Taking the prohibited path

You may have heard that curiosity killed the cat, and yet you can't resist the urge to investigate where you should not go. Over and over, you have been warned not to go into the wooded area behind your home, but you feel beckoned.

You have stood at the entrance many times since childhood and listened to the tall tales that others have told, yet something inside of you is urging you to find out for yourself what is lurking beyond what can easily be seen.

It's a sunny Fall day as evening nears. Leaves of many colors are on the ground. You recall the excitement of Halloween or listening to ghost stories as a child and decide that once and for all you must know the truth.

You heard rumors about witches casting spells in the woods and of strange animals that come out at night. You believe you are safe because the afternoon turning to evening feels magical and there is still a lot of daylight ahead.

You have walked many hiking trails alone without a problem and pray as you carefully take each step. There is something alluring about taking a prohibited path and reaching for the forbidden fruit.

You notice that a cross has been painted in red on a tree as you walk toward the forbidden zone. Perhaps this protects those who enter from harm and prevents what is inside from coming out.

You take courage and begin your journey. Birds and crickets are chirping, a gentle breeze is blowing, the sun glistens through treetops, and it feels as though you are in a magical kingdom.

As you continue walking, you don’t realize how far you have gone and that the atmosphere is changing.. The breeze has stopped and the sun is no longer glistening on the multicolored tree leaves. The crickets and birds are eerily silent, and the feeling of magic is being replaced by dread.

You feel as though you are in the haunted Forest in The Wizard of Oz and look up, expecting flying monkeys to take you away. The dead silence should have been an indication that trouble is near.

You didn't realize you had walked so far and wonder if you should turn back when you see something just ahead. You take a few more steps and notice a sign on a tree stating "No Trespassing beyond this point.”

Just up ahead on the left is what looks like a camp. There are a couple of tents and items spread across the ground. You consider that it may be a homeless camp and decide to investigate further. Since you have come this far, and don't see ay other humans, a few more steps won't matter.

Suddenly your eyes divert to a tree just behind the tent where a black upside-down cross has been painted. On the ground are what look like bleached bones, and there is a fire pit to the right.

You take a few more steps, and just behind the tent are the remains of some animal. The scent of smoldering wood and burning flesh makes you want to throw up. You know in that moment you have stumbled onto something sinister and never should have ventured this far alone.

There is no sign of other humans, but you determine this is a site of animal sacrifice and decide to turn back. In the distance just ahead is a noise that cuts off your breath. It sounds like a severely wounded or dying animal.

You realize that further up there must be more carnage, and you turn to run back home. You trip over something in the path, and when you get up, you observe what looks like a person swinging from a rope in a tall tree.

You did not see this on your way in and can't determine if it is real or a dummy. Now you begin to sense danger and pick up your speed. You don't know for certain what is going on, but you realize you never should have come this far and seen what was hidden by the trees.

Are the homeless, missing persons, and animals being sacrificed in some ritual? Is it witchcraft, Satanic, or just some demented people? You now know there is a reason you were told not to go into the deep woods.

You make it out and stumble back into the clearing. You take a moment to catch your breath, then run all the way home.

You are too frightened to tell anyone what you have seen, and you never mention the situation. Still, each time someone's pet goes missing, you wonder if they became a sacrifice.

Whenever there is a local who cannot be found, you wonder if they might be in the woods swinging from a tree. You cannot say anything because you don't know who is involved and who might come after you.

It could be teenagers who are responsible. Perhaps church officials or city leaders and other respected townsfolk are involved. You don't know who to trust. This is a secret you will take to your grave. Now you have joined the chorus of those saying not to go into the woods.