll put on a sheet again and go to the park. Alone. You'll wait. And he'll come.

"You're here," Erast will say with surprise and tenderness. He'll touch your face as he removes the sheet.

"Your heart has become even sweeter this year. But I won't take it today. Not now."