"This story belongs to my birthplace, a village named 'Bari.' It is a true incident that I first heard when I was 12 years old. A school trip was departing from our village when this incident occurred, and it was the pitch-dark night of Amavasya (the New Moon)."
Even today, it sounds like a movie script. In this village, no one dares to step out at night. People say that terrifying things happen here after midnight. Being a man of scientific temperament, I don't easily believe such stories. Our school trip was supposed to return before sunset, but fate had other plans. By the time we reached the vicinity of the village, it was nearly midnight.
The children, teachers, and the driver were all terrified. The village had no electricity, no artificial light to diminish the growing fear. The road was deserted—so silent that not even a dog, cat, or bird was in sight. The school bus was speeding through the dark road. The atmosphere was so heavy with dread that even the teachers began to wonder if we would make it out safely.
Suddenly, just like a scene from a horror movie, the bus had to stop. The driver announced that a tire had been punctured. Everything felt scripted, yet it was a terrifying reality. Amidst this, a child urgently needed to use the restroom. The principal wanted the group to stay together, but seeing the child's condition, he allowed him to go.
That was a grave mistake. The child went alone into the dark bushes. Meanwhile, the driver was busy changing the tire. A lot of time passed, but the child didn't return. Panic set in. Just as the principal was about to go looking for him, the boy emerged from the darkness.
He was trembling with fear, his face pale. He wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in his throat. Everyone gave him water and urged him to speak. 'What happened? Why are you so scared?'
When the child finally whispered what he had seen, a chill ran down everyone's spine. The other children began to scream and cry in terror. The driver was so shaken that he abandoned the half-changed tire and jumped back inside the bus. One child was so petrified that he even lost control of his bladder.
What did that child see that turned educated teachers into trembling wrecks? Why did the driver leave his work and flee into the bus?
I will reveal the bone-chilling details of that conversation in the next chapter. Until then, stay tuned. Thank you!"