Sweet Melody.

It was the middle of the night. Still. Perfectly still.

No birds tweeting, no breeze blowing. No rowdy drunks, wandering back from the tavern. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Except for the children.

They awoke, all at once. They awoke to the most beautiful melody, that only they could hear. Their parents wouldn't rise, no matter how hard they shook and shouted. They were dead to the world, for that night.

The music was powerful, and soon the children were lulled away.

Away from their safe homes, away from their loving families. Towards the dark forest, at the edge of town.

A man stood waiting, watching them herd past. He was invisible, as noticeable as the trees gently swaying to his song.

The children were happy, smiling.

Their feet bled as they danced on the rough ground, but they didn’t notice.

Trees bruised them, but they didn't care.

The cliffs came closer, but they didn’t see. They were lost in the music.

Cries came in the morning. Screams of parents, of fear and agony.

The children were long gone. They wouldn’t be seen again.

Alive.