The Cloud Monster, Rain Monster: Koloyudo and collection of other stories

Short Story

The Cloud Monster, Rain Monster: Koloyudo

January 1, 2013, 1:40 PM

A heavy rainstorm poured down over the Pga K’nyau tribal settlement. After the rain stopped, the storm clouds drifted away. However, a massive “red cloud” suddenly appeared...

Red rain began falling from the red cloud. As the crimson droplets hit the ground, they merged into a vast red water mass that crept forward, absorbing objects, people, and animals in the village.

“Meow!!!!” “Woof! Woof! Woof!” “Ahhh!” “Help!!!” “Aaargh!!!”

When the village was completely consumed, the red water evaporated into a red mist, reuniting with the red cloud before vanishing into the sky.

January 2, 2013, 7:00 PM

In a village in Ang Thong Province, rain began to fall...

After the rain stopped, the red cloud struck again, consuming everything within the village.

January 3, 2013, 9:00 AM

At Asawin and Alinda’s home:

🎵 Musical notes from a TV show theme 🎵

“Asawin, let’s go to the aquarium!”

“I’m not your girlfriend...”

“Uh... wait a minute...” Asawin’s face turned red with embarrassment.

12:45 PM, the same day

At an aquarium in Chonburi Province:

Asawin and Alinda walked past the starfish tank, unaware that its water had turned red.

As they entered the aquarium, people were running and screaming in panic.

“What are they running from?” Alinda asked.

Alarmed, Asawin rushed outside with Alinda. They were horrified to see a massive red water mass consuming buildings, people, cement roads, concrete statues—everything in its path.

Terrified, they fled, barely escaping the advancing red flood.

1:38 PM

The red cloud hovered over Bangkok, releasing red rain that engulfed everything. People and animals panicked as plastic bags flew in the air, cars crashed, and people were trampled on the crimson-soaked ground. Buildings, supplies, and living creatures vanished into the monstrous water.

At the Thai Air Force’s arsenal, the red water consumed a Gripen fighter jet, causing it to explode. The explosion turned the water into red vapor, sending it back into the sky. Meanwhile, gas station explosions across Bangkok also forced the red water to evaporate and merge with the red cloud.

News Report (5 Minutes After the Incident):

“We are now at Victory Monument. As you can see behind me, the monument has completely disappeared. The ground is littered with remains of lives lost in the red water’s attack. The current death toll stands at 3,058, with 180,000 reported injured...”

January 4, 2013

News about the red storm clouds continued to dominate headlines worldwide. Scientists from various fields, including experts searching for extraterrestrial life, gathered in Thailand to investigate the mysterious phenomenon. They set up a research base in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District and held a conference in a facility built by a Thai scientist, with 20 interpreters translating into different languages.

The Conference Begins

“The red storm cloud is a natural mystery that science has yet to explain. If we can uncover its secrets, we may solve some of Earth’s greatest natural enigmas,” a German scientist stated.

“It could be a new natural phenomenon emerging on Earth,” a Japanese scientist added.

“Excuse me, but I disagree,” Thai scientist Dr. Patiphat, nicknamed Johnny, interjected. “Based on the red storm cloud’s behavior, it’s not a natural weather phenomenon—it’s a living entity.”

“Do you have any evidence for that?” an American scientist questioned.

“The events themselves are the best evidence. Its actions are too deliberate for an inanimate natural occurrence like water,” Johnny argued.

“So, if it absorbs everything around it, it must need food... meaning it’s alive,” a Russian scientist concluded.

“How can we be sure it’s a living being?” a British scientist wondered.

“I will gather more evidence,” Johnny promised. “It’s now 12:00 PM, so we’ll adjourn the meeting. Further meetings will be announced as needed.”

January 5, 2013, 6:00 AM

Johnny arrived at the Pga K’nyau village where the first red cloud attack occurred. Everything was gone except for ten ruined houses. He filmed the eerie aftermath.

Inside one house, he noticed red water on a cooking pot. As he prepared to film, the red liquid crept toward him. He placed an eggplant from the floor in front of it, and the liquid absorbed it before moving toward him. Thinking quickly, Johnny lit a fallen matchstick and dropped it on the red water. The water evaporated into red vapor, rising into the sky.

6:38 AM

Johnny prepared to return to Ayutthaya when the red storm cloud reappeared. Nearby, Asawin and Alinda were in danger. Johnny rescued them just in time.

“Were you here for sightseeing? Hide in the forest—it’s safer,” Johnny urged. The trio escaped through the forest until they were safe. “I have to leave now,” Johnny said.

“Thank you very much!” Asawin and Alinda said gratefully.

January 5, 2013, 9:58 PM

Johnny returned to Ayutthaya, where the conference manager announced the next meeting at 3:00 PM the following day.

January 6, 2013, 3:00 PM

“I now have enough evidence to prove that the red cloud is a living being,” Johnny announced, playing the video he had recorded.

“The first attack happened in a northern tribal village, followed by Ang Thong Province and then Chonburi. Strangely, these incidents barely spread online due to being reported on minor websites. In contrast, the Bangkok attack drew global attention. Clouds can’t return to their origin, but this one did—proving it’s a living entity.”

He explained how the red water reacted to fire in the video. “Inanimate substances don’t respond to stimuli, while living organisms do, like plants growing toward sunlight.”

“What if it’s just gas or an unknown substance?” an American scientist asked.

“If it were, it wouldn’t rise into the sky as a visible mass after evaporating. This behavior indicates something more than a mere chemical reaction,” Johnny countered.

“Then it really is a living organism,” the Russian scientist concluded.

“Could it be extraterrestrial?” the Japanese scientist wondered.

“That’s possible since we’ve never encountered living beings made of gas or liquid on Earth,” Johnny agreed.

“If it’s alien, it proves extraterrestrial life exists,” the British scientist added.

Suddenly, breaking news interrupted the conference. The manager rushed in, and Johnny turned on the TV.

“The red storm cloud is approaching Ayutthaya’s city island. Ayutthaya Railway Station has already been destroyed...”

“What?!” the American scientist exclaimed.

“It’s coming here?!” a Brazilian scientist gasped in shock.

“We know it’s alive, but we don’t know how to stop it,” the Japanese scientist admitted.

“Stop it...” Johnny echoed thoughtfully.

He requested all reports and articles about the Bangkok attack, particularly about how the red water disappeared. After reviewing them, he spoke with urgency:

“I’ve figured it out.”

“What is it?” the Japanese scientist asked.

“Ten minutes before the red water disappeared from Bangkok, a fighter jet at the Air Force base exploded. Five minutes later, gas stations across the city blew up simultaneously, causing the red water to evaporate instantly. In my video, the red water evaporated after coming into contact with a burning matchstick.”

“That means... it’s vulnerable to heat!” the Russian scientist exclaimed.

“Exactly. If we apply enough heat, we can defeat it,” Johnny confirmed.

TV News Broadcast:

“The red storm cloud has now entered Ayutthaya’s city island...”

“Damn it!” the American scientist exclaimed in frustration.

“Everyone, we need to evacuate this place immediately!” Johnny urged.

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly prepared and fled the city island together.

The red rain began to fall relentlessly, consuming everything in its path. Wherever the crimson waters flowed, all life was absorbed. The air filled with the agonizing screams of people and animals alike.

Afterward, the red water evaporated into the sky, leaving behind a horrifying scene: pools of bright red blood flooding the ground, skeletal remains and skulls with remnants of organs still clinging inside. Eyes, stomachs, livers, and torn intestines were scattered across the blood-stained streets.

4:00 PM

The Prime Minister issued an evacuation order for civilians and commanded all three branches of the military to prepare for combat against the Red Rain Cloud. He also summoned the entire team of scientists studying the phenomenon.

Prime Minister:

“Everyone, thank you for coming.”

“The reason I’ve gathered scientists from around the world today is that the Red Rain Cloud has caused severe destruction. I need you to find a way to deal with it. First, I’d like some basic information about this phenomenon.”

Johnny:

“Sir, the Red Rain Cloud is a living organism. It reacts more like a living being than an inanimate substance like water or gas. The first attack happened in the North, followed by attacks in the Central, Eastern, Central again, and Northern regions. This pattern indicates it has intelligence. Its tendency to absorb everything around it suggests it might need nourishment.”

Prime Minister:

“Hmm... does it have a name? If it’s a living thing, it should have one.”

Johnny:

“Koloyudo, sir.”

Prime Minister:

“Alright. You’ll be working closely with the Ministry of Defense. Start your work immediately.”

Johnny:

“Yes, sir.”

January 7, 2013 - 6:30 AM

At the Ministry of Defense Meeting

Minister of Defense:

“The Red Rain Cloud has clearly caused significant damage to both life and property. We must establish countermeasures immediately. Based on the information we have, it’s clear that Koloyudo is vulnerable to heat. The question is—how can we apply heat to it effectively?”

Johnny:

“Actually, we could use conventional explosives to generate enough heat to combat it. What we should focus on right now is locating it.”

Deputy Minister of Defense:

“And how exactly do we locate it?”

“Weather forecasting,” Johnny responded. “Koloyudo behaves like a rain cloud and floats in the atmosphere. This means that weather satellites should be able to detect its location. What we need to do now is pinpoint its position and figure out how to deal with it afterward.”

January 8, 2013 - 11:50 AM

Using weather satellites, the military successfully located Koloyudo hovering over a barren mountain in Nakhon Nayok Province. The military quickly mobilized to the site.

12:50 PM

The red cloud descended to the ground.

“What the heck...?” a soldier exclaimed.

“Why didn’t it fall as rain first?” a Russian scientist questioned curiously.

The red cloud slowly morphed into the shape of a house, followed by the appearance of people, cattle, and buffalo—everything it had previously absorbed.

“Does this mean... the red cloud can change its form?” the German scientist asked in disbelief.

“But why would it absorb other things?” the Japanese scientist wondered.

“And why would it need to change its shape?” the American scientist pondered.

“Maybe... it wants to have a definite form...?” Johnny speculated.

“A definite form?” the Australian scientist asked, puzzled.

“Koloyudo has no fixed shape... which means that perhaps... it absorbs everything in an attempt to create a definite form,” Johnny explained.

“So... everything it does is because it wants a solid form of its own?” the Russian scientist concluded.

“Possibly... It might be absorbing everything to construct a definite form for itself,” Johnny replied.

Suddenly, the red cloud, now transformed, advanced toward them. The military immediately launched a full-scale attack.

“Fire!”

At the command, tank cannons unleashed a barrage of shells, striking the red cloud and causing part of it to dissipate. However, the remaining portion ascended into the sky and vanished.

“Damn it! Can’t we just take that thing down in the sky?” a frustrated soldier shouted.

“Maybe we can,” Johnny responded.

“If we attach explosives to balloons and let them float toward Koloyudo, we might be able to destroy it in the sky.”