Story - The Night That Dwells

The night had already begun, evidently depicted by the almost pitch-black atmosphere that surrounded the lone figure standing in the empty field. The lone man peered up above, seeing nothing but the glistening of the stars and the reflected light of the moon. He rapidly turned round; his long, beige cloak sweeping across the overgrown grass.
“Everything seems peaceful at this instant.” The man quietly muttered to himself. “But I know how these lands can truly be at times. I know what kind of beasts dwell amongst us at night in this city.”
The man, despite seemingly talking to himself, was actually talking some sense. At his current position, the fields of Venus Street, some sightings of apparent monsters had been reported to the police. Of course, the police of Venus Street were quick to dismiss such an occurrence, and the cases were all immediately dropped.
However, former detective Maxi Ross had decided to independently take the role to investigate the truth behind the apparent appearances of the beasts. Maxi Ross, known as ‘Rose-Man’ in his neighbourhood, was nicknamed this due to something he reported to of witnessed many years ago. According to his claims, a strange beast resembling the fictional representation of a ‘faun’ with two thorned-roses coming out of his head tried assaulting him one night when he was wandering through these very fields. Because of his outrageous, unrealistic claims, he was then taken off duty for good; never to be a detective again.
“Us ‘beasts’, Mr. Rose-Man, actually express feelings, too.” A calming voice uttered quietly into Maxi’s ear. Remaining calm, the former-detective smirked and pulled his hands out from the pockets in his cloak.
“It’s been too many years since I last met up with you, fowl creature of the night.” Maxi rudely greeted the being that stood beside him.
Now, Maxi was a little over the average height for men of his age (early thirties), yet the faun-like being beside him; despite it crouching down a little, was still at least two feet taller than him. Maxi was purposefully avoiding direct eye contact with it to surpass intimidation.
“I’m glad you’ve missed me, Rose-Man, though I find that the unnecessary insulting was rather hypocritical for a member of your species to make.” The creature responded, tearing off a rose bud from one of the two roses on top of his head.
“Oh? And why might it be that you find that greeting hypocritical, monster?” Maxi snapped, swerving his body round to face the creature that he’d been talking to. The creature reached over to the intimidated man and landed the rose bud into his pocket before pulling back his arm.
“Because, Rose-Man, I have not harmed a single living soul as of yet; nor have I damaged a single thing in this world. Your species as a whole, however, not only murder members of other species, but also are slowly rotting away our own home planet. Your species is an incredibly destructive one, so you are therefore the true fowl creatures of the night.” The faun-like being soothingly explained.
“You’re the reason I lost my job! That job meant everything to me! Not only that, but you’ve caused a phenomenon to erupt over this city! A select few people have been scared out of their mind after seeing you around the city at night!” Maxi screamed out at the creature.
“Rose-Man, you are undeniably wrong. First of all, you are the one and only being that caused for you to lose your job. You immediately presumed that I am a threat to you and your species just because of the paranoia other humans have caused for you to feel. For you to report me was your choice and for you to rush to the conclusion that I am a threatening creature was also your own fault. I have also, for another note, not caused a single form of phenomenon to occur in this city. I am a living being, so I have the right to be in this world. Out of pure courtesy, I have decided only to walk this Earth after midnight passes. That a human being has witnessed my presence was not intentional, nor should it of been threatening.” The creature wisely answered.
“Stop acting so smug. If you’re really as intelligent as you act, you should probably know already that us humans would automatically think of an unknown being to be a threat. It’s an instinct, it’s not paranoia.” Maxi declared, looking up at the creature in front of him.
“Then your instincts are incredibly flawed.” The creature concluded.
“We’re born with them. If we could edit each of our instincts, we wouldn’t be human.” Maxi explained, an aggressive tone still remaining in his voice.
“You need not ‘edit’ them, but instead need to learn to control them.” The creature advised. Maxi paused for a slight moment, taking the whole conversation into consideration.
“What are you?” Maxi politely asked, a puzzled look placed upon his face.
“My dear Rose-Man, I am Fickle, the being of the Earth.” The creature kindly replied, bowing before the former detective.
“Are there others like you?” Maxi questioned Fickle.
“Regretfully, I am the one being that takes this physical form.” Fickle indulged.
“What is your purpose here, then?” Maxi asked.
“Just to live peacefully among these fields and, if possible, to soothe the spirits of those in the human race.” Fickle kindly answered.
“In that case, I fully apologize to you for being so prejudicial, Fickle.” Maxi sincerely apologized.
“No apology is needed, I fully understand as to why you acted how you did. Now, Rose-Man, I have something to announce to you.” Fickle said.
“What’s that, then, Fickle?” Maxi requested.
“Myself and humans have one large commonly known similarity.” Fickle informed.
“Oh? What would that be?” Maxi asked, honestly intrigued by the creature’s words. Just as he’d finished his sentence, Fickle then grabbed Maxi with both hands by the waist and forced him into his open mouth, engulfing him within almost two bites. His sharp, small and pointy teeth were no match for the flesh of the man he had just consumed.
“Just like human beings, I am highly amused when deceiving and lying to others.” Fickle laughed to himself. A new rose bud grew in place of where he had ripped off the old one from his head before; the stalk of said rose extending slightly in length.
“And now, Earth and all of its inhabitants, I bid you a goodnight.” Fickle whispered gently.

Ever since the night that former detective Maxi Ross disappeared, the mystery of his whereabouts remained. Every single night since the incident for three years, another citizen of Venus Street would seemingly vanish. After the incredible amount of disappearances, the government expected some sort of conspiracy was occurring. The word was issued for Venus Street to be fully evacuated.
Twenty years on from that, however, all records of the occurrence were ordered to be destroyed and all of those who knew of the disappearances in Venus Street were oathed to never speak of it again; to avoid complete global anarchy.
The lands were, many years after, re-inhabited. Everybody still aware of the past situation soon naturally died. There were no longer any records or witnesses of the occurrence.
To this day, said town still remains populated, with the title ‘Harlow’ issued for its name. As for the beast, Fickle, it’s unknown whether he still lives on today.