Beneath the Dark Canopy
Although dark clouds covered the sky, the streets of the small Bulgarian city thrummed with the lively sounds of the kukeri dance. The kukeri are men dressed in terrifying costumes adorned with bells that jingle as they move, believed to chase away evil spirits. In Bulgaria, they are celebrated the day after Sirni Zagovezni, the seventh Sunday before Easter for Orthodox Christians.
While the city slept, the majestic sounds of the masked dancers' bells filled the streets, as if to proclaim their protection over the slumbering town. Everyone was peacefully asleep—everyone except Petkan. The fifteen-year-old boy had travelled to the city with his parents from the capital, and it was his first time witnessing the kukeri performance live.
Unable to forget the captivating dance, he slipped out of the rented house, excitement bubbling in his chest. Guided by an unseen force, he wandered into the forest on the city’s southern edge. The moon hung low over the dark trees, shrouded in thick mist. Yet, entranced, he pressed on. The deeper he ventured, the more terrifying the surroundings grew. To make matters worse, dark clouds began to pour heavy rain, each drop echoing like a warning through the night.
A sudden crack shattered the night’s stillness, sending a rush of adrenaline through Petkan. The sound jolted him awake, and in a confused whisper, he asked himself, What am I doing in the forest? He looked around, but the mist cloaked the area, reducing visibility to almost nothing. He tried to stay calm, but each drop of rain sent his panic spiralling.
He clearly remembered the townsfolk’s warnings about the wolves that still roamed the forest. The thought of being eaten by them sent Petkan’s remaining composure flying out the window. In his panic, he started running in a random direction, hoping to find the exit.
With a sharp snap, branches beneath him broke, intensifying the ominous feeling in the darkness. But Petkan couldn’t stop running; who knew what would happen if he did? The more he ran, the heavier the air around him became. He thought to himself, That’s it. I’ll die in an unknown forest.
Similar thoughts raced through his mind until he stopped, shouting into the night: “Oh no, please, God. Don’t let me die a virgin! At least let me experience it once before you take me! I just need to outdo Vlavchev—that’s all I’m begging you for. You know how he is—so popular, the girls all like him, and a total bully to me! Just before the vacation, one of his friends told me he hasn’t even slept with a girl yet! So please, let me do it at least once, so I can show him!” Tears streamed down his cheeks as despair overwhelmed him.
After a minute of silence, Petkan regained some composure and kept moving. He could barely see the trees in front of him but felt he had no choice. The biggest problem now was the cold, creeping into his bones. Thoughts of losing to Vlavchev only made his anxiety worse, spiraling around in his mind. Then, as the mist began to thin, a flicker of hope surged through him. Haha, take that, Vlavchev! I still have a chance! With excitement in his heart, his steps grew lighter.
Sadly, the happiness was short-lived. In front of Petkan stood an image he would never forget. A terrifying creature, dark and towering like an ancient cherry tree, loomed with sharp teeth and nails as lethal as blades, its eyes glowing the colour of blood. It faced off against a kuker. Petkan froze in shock, his mind racing. Fuck. Am I in hell?
