Beyonders in This Era Were Way Too Freakish!

After hearing Saddam's account, Evan's initial curiosity gave way to a more pressing question.

"Had the goat you used for experiments shown any signs of mutation before this?"

"Or did any of you medical students perform some strange folk ritual centered on it?"

Saddam instinctively shook his head. "I don't think so..."

Before he could finish, his tear-filled eyes widened. "Wait! I think I've remembered something!"

He wiped away his tears and sniffed back his runny nose.

"About a week ago, our research group finished a project and finally got two days off."

"A few of us who lived together bought some alcohol to relax and celebrate."

"There were quite a few of us, so we held it in the common room of our dorm."

"Eventually, we all got pretty drunk, and then..."

Evan hurriedly raised a hand. "Please don't tell me someone did something inappropriate with the goat!"

Saddam waved his hands frantically. "No! No! Tom only said something about it as a joke."

Saddam frowned and struggled to piece together his drunken memories.

"There's a stretch I can't remember. Then a student suddenly suggested a game."

"He took out a mud-caked bottle and said he'd gotten his hands on some Antique-Grade Rum."

"He said it had been dug up from a lost pirate ship!"

"He also said drinking it could summon the ghosts of a pirate ship from centuries ago."

"We were all drunk, so nobody thought much of it."

"After that, it's hazy. We heard waves crashing, then a goat bleating."

"And then... I don't know what happened."

Evan wasn't surprised by Saddam's vague account. He patted his shoulder.

"I happen to have time today. Take me to see that goat."

Saddam shuddered, then asked tentatively, "You'll protect me, right?"

"It's... terrifying. It said it would kill