Joy Teo

“Don’t go. Do as he says,” grandmother said. Suzanne blinked and looked into her grandmother’s face.

“Grandmama?”

Grandmother’s eyes were no longer glazed, and she had spoken with such clarity when usually, her speech was slurred. At that very moment, Suzanne had no doubt that her grandmother’s mind was crystal clear.

Grandmother held onto Suzanne’s hand and gently pried open her palm, revealing the black mark. Grandmother’s eyes narrowed as she traced her bony finger on Suzanne’s palm before staring back at Suzanne.

“This,” she pointed at Suzanne’s palm, “This is the mark of the beast.”