Ethereal Chronicles

By the time I reached the cave dusk was beginning to creep across the desert, and a soft breeze stirred the sand that surrounded me. Before me stood a grand golden door, broad and imposing, its silent whispers urging me to open it. Thinking of the treasures that the old man had promised lay beyond, I eagerly reached out, feeling the coolness of the doorknob as my hand closed around it.

The door swung open, revealing a vast cavern, and, to my delight, the fulfilled promise of gold and jewels lay before my eyes. Gems encrusted the walls, heaped on the floor, and overflowed from chests. I sighed with the knowledge that I would never again have to work, nor endure the bitter curse of poverty that I had lived with for so many years.

But as I surveyed the cavern once more, I realised that I was not alone. At the far edge of the cave, seated on a throne against the wall, was a woman. She might have been the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, were it not for the faint, unsettling odor of death that had begun to taint the air as my eyes found hers, causing me to hesitate.

She rose, and I could not help but gape, my eyes fixed on her as she moved, bare-skinned, across the floor. She flashed me a smile, glancing down at herself before meeting my gaze once more. I knew that this was wrong, that I should have averted my eyes, but the loveliness of her body compelled me, and I yearned to taste the sweetness of her lips.

She waited, arms outstretched, and in mere moments I had forgotten the jewels, forgotten my future riches, and stumbled towards her, winding my arms about her, letting her lips crash against mine.

She kissed me softly at first, gently bringing up her hands to cradle my face. But as she did so that terrible stench once more tore through my nostrils, and I felt my eyes begin to water from such vileness. Sensing my hesitation, she kissed me again, this time more forcefully, and I found myself kissing her back, unsure whether it was by choice or compulsion. As she sucked on my lower lip, I felt a harsh pain stab through it, and attempted to recoil, tasting bitter blood in my mouth. But she possessed an unnatural strength about her, and I was unable to release her grip, nor pull my head from her face. As I struggled, she kissed me again, and I felt harsh, jagged teeth sink into my lip, ripping it from my face altogether.

I screamed as searing agony tore through my face, spreading through the rest of my body like wildfire, but she did not pause to wait for me to recover before she lunged at me again, this time tearing a chunk of flesh from my cheek.

I stumbled backwards, clutching my mangled face as I collapsed to the ground behind me. Whimpering, I began to crawl away. My eyes could not leave her as she smiled, her teeth bloodstained, and began to morph before my eyes, shifting into something far more foul, something that certainly wasn’t human. I was no longer looking at the beautiful woman from before, but at a festering monster, the skin pale, hairless and sticky and a mouth that was wide and red, lined with white daggers. Beady eyes glared out at me as it let out a hiss, crawling forwards on all fours to close the distance between us.

As I scrambled further away, it swiped at my leg, dragging me back towards it. Its teeth sank into the tender flesh, ripping it apart until only bloody bone remained. My vision began to blur as the creature paused to greedily stuff the wet meat into its mouth, all the while eyeing the rest of me, eager to take some more.

A Ghoul, also known as ‘Ghul’ or ‘Ghulah’, is a demonic creature in Arab folklore, said to roam the land in search of human flesh.

APPEARANCE AND ATTRIBUTES

Ghouls traditionally appear as animals, particularly Hyenas, and choose to hunt either alone or in packs across the desert, targeting the weakest and most vulnerable of travellers. But these creatures are not confined to such forms; they are also endowed with the ability to shapeshift.

Perhaps this trait makes a ghoul far more terrifying, as it is thus able to seamlessly blend in with humanity itself. After consuming a human, a Ghoul may assume the person’s appearance, potentially even retaining their precious memories and knowledge.

Many tales describe Ghouls that appear as beautiful women, choosing this form simply because lustful men are the easiest prey to find. After luring an admirer to its secluded territory, the Ghoul reveals its true form before torturing and devouring the victim alive.

Other Ghouls may tempt humans by offering false promises that ultimately end in doom.

Ghouls inhabit desolate places, such as graveyards and desert wastelands. According to Al-Dimashqi, they reside in caves, avoiding the glare of the sun and feeding on humans and animals alike.

Ghouls may also steal gold and other household items, as well as human children. These children are replaced with changelings, though the creatures inevitably reveal their true appearances as they develop into adulthood.

These creatures do not discriminate in their feeding; they prey on men, women and children alike. Driven by a greedy, gluttonous nature, they often continue to feed even after they are full.

THE CREATION OF GHOULS

In Islamic belief, Ghouls are considered a type of Jinn or Devil. They were once able to enter heaven, however they used their access to impart forbidden knowledge to the soothsayers on Earth.

With the birth of Jesus, three of the seven divisions of heaven were barred to them. When Muhammed appeared, the remaining four heavens were also banned, and the creatures were struck with burning comets as they attempted to ascend.

Those who were not killed were left brutally deformed, their minds twisted into insanity, and they fell to Earth, condemned to roam the deserts for eternity as Ghouls.

PROTECTION

It is believed that a Ghoul can be defeated with the recital of Adhan, the first Islamic call to prayer. Additionally, their sensitivity to light and fire can also be exploited as a means of defence.