Don't Look It In the Eye

Don't look it in the eye.

Never, not once.

Once is all it takes.

Twice, unthinkable. Unheard of.

It only emerges at night,

the day burns its skin and blinds its eyes.

No, that doesn't mean look in them.

Steer clear no matter what.

During the day, you might see it lurking,

in bushes, under benches, in the tunnel of a playground slide.

I understand your concern. But children are easy prey.

Gruesome, I know.

Is it starting to sink in?

This thing is not to be trifled with.

If cornered and forced to fight, you will not win.

Stay away in the day,

but hide, barricade yourself at night.

If it spots you in the dark, it will not hesitate.

By night it is stronger, faster, hungrier.

And no matter what,

if you take away just one bit of advice from this,

even if it attacks, guts you, begins to gnaw as you still draw breath:

Don't look it in the eye.

If you risk so much as a glance,

it is already too late.

Don't ask me how I know this,

let's just say I've lost many a friend to such a fate.

It's a fate worse than death,

than broken bones,

spilled intestines,

or being eaten alive. Believe me.

I've seen loved ones, friends, killed mercilessly by the monster.

I could not intervene,

could not pull them away,

without its deadly gaze stealing me too.

The looks on their faces as the creature sized them up,

the whiteness of their hair as fear electrocuted their minds,

the wideness of their mouths as they lost all ability to shriek for help

and the dilation of their pupils as something sinister settled deep inside...

...I will never forget.

I- I wanted to help.

I could've helped.

But that would've been fatal for me too.

All I can do now is this.

Scream from the rooftops, plead with any passersby,

repeat the same, desperate message until my voice someday escapes me.

Whatever you do: Don't look it in the eye.