[T/N] I apologize for grammar mistakes and incoherencies
Hidden Moon
Foreword
As it is commonly understood, this world has but one moon as its companion. It cannot have two; however, what happens when two moons from different times orbit and converge in the darkness of the night sky?
Such is the tale of ‘Khen’, a young man of the present day, swept by fate or whatever, into an encounter with ‘Matthew, Mas, Coleridge’, the son of the owner of a two-story Thai house in the northern region during the time of World War I. Their relationship deepens with each passing night, along with the profound and cruel mysteries that gradually envelop their lives without mercy.
Finally, how will the story of these two moons amidst the boundless darkness unfold, and who is behind the spine-chilling events that occur? Follow along in ‘Hidden Moon’.
With friendly regards,
This novel is a work of the author’s imagination.
Any resemblance to actual persons, places, or events is purely coincidental.
PS: The content includes sensitive issues regarding violence, physical and psychological abuse, death, murder, attempted suicide, and childhood emotional trauma, which might affect readers emotionally.
For readers aged 18 and above.
Chapter 1: The Western-style House
Late afternoon under the shadow of October’s clouds.
I stepped down from the airport shuttle which had parked on the freshly watered grass, alongside my colleagues who had come from Bangkok. All five of us alighted from the vehicle one by one, then stood staring at the building that stood prominently amidst the natural surroundings at the foot of the mountain, with Doi Suthep as the backdrop.
“Wow...didn’t expect it to be this big in person.” exclaimed Phii Thaen, the team’s photographer, in awe. Beside him was his girlfriend, Namwa, who was coordinating. Next was the burly young man, Phii Teo, the assistant, followed by the intern, Bing, and then me.
Ahead of where we stood was a large two-story ancient house, built from teak wood with parts of the lower floor being concrete, the roof styled in a traditional Thai sweeping design covered with wooden shingles. The front porch was beautifully adorned with intricate wooden carvings reminiscent of foreign gingerbread house influences. The house was painted cream, with window frames and doors in a muted green, giving it a serene, elegant look. It was a house that had been abandoned for many years before being renovated to the stunning condition we now saw.
“I can’t even imagine what it would have been like if we came when it was still in its original state.” muttered Phii Namwa.
“Probably like a haunted house, I guess.” Phii Teo replied.
Everyone turned to look at Phii Teo with a single eye roll. He then stammered, “Just kidding.” before turning back to retrieve things from the van.
Actually, Phii Teo wasn’t far from the truth. This house belonged to the Treasury Department, one of the many historic and valuable properties across the country that the department auctions off for private leasing for business purposes, with the stipulation that the original character must be preserved. Now, this house was in the process of becoming part of a luxury hill resort, where the ground floor would serve as a restaurant and coffee shop, with certain areas open for tourists to explore.
We were part of the pre-production team sent by the agency. Phii Thaen was the photographer capturing some shots during this phase. I wasn’t involved in the photography aspect but came along to work on the copywriting part.
I am a blogger and freelance writer, taking up this job to expand my network. My task was to research and write the historical story of this house for promotional purposes. The client wasn’t just looking for a few brochures and pretty pictures for the website; they needed an enchanting, grand narrative to highlight this place, to attract tourists to both the resort accommodations and the upscale coffee shop within the historic building.
In this neighborhood, this house is called, ‘The Western-style House’, because its original owner was a foreigner who settled in Thailand since the reign of King Rama V, but I know that secretly (but openly discussed), they call it, ‘The Ghost House’.
I don’t blame the locals for calling it that, because from the photos I saw before it was renovated, I can tell you, goosebumps were inevitable. The word dilapidated doesn’t even begin to describe it; it was desolate, lonely, and sad to the point where you might want to cry just looking at a picture. The old house was dark, gloomy, with rotten wooden walls, and the paint was peeling off so much that you could hardly tell what color it was originally. The overall condition was enough to make you want to run away.
I remembered the words from the advertising department before they sent me here:
‘I want you, Khun Khen, to go up to Chiang Mai this time with Thaen’s group. You can gather more information. I think that just reading from the documents we’ve got might not be enough. Khun Khen, you should see the place in person, stay there for a couple of nights, and talk to the locals to see if you can find any interesting stories that we can use in our work.’
‘Khun Kat, you mean I should stay in that house?’
‘ Khun Khen, are you afraid of ghosts?’
‘No...uh, not at all.’ I denied immediately, maintaining the image of a modern man not believing in unprovable ghost stories; otherwise, it wouldn’t be cool. ‘It’s just rumors, right?’
“Exactly. As far as I know, no one has died there in an unnatural way. And this ghost story, I am still puzzled about how it started, but Khun Khen you know, right? The client doesn’t want us to cover up the story; they want us to delve into it and tell it in a compelling way.’
I wasn’t sure how compelling my ghost story would be.
‘And do you want to suggest anyone specific for me to interview or talk to?’
‘Just the ghost in the house, I guess.’
After saying this, Khun Kat giggled. I laughed along, though I wasn’t sure what was so funny.
‘So, Khun Khen, you will travel with Thaen’s group, okay? Stay in Chiang Mai for three or four days, or longer if you wish, because we have someone there to take care of cleaning and preparing breakfast.’
‘Okay.’ I agreed, thinking about the future paycheck.
Khun Kat smiled contentedly before leaning in to whisper, ‘I want a really good story, Khun Khen.’
I am now here to take on responsibilities at this resort. We've met the caretaker named Aunt Jiam, who lives near the resort and comes to work every morning. Aunt Jiam is a local, and I've decided she'll be the first person I interview.
The resort isn't fully completed yet; the construction of the small standalone cottages scattered one side from the colonial house is finished, but there's still furniture and some interior decorations left to do, plus the lawn and trees which were only recently planted.
Khun Kat arranged for us to stay in the colonial house, in a part not reserved for tourist viewing. I'm not sure if Khun Kat intended this or if it's because the cottages are still under decoration, which is why we're sleeping in this house. Even though it's just a small room typically used as a general-purpose room, not the owner's bedroom, it's still in the same house.
This house is very large and spacious, indicating the wealth of its owner back in the day. The layout forms a U-shape; entering from the front porch, you'll find a wide hall used as a reception area, followed by the dining room, and then a cafe area. Even without furniture and small decorative items, it's clear that once completed, this place will be beautifully luxurious, as if time-traveling back to the house's heyday.
"Me and Namwa will take the room downstairs, I'm too lazy to climb stairs." Phii Thaen said when he learned that rooms were arranged on both the upper and lower floors.
The rest of us were left speechless. With Phii Thaen and Phii Namwa choosing to stay downstairs, I, along with Phii Teo, and Bing had to go upstairs to sleep. Aunt Jiam mentioned that three rooms were prepared in total, one downstairs and two upstairs.
We walked through the wide front hall and up the stairs to the upper floor of the house. I was taken aback by the sight of the upstairs lounge.
It's a relaxation lounge that extends to a balcony overlooking the front of the house. The outer long curtains were drawn aside, and through the sheer inner curtains, you could see the lush greenery outside. The transom above the balcony door was beautifully carved with vine motifs, the wide wooden floorboards were polished to a mirror shine, and there was an antique grandfather clock against one wall near two silk-upholstered chairs flanking a semi-circular wooden table. Everything exuded luxury and elegance, but what caught the eye the most was an old piano standing prominently on a large rug in the center of the room.
"If we hear the piano playing late at night, we won't be surprised." Phii Teo murmured, causing Bing to turn and look at him with wide eyes.
Our rooms, for the three of us, were located on the left wing of the house, arranged as temporary bedrooms, and I guess the furniture will be moved out once the resort is fully completed and ready to open. Beyond our rooms, there were several empty rooms without any furniture. The right wing was reserved as a display area for tourists to walk through; these were the original bedrooms of the house owner and their descendants. Each piece of furniture in these rooms was an antique still remaining in this house.
We wanted to see those rooms, so we headed over there. I tread lightly out of respect as I walked down the corridor to those rooms. Each room had a large rope barrier allowing us to stand and look only at the doorway. There was one large bedroom and two smaller ones, with the rest being empty. The furniture was quite imposing, including beds, cabinets, tables, and even iron hooks on the floor used to secure treasure chests.
After admiring the antique and valuable items from the olden times to our satisfaction, we returned to the side that felt more modern. I chose the room next to the stairs, thinking it would be convenient. Phii Teo walked past to the next room.
I exhaled in relief when I opened the door to find that the furniture inside was newly purchased. Not antiques inherited from the house’s owners, which would have been a bit odd. I walked over to the window, pushed open the wooden shutters, and took a deep breath of the fresh air.
From this room, you could see vast green fields stretching far to the base of the hills. The grass swayed gently in the breeze, looking cool and refreshing. In the distance, there were high and low outlines of the mountain range, lush green from months of rain. I focused my gaze when I noticed a small brown spot amidst the green of the field; it looked like a hut. The land there must belong to the locals, and soon there would probably be a long concrete fence clearly marking the boundaries.
While I was enjoying the view, I was slightly startled by a poke on my arm. Turning around, I saw it was Bing. He was standing there with a strange look on his face.
“ Phii Khen, can I sleep in the same room as you?” Bing asked.
“Oh...why?”
“I have a sense, you know?” He glanced left and right nervously before lowering his voice to a whisper, “If there’s nothing here, then fine, but if there is...I’m scared I might encounter it.”
I laughed, “Hey...then what? I’m not a monk, how can I help?”
“ Phii Khen...please, it’s better to have a company around, but I can’t handle someone as chatty as Phii Teo.” Bing held onto my arm, looking pitiful, “This room has a big bed anyway. I won’t toss and turn.”
I looked at Bing’s face, wanting to say no, but feeling sorry for him, I ended up laughing.
“Okay, okay.”
I finally agreed. I’m not worried about what might happen between us. I like guys, and you’re handsome with a cute, young face, but my type isn’t exactly young university guys. I prefer men who are more mature, maybe around my age or older, someone who can hold a conversation, someone on my level. No fuss or trouble.
Just to clarify, I’m not saying I like experienced guys just for bedroom skills or anything like that.
After we packed up and rested for a while, we were ready to tour around Chiang Mai city. Well...of course, work is a must, but today we just arrived, so we need to take a stroll around the city first. Phii Namwa invited us to walk around Nimmanhaemin Road, which is full of cool, chic shops selling handmade goods, along with uniquely decorated cafes and restaurants.
Chiang Mai has so many coffee shops; you walk past one and soon you’ll find another. I tried the coffee from a local brand; it was quite flavorful. Besides enjoying the atmosphere there, we also went up to see the view from the rooftop of a shopping mall before ending the day with some food hunting around the back of CMU...in the evening. [1] CMU is Chiang Mai University.
The street food behind CMU starts from the Agriculture Gate and stretches to the Engineering Gate, with street vendors and makeshift stalls lining the sidewalks. You can find Thai food, Japanese food, noodles, steak, bakery items, bubble tea, bingsu, or even tofu drinks—all are available.
We found a stall selling dry ramen which was really tasty, with about 6-7 tables but always crowded, mostly with students. I ate two full bowls, and luckily, we have special stomach compartments for savory and sweet, so no matter how full we were, we still managed to cross the road for desserts.
We got back to our accommodation around ten at night, so full we could hardly climb the stairs, but we promised each other to try some food on the front side of CMU the next day. Since the day before, I was working late, I felt unusually sleepy. I showered, went to bed, and fell asleep quickly.
The first night passed smoothly, the weather was so nice I slept through the night and woke up feeling refreshed in the morning.
Our first breakfast in Chiang Mai started with aromatic coffee, bread, and crispy bacon prepared by Aunt Jiam. She mentioned she wasn’t sure what we’d like, so she prepared this for today. We quickly told her it was fine, thanking her for the breakfast, and that we’d handle the other meals ourselves.
While everyone was enjoying their breakfast amidst the mountain view, I sneaked into the kitchen to ask Aunt Jiam more about the rumors surrounding this house, beyond what I had read in the documents.
Aunt Jiam has a helper who is a young Shan girl named Noi, who helps with small tasks as instructed by Aunt Jiam. I took the opportunity when Noi went outside with a water jug to get closer to Aunt Jiam.
In less than ten minutes, I concluded that Aunt Jiam might really be named Aunt Pikul or possibly “Fearful of Pikul Flowers Falling.” because she was extremely economical with her words, often saying “I don’t know...never heard of it.” Sometimes she would just go silent, so I had to switch gears and interview Noi instead. Noi seemed eager to talk to me, but...she had only been in Chiang Mai for a few months and still struggled with choosing the right Thai words, let alone speaking clearly.
After finishing the breakfast that Aunt Jiam had prepared, we headed out to the market near the Payaom tree to grab some food before starting work.
Yes...eating again even though we had just had breakfast. It wasn’t about being hungry or full; it was about the joy of working outside.
We sat at a congee shop in the Payaom market, which was rumored to have excellent pig’s blood soup and Chinese doughnuts. We ordered everything as if we hadn’t eaten anything at all before.
“ Bing...try this, it’s delicious.” Phii Thaen pushed a plate of doughnuts and a bowl of pandan custard towards Bing.
“Alright, Phii. I’m full.” replied Bing.
“If you don’t eat it, I’ll take it.” Phii Teo said, reaching for the large doughnut and stuffing it into his mouth with a loud, appreciative sound before pulling the plate towards himself.
Bing nodded without saying anything. I noticed that Bing had seemed off since morning, restless and uneasy, but soon he blurted out, “Phii, I’m thinking of staying at a hotel tonight.”
“Hey!” we all exclaimed together.
“What’s up?” asked Phii Teo.
“Don’t you guys feel anything at all?”
“And what do you feel?” Phii Teo questioned again.
Bing made a fearful face, “I’ve had goosebumps ever since I walked into the house yesterday.”
“Need to take a dump or something?”
“No, Phii.” Bing’s voice cracked, “There’s really something there. I’m sensitive to these things. I felt it the moment I walked in, but I tried to convince myself it was just my imagination, until I actually encountered it.”
“What did you encounter, Bing?” Phii Namwa asked with wide eyes, full of interest.
“You guys didn’t hear anything?” Bing looked like he was about to cry. “Thai traditional music was playing, it has been haunting me since I went back into the house at night. But I had been drinking beer, so I thought it might have been from somewhere else.”
“And then what?” Phii Namwa probed further.
“I went to bed normally like you all did, but in the middle of the night, I had to pee, so I went downstairs to the bathroom. There was nothing on the way down, but on the way back, that’s when it happened. I saw Phii Thaen’s door slightly ajar with a bright green light. I thought you two were still working, so I was going to tease you.”
“Wait...Namwa and I were asleep by not even 9 PM.” Phii Thaen interjected.
“Well, I thought it was your room, the one at the end of the hallway.”
“That’s not my room.” Phii Thaen said.
“Alright, now I know.” Bing said in a high-pitched voice.
I gently patted his arm, “Calm down, Bing, continue.”
“I really saw it, Phii Khen. It wasn’t just a glimpse; I saw it clearly. A woman with long hair was brushing her hair in front of the vanity mirror, dressed like women from the old Lanna period. I was so scared, I’m glad I had already peed, or I would have wet myself right there. My legs went stiff, I couldn’t move, until then...” Bing swallowed hard, “She glanced at me through the mirror.”
“Damn...! That gave me goosebumps.” Phii Teo said, rubbing his arms.
“That’s why I ran and squeezed into bed next to Phii Khen in the middle of the night.”
“Oh...I thought you were just cold.” I nodded, recalling being squeezed in the middle of the night.
“Are you sure it wasn’t a dream? Because I slept near that room, but I didn’t hear or see anything unusual.” Phii Thaen countered, not sure if he was trying to reassure Phii Namwa not to be scared or if he didn’t believe in ghosts.
Bing made a tense face, “I don’t know, but from tonight onwards, I’m going to stay at a hotel and then work from there in the morning. I assure you, I won’t be late for work. You guys didn’t see or hear anything; if you want to stay, that’s up to you, but I’m out. Especially since yesterday was a regular day, and I saw that, and today’s the holy day, the 15th lunar night. I’m not taking any chances.” [1] Full Moon is when the veil between the real world and the spirit world thins out and ghost can cross over, I read it somewhere
Since Bing was so serious about it, no one wanted to force him otherwise. Phii Teo slid the plate of doughnuts back to Bing as a gesture of comfort, and responded by turning away.
After filling our stomachs, we returned to start work at the Western-style house. Phii Thaen and the others took equipment out to the front of the building. Meanwhile, I found a special spot for myself to work from.
I chose a corner on the veranda near the dining room as my workspace. There were tables and chairs set up there, the air was cool with a gentle breeze, and the sunlight wasn’t too harsh. I began my work by opening my trusty laptop to review the information I had, and I played some piano music in the background for ambiance.
Reading through the data, I became increasingly intrigued. This house had a very interesting history. The original owner was an Englishman named Thomas H. Coleridge, who came to Thailand as a missionary during the reign of King Rama V. Later, he ventured into the timber business, became wealthy, and bought this land from a local business partner of noble descent, eventually building this grand house.
From the information I gathered, after some time, he moved his family back to England, leaving the house in the care of a trusted servant. When that servant moved out due to health issues, the care of the house was passed on to others until no one was left to look after it, and it eventually fell into disrepair and was taken over by the Treasury Department.
I sighed deeply. At first glance, this information should be enough to create a selling point for the resort. However, for me, it wasn’t as compelling as I needed it to be. I wondered where the descendants of the owner had gone. Had none of them married into Thai families? And about the story of the ghostly woman in ancient attire that many, including Bing, claimed to have seen, there was no mention of it anywhere.
I worked there until noon when Phii Thaen suggested we go out to eat. After lunch, I excused myself to head to the library at Chiang Mai University to find more information, hoping to uncover details beyond what I could find online. The librarian there was very kind, helping me find books about people and events from that era which might be useful.
That evening, we went to eat near the front of CMU as planned. I passed by Ang Kaew, a reservoir on a hill within the university grounds, which looked refreshing with its wide grassy areas and trees, where people were out playing and exercising. The atmosphere was great, and nearby there was a cute café where you could rest. I made a mental note to find time to come here for a run.
With Bing having left us to stay at a hotel, I ended up sleeping alone that night. I prayed before going to bed, calming my mind to avoid wandering thoughts, and I actually had a good, peaceful sleep, encountering none of the things Bing had mentioned.
After three days of wandering around the area, whether it was the coffee shop where I sat with my laptop to work, the library, or the Ang Kaew where I went running to satisfy Phii Thaen’s wishes, he spoke up in the evening after work, as we were about to go out for dinner.
“How about we go to Doi Ang Khang tomorrow?”
“Oh...Is the work all done then, Phii Thaen?” I asked.
“Not yet, just a little left, but I want to change the scenery. We haven’t gone sightseeing here except to eat. Next time when we come with the big team, there’ll be even less time. I want to stay overnight at Doi Ang Khang and come back in the afternoon. Khen, do you want to come along? Bing, you’re coming too, right?”
“Let’s go then. I’ve never been to Doi Ang Khang.”
The next day, we found ourselves standing together by the car we had rented to drive to Doi Ang Khang in Phang District of Chiang Mai, to chase the early morning mist and sleep under the vast starlit sky at night.
I looked up at the sky; the sunlight at this time was bright and clear, with white clouds floating like tufts of silk. I turned back to look at the house under the blue sky. There’s no other word to describe it but beautiful - this house was captivating to the point where you could stand there, losing track of time. It was a charm passed down from the past to the present.
I stopped lingering on the sight and turned my attention to the journey ahead. Today, I wanted to go sightseeing first, then come back to the remaining work here.
I stepped out, and the breeze at the end of the rainy season, transitioning into winter, blew gently, bringing with it the chill and the fresh scent of the foliage in the air. Nothing hinted to me that today would be different from tomorrow.
The scene I was looking at here would change me, and it would alter the course of my life in ways I could never have imagined.
Chapter 2: The Journey
The journey from here to Doi Ang Khang took about two and a half hours, but along the way, there were traps in the form of flower gardens and strawberry fields. Naturally, Phii Namwa rushed into the field of Marguerite flowers with such speed as if she was being pulled by some mysterious force.
I’m not particularly thrilled about flower gardens, but I love taking the car ride through the winding mountain paths, feeling the breeze, and enjoying the view. We didn’t turn on the air conditioning in the car but chose to roll down the windows to feel the natural wind instead.
It’s refreshing to escape the urban chaos into nature, even if just for a short while, it feels like recharging. My mind felt as clear as the view before me; the deep valley seemed carpeted with green velvet, dotted with low-hanging clouds. The layers of high mountains overlapped, terraced tea plantations stretched down the slopes like a staircase, and the scent of rain mixed with the forest air was invigorating with every breath.
When we finally reached the resort we had booked, it was almost four in the afternoon. Our accommodation was a two-bedroom cottage with a spacious balcony in between. I was sharing a room with Bing and Phii Teo.
Our dinner was quite lavish with various fish and vegetable dishes. The garlic-fried sturgeon was delicious, and the stir-fried chayote shoots with bacon were also a hit. After dinner, we sat on the balcony to enjoy the view, the cool air necessitating blankets.
Luckily, it didn’t rain tonight; the sky was clear, revealing a blanket of stars. Bing brought his guitar along. He played and sang, with Phii Teo providing rhythm by tapping wooden chopsticks, while Phii Thaen and Phii Namwa sat together under the starlight. It was enviable; the atmosphere was filled with tranquility, as if we were in another world.
But then, I inadvertently broke the peaceful atmosphere when we went back inside because it was too cold to stay out on the balcony. I pulled out my laptop from my bag and placed it on the bed.
Bing stared at me until his eyes nearly popped out, “ Phii Khen, you’re going to work even now?”
I laughed because he looked at me as if I was about to start tearing into a raw chicken, “The better the atmosphere, the clearer my mind works. Gotta seize the moment.”
“Go ahead, Phii, but count me out.” Bing shuddered exaggeratedly.
I opened my laptop and pulled up my work files. Besides the resort project I was working on, I also had my blog to maintain, where I was writing about the ambiance and stories of Chiang Mai, along with interesting places and tasty eateries. Got to make the most of the trip.
Bing flopped onto his soft bed with an air of contentment and pulled out his phone, “Good thing the mobile signal here isn’t as good as in the city.”
Phii Teo and I exchanged puzzled looks before Phii Teo asked, “What’s good about having no signal?”
“Having a signal is good, isn’t it? If it’s just sending us the waves we need to use.”
Seeing me and Phii Teo still looking confused, Bing continued to explain:
“Alright, from my own experience, which might not be the same for everyone, I’ve noticed that places near signal towers, signal boxes, or points where signals like radio, TV, or internet waves are transmitted, there’s something special about them that makes it easier for me to pick up other signals too. It’s like a junction of media, Phii. Like at that foreign house...damn, just standing there gave me the creeps, it was so intense.”
“So you mean those waves bring ghosts to you?”
“Do you have to put it that bluntly, Phii Teo!” Bing gave him a half-hearted glare, “Especially when we’re staying in such a bizarre place.”
“Then do mobile network workers get haunted all year round or what?” Phii Teo was still puzzled.
“Oh, Phii Teo. Not everyone has that kind of sensitivity, or maybe it’s related to brain waves, I’m not sure, some people who want to see never do, and you only get to meet when the waves are perfectly tuned.”
“But tonight, you’re definitely going to see one.”
“Huh...?”
“The blanket ghost.” Phii Teo said with a straight face, “I’m going to dive under the covers myself.”
“Sigh...” Bing sighed before turning his back in disgust. He knew Phii Teo wasn’t gay, just a prankster.
The next morning, we woke up at 5 AM to watch the sunrise from Mon Son viewpoint. The first light bathed the sky in shades of orange and gold, so beautiful it almost took our breath away. Phii Thaen was snapping photos non-stop, trying to capture the beauty of this moment as much as he could.
Soon the sky brightened, and we could see white mist covering the entire valley. The sight from yesterday looked like clouds touching the earth, but now it was a sea of fog, almost indistinguishable whether we were on the ground or walking among the clouds in the sky, the cold air making our cheeks and hands chilly.
In the afternoon of that day, after checking out from our accommodation and having lunch, we drove down to visit a tea plantation. It was drizzling, which made the tea leaves look even greener and wetter, adding a fresh vibe to the place. The workers were still picking the tea leaves despite the light rain.
We spent hours there, soaking in and reveling in nature as much as we could before we had to return to our usual lives. I’ve never felt so good drinking tea before; it must have been the scent of rain, the earthy aroma, and the fragrance of the plants and grass carried by the wind.
Then, as the sky darkened with heavy gray clouds moving in, Phii Thaen spoke up:
“Should we head back? With the onset of winter, it gets dark quickly. I don’t want to drive down the mountain in the dark.”
The rest of us agreed. We bid farewell to the tea plantation and the highland view, then drove down the road that spiraled downward.
But our obstacle wasn’t the darkness; it was the rain that came down heavily on our way. The road became slick, and we had to drive with extra caution, especially given the winding path with sharp bends. However, Phii Thaen seemed focused and managed the car well, even though visibility was poor.
But just because we were driving well didn’t mean everyone else was.
Phii Thaen slammed on the brakes with a screech as we came around a bend to face another car heading straight towards us. The other car had cut into our lane, forcing Phii Thaen to swerve, and Phii Namwa screamed as our car skidded off the road, sliding down the slope! The car swayed violently from the momentum and the impact.
Crash!
Our car rammed into a tree. My head snapped to the right, hitting the window, and my vision went black instantly...
“Khen”
“Phii Khen!”
The sound of my name being called and a gentle shake on my arm brought me back to consciousness.
I slowly opened my eyes; a sharp pain shot through my head, making everything blurry at first, but then it cleared. I turned my head, feeling a warm liquid streaming from my forehead into my right eye, making it hard to keep open. When I touched it, I found it was blood.
“ Phii Khen, take it easy.” That was Bing’s voice. He was leaning over me, “You’ve got a cut on your head, here, press this towel against it to stop the bleeding.”
He dabbed at the blood on my forehead and eye with a towel before pressing it down above my brow. I looked around; we were still in the car, which had come to a stop after hitting a tree. The front bumper was crumpled on one side, and I must have passed out for a moment.
“Khen, how do you feel? Where else does it hurt?” Phii Thaen asked.
“Just my head.” I replied.
“Then let’s call an ambulance right away.” Phii Namwa said with a trembling voice, quickly taking out her phone to make the call.
“Hold on.” Bing interjected, “Wouldn’t it be faster if we drive down ourselves?”
They looked at each other; what Bing said made sense. It would probably take longer for an ambulance to reach us here and then take us to the hospital.
Phii Teo turned to Phii Thaen quickly, asking, “Can you do it, Thaen?”
“I can.” Phii Thaen answered immediately.
We decided to drive down the mountain to the nearest hospital by ourselves. Phii Thaen carefully maneuvered the car out. I looked out of the car with dread. If that tree hadn’t stopped us, our car would have continued down the slope, crashing into the treetops below.
Phii Thaen managed to steer the car back onto the road safely to everyone’s relief. The car that had caused the incident had long driven away. In our group, it seemed I was the most injured due to my head hitting the window. The others had bruises and sprains here and there; Phii Namwa had pain in her left arm, while Bing had to keep massaging his neck all the way down.
We returned to our accommodation quite late, each of us looking as exhausted and worn out as possible. My head was still throbbing from where it had been stitched up, Phii Teo was limping slightly, and Phii Thaen and Phii Namwa walked as if they were about to collapse. We looked like a group of zombies trudging home in the night; it had truly been a grueling day for us.
The rain had stopped long ago, leaving only a cool breeze. I walked across the shallow grass towards the large two-story house under the light of the clear moon. The house now looked dark except for the single light left on at the front porch, all the windows were closed, and looking through the light, there was only darkness inside, devoid of life.
I frowned when I thought I saw a curtain in the upper hall moving, right by the glass door that opened to the front balcony. I stared with surprise, wondering if there was really no one in the house or was it just the wind?
“I wonder if we’ll be able to work tomorrow.” Phii Thaen remarked.
“Exhausted like this, are we supposed to start working right away?” Phii Teo complained.
“If you can, do it. If not, just stop for now; we don’t have much work left anyway.” said Phii Namwa before turning to Bing, “Bing, stay here tonight. No need to go to the hotel, in case something happens, we’ll all be together.”
“Sure.” Bing nodded.
We went into the house and split up our respective rooms. Bing took his bag and went to sleep in Phii Teo’s room, which had two small beds, unlike mine with one big bed. He probably wanted me to stretch out comfortably without him cramping my space.
“If you need anything, just call for me, Phii.” Bing said, poking his head through the door.
“Hmm.”
After dealing with my personal matters, I flopped onto the bed, feeling exhausted. My head felt like it was filled with dark clouds, hoping that tomorrow would be better. I took some painkillers and fell asleep quickly.
But then, I was jolted awake in the middle of the night by the sound of thunder.
Turning towards the window, which was off to one side of the headboard, I saw that it was raining. I moved to switch on the bedside lamp before getting up to close the window to keep the rain out. I hesitated, wondering as I reached for the window...wasn’t it closed already? Or did I accidentally leave it open before I went to sleep?
I pulled the double casement window shut, struggling a bit with the stubborn latch due to fresh paint on the frame, before stepping back. But before I could reach the bed, the window sprang open, followed by a flash of lightning. I jumped, startled, thinking someone was standing next to me!
But it turned out to be just my reflection in the mirror inside the wardrobe door. I closed the wardrobe door again, clutching my chest, trying to calm my racing heart. The atmosphere of this house was playing tricks on me.
“Damn...nearly had a heart attack.” I muttered under my breath.
Then, I heard an odd sound from behind me.
Creaaak...
Creaaak...Creaaak...
I turned around slowly; the sound was coming from near the bed...not from under it, but from somewhere else.
I stood there motionless, surrounded by a strange wave of feelings, as if the air wasn’t just ordinary air. The sound was still there, continuous, soft, but insistent, as if it wouldn’t let me ignore it. I walked forward slowly and quietly, not even thinking about what I might encounter under the bed.
Upon reaching the bed, I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and turned it into a flashlight. Under the bed was too dark for the lamp’s light to reach. I knelt down beside the bed, placing one hand on the floor before carefully leaning down to look underneath.
I widened my eyes in surprise when my light shone on an old mechanical tin toy, a rabbit with long ears riding a bicycle, its red eyes prominent on its white face. It was now still. I decided to reach under and retrieve it for a closer look.
The cold metal of the tin sent a chill through my hand. This seemed like an antique toy imported from abroad at the time of the reign of King Rama V. The patterns on the tin were bright and vivid, and the rabbit was shaped like a person wearing overalls. I turned it over, examining it with astonishment.
How long had this been under the bed? Was it here since the first day I came? Maybe someone forgot it or it accidentally rolled under there. The wind-up mechanism still worked well. Was it a new toy made to resemble old ones? Surely it couldn’t be from the ‘60s or ‘70s.
...And who wound it up?
Before I could answer that question for myself, the hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I caught a fleeting movement on the bed out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look immediately, only to be shocked by what I saw!
On the bed sat a boy, his small pale face covered in scratches. He wore a shirt and shorts, with suspenders similar to those on the toy rabbit. The large eyes stared at me with an angry expression before his bright red lips opened wide, letting out a piercing scream.
“AHH!!!!!!”
“Hey!”
I recoiled, falling backwards, as the window slammed shut with a loud bang! before bouncing back open and hitting the wall. A bright flash of lightning followed by a loud clap of thunder. I ducked, covering my ears in shock, my heart pounding until the thunder subsided, and I slowly lowered my hands.
And when I looked at the bed again, the boy was gone.
Amidst the light from the bedside lamp and the cold air blowing through the window, I sat trembling on the floor, staring into the emptiness before me.
What did I just see?
...Don’t tell me that it was a ghost.
The ghost of the foreign child who died in this house!