They say that they never existed; that they were an illusion spread by the peasants through massive hysteria. These tall, pitch blackened people that lurked in the shadows and the darkness of the woods and desolated islands forgotten from man’s sight. They say that only few uneducated and isolated people run into them among the forest moors, at the dread of the night. They say that these blackened people are evil. Legend has it that they are descendants of the vicious Moors that came to annihilate the Peloponnese and what remained on occupied Greece. Some say they are even older and they are descendants of demons stranded on earth. Whoever they may be, it said that they cause harm where ever they are seen, even as extensions of aggressive and aloof shadows of nature. Nature has such secrets hidden, gateways into the unknown worlds of the paranormal. But among superstitions could there be any truth hidden? They say that if you see them from a distance at isolated islands they throw rocks at you and curse you and within days you get gravely sick and Death comes to claim you.

I never feared the obscure, I always found comfort among the whispering trees of mysterious and obscure cemeteries. When I’d leave the big city I would lose myself among the logs and thick branches swamped in leaves in order to find what I seek, yet I do not know what it is. One dark night, when the mist was taking over and the moon and stars were nowhere to be seen. Where each night sound was like a cry from a being that was not of this world. This would have caused fear but I feared not. That night, among the trees from a distance I saw one of them, the blackened people that bring death when seen. The being was tall, black and I could not see its eyes. It was strong and terrifying yet I felt no fear. I looked straight at it and it looked straight at me. It approached me within seconds and it opened its hand as if to signal something. I was there, immobilized and with wide curious eyes. It was as if it was beckoning to me to follow it but as much as I desired to do so I remained still and silent. You should not speak to such beings or you may lose your voice and reason. It nodded and turned and left. I said in the silence of my mind ‘Farewell strange thing’. After some time I went home and gave myself to the embrace of Morpheus.

As I was in the land of the dreams, this strange being came to me and took me to a hidden part of the mystic forest. Among trees drowning in branches and dead leaves, it muttered to me that in the ground, just under the hollow tree, a secret lay. A secret treasure. It said that it was mine but it would vanish and become coal and dirt should I ever reveal this dream and secret to anyone as long as I draw breath. I placed my hands on my heart as if I was promising to keep this secret, a secret I already sword to keep hidden and take it to my grave where I would allow it to vanish in the vanity of eternity.

The morning came and the mist had covered the village. No voices, but a distant eerie song of a crow. I got dressed and went out. I went to the where the blackened person had indicated to me in my dream. I found the hollow tree drowning in endless dead leaves. I dug with my bare hands and I found a small black box. I took it into my hands and opened it and as I opened it a cold breeze rose and forced some of the dead leaves to levitate and fall again on the ground. I think I could hear a voice so strange yet so human speaking words I could not understand. The box I opened and there it was, a treasure so simple yet so beautiful. A golden chain with a round locket, with a red stone in the middle and surrounded by small green stones. I took the locket into my hand; I touched and starred at it. I looked towards the sky and whispered ‘I promise to never tell anyone of this treasure. To my grave I will take it. Thank you for your offer’. As I whispered the last phrase, I think I heard a strange human voice sighed and a weird sound of nature began to sing, it was a song so beautiful and mesmerizing yet so strange and captivating. I put the box in my bag and walked away. I had to go back and prepare, prepare to go the place of a million cages baptized as homes where supernatural beings and spirits were too afraid to enter.