“The Gods"
In a remote Himalayan village, nestled between jagged cliffs and dense forests, lived a tribe that worshipped The Gods of Silence. Unlike typical deities, these gods had no names, no idols, and no prayers—only one rule: “Never speak of them after sunset.”
No one questioned the rule. Generations obeyed without understanding. The elders said that long ago, when the gods were spoken of at night, they came—not in glory, but in hunger.
One winter evening, a young outsider named Rohan visited the village, fascinated by its isolation and mystique. He laughed off the warnings, calling them “superstitious nonsense.” That night, in front of the villagers, he mocked the gods and shouted, “Where are these silent gods? I call upon them!”
The villagers froze. The air turned heavy. One by one, doors slammed shut, and the streets emptied.
Rohan, amused, stayed outside. He set up his camera, hoping to capture the “reaction” of the villagers. Midnight approached. The winds stopped. And then—nothing.
No sound. No crickets. No wind. Not even his own breathing.
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He looked around. Everything was still, like a photograph. Then came the footsteps—soft, deliberate, but not from any direction. They were everywhere. He turned, heart pounding. Shadows formed in the fog. Tall, thin, humanoid figures with blank faces and mouths that stretched unnaturally wide.
They said nothing. They only stared. And then, without a sound, they opened their mouths and screamed—not with voices, but with silence so loud it shattered his mind.
The next morning, the villagers found his camera lying in the snow. It showed the village square. Rohan appeared in the frame, smiling.
Then he turned to the lens and whispered: “They’re real.”
And then, nothing. Just static.
No one ever saw Rohan again.
Since that day, the villagers added a new rule:
“Never bring outsiders. And never speak of the gods. Not even in whispers.”
Because The Gods of Silence are always listening.
