A Halloween Story

[khaosworks]

When I was in the Army (1988-1991), I did my basic training on an island off the East Coast of Singapore, known as Pulau Tekong, at the Infantry Training Depot. Back then, Camp III was the modern, apartment block one, while Camp I was still barrack style. I was assigned to Alpha Company, Platoon 4, which was across from older, multi-storey barracks that housed the NCOs.

A running path wound its way through the camp, which dated back to World War II and the Japanese Occupation. One of our corporals told us this story, back when he too was a recruit living in the same bunk.

He had been told that during certain nights, the sound of marching soldiers could be heard in the middle of the night when no exercises were being held. Also, occasionally, going past Platoon 4's building, could be heard the sound of running, a girl crying, and the sound of dogs barking, as if they were chasing her.

One night, he was lying in his bed, when he was awakened by a sound, like chains jangling. Remembering the story he had been told, he was terrified, and closed his eyes tightly. The sound of jangling grew louder, then faded away, and he relaxed slightly. But then... another sound took its place, a sound he couldn't quite identify, except by describing the sound itself.

Plop. Schlllllp. Plop. Schlllllp. Jangle. Plop. Schllllp. Jangle. Plop. Schlllllp.

What unearthly noise was this? He had visions of some shambling mound of half-decomposed flesh, moving its carcass along, chains dragging behind him. His heart was beating hard in his chest. He felt it hard to breathe. The sounds grew louder, as if approaching his bed. He was paralyzed with fear, tugging the blanket up around his chin, trying to inch beneath it, but trying not to make a move, as if any sign of movement would alert this supernatural presence to his existence and surely bring its horror to bear upon him.

Then the sound stopped. And the jangling started up again. And the creaking of hinges.

He opened his eyes. Turning to the guy who had been going to the bathroom and was now opening his locker with the keys hooked onto his shorts, he yelled:

"For fuck's sake, stop dragging your goddamn slippers, will you?"

Comments

[eviltofu.livejournal.com]

My Tekong memories consists of the following.

1. Toilets flushing with no one in them. (No we don't have autoflush technology at that point in time)
   
2. I was sleeping on the top bunk and my buddy on the bottom bunk. Suddenly, my cupboard starts shaking and rattling. Buddy asks, "is that you?" "No, just go to sleep," I replied.
   
3. Going into a trance while preparing for nightfall in the middle of a training exercise. I thought I was looking at a door in the middle of the forest.
   

[badgerthorazine.livejournal.com]

Wow...that's a neat tale! *giggles* And an interesting location, too. Thanks!