Echoes Beyond the Cliff: A Midnight Cry

The wind howled through the rugged hills near the Kerala-Karnataka border, carrying with it an eerie silence that weighed heavier than darkness. Four friends—Dileep, Vinod, Santhosh, and Saju—arrived from Kochi that afternoon, hoping for a break from city life. They weren't just visiting family. They had come to witness something ancient… and alive.

They were staying at Dileep's uncle’s ancestral home—an old, partially abandoned structure tucked away at the edge of a sparse settlement in Kasaragod. The place had only a handful of scattered houses, encircled by thick trees, trickling streams, and massive boulders that seemed to hold secrets of their own. Their real purpose was to see the Theyyam¹ ritual at the old family temple nearby—a tradition Dileep’s family had guarded for generations.

The house they were given was as old as the legends whispered around the village. The lower floor remained locked—it was used for storing unused furniture and tools—and the four men had been asked to stay upstairs. That night, they shared drinks under dim yellow lights, swapping stories of past travels, especially a Munnar² trip where their late friend Dinesh had stirred up chaos after overdrinking. Laughter echoed briefly, breaking the tension in the air.

Santhosh wandered off to the front verandah and sat silently on the half-wall, staring into the silver-washed night. Dileep retired early. Vinod and Saju stayed up, their talk now quieter, shadows dancing across their faces.

Then, at midnight, it began.

A scream—raw and desperate—ripped through the stillness. It echoed from somewhere deep in the hills. Someone was crying for help. Terrified and confused, Saju and Vinod rushed to the verandah. Santhosh was gone. He had vanished from where he had been sitting.

They checked the bedroom. Dileep was fast asleep, undisturbed.

Saju quickly dialed Santhosh’s number. No signal. Without thinking, they bolted down the stairs and ran in the direction of the scream. The moonlight barely lit their path through the thickets and rocks, the air colder now, heavier. Just then, they heard someone running behind them. It was Dileep—panting, pale—joining their frantic chase.

They kept running until a narrow stream split their path. Slippery stones led to a cluster of jagged rocks that climbed into a massive black boulder. From atop it, that same blood-curdling scream pierced the night again.

Saju’s phone rang.

It was Dileep.

But Dileep was right in front of them—climbing toward the boulder.

Shocked, they stared. Maybe it was Santhosh calling from Dileep’s phone?

But the voice on the other end made their blood run cold.

It was Dileep himself, telling them not to move another step.

"What are you doing out there? Go back right now. I’m still at the house. And didn’t uncle tell us—no matter what we hear, we must not go out at night?"

Saju’s phone slipped from his hands. Then who was ahead of them? Who was climbing the rocks in Dileep’s form?

They ran—breathless, shaking—to find Santhosh back at the house, emerging from the bathroom with a towel in hand.

The next morning, they told Dileep’s uncle everything.

His face darkened. Quietly, he revealed the legend behind those rocks. Years ago, a woman lured her husband to that very cliff, under the pretense of a peaceful outing. Her lover joined them in secret. And from that great stone ledge, they pushed the man to his death. Villagers had long stopped going there after dark. Some still say that when the moonlight falls just right, you can hear the scream—of betrayal, of a soul that never left.

Footnotes:

1. Theyyam⁽¹⁾

Theyyam is a sacred ritual art form native to North Kerala, blending dance, music, and vibrant makeup to invoke divine spirits. Believed to be a channel through which deities speak, the Theyyam ritual is said to blur the line between the living and the spiritual. Learn more at keralafolklore.com/theyyam.html

2. Munnar⁽²⁾

Munnar, nestled in Kerala’s Western Ghats, is famous for its misty hills, tea gardens, and cool climate. It’s also known for hidden trails and local myths—perfect soil for ghost stories to grow. Discover more at keralanaturevibes.com/blog.html#munnar

Disclaimer:

This story is a work of fiction, entirely a creation of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or people is purely coincidental.