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The Wood

2021 Halloween Horror Series: The woods have always been scary to people at night. It's something set so deep in our being that we just can't shake.

By Nathan CharlesPublished 2 years ago 5 min read
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The Wood

One

TODAY WAS A WEIRD DAY. There was a strange tension in the town. Superstition had that affect on the village. People who often sat on their front stoop, watching as other villagers walked by, were inside. They were closing their shutters. There weren’t even clothes hanging out on the line. It was a perfect day for drying clothes outside.

The sun was bright, the sky clear, and the air was dry. The only dampness, was the looming blue moon that was meant to rise tonight. The blue moon happened once a year. And once a year the villagers stayed inside, fidgety, anxious. Today was no different than the twelve others I’d experienced. At least as far back as I could remember.

Except — Mama let me play down by the woods. She stayed, anxiously scrubbing the same dish for far too long. I told her, “Bye,” and ran down by the tree line. I was never allowed to play this close to the wood. Mama said that it was safe on the day of the blue moon. Though, I’d never been able to play down here on other blue moons — at least, none that I could remember.

I had a big red bouncy ball with me. I’d bounce it and try catching it before it bounced again. Once, it almost caused me to pass the line of towering trees into the wood! I hesitated before taking that single step into the forest — as anyone would. The wood was the most dangerous place in the whole wide world. I reached for the ball, only stepping a single foot into the shadow of the forest. I grabbed the ball and retracted back into the light of my backyard as quickly as I could. I stared into the forest for a moment. I was sure that I felt something watching me. Something hoping that I would pass all the way into the wood.

But I didn’t. And I continued to bounce my ball, alone, since no one would be allowed to play with me. It was odd hearing the silence of the village. There were always kids playing around the streets — my friends. All of them were hunkered down in their homes, the prison of the day of the blue moon. <Why had Mama allowed me down here? By myself?> I caught her watching. Were those tears in her eyes?

Then I heard the deliberate crack of a stick. I turned, feeling my heart pounding against my chest! I gasped and dropped the ball. The creature was hard to see at first, until I caught its eyes. It was so hard to discern it from the trees that wreathed its figure. The branches and leaves seemed to lean in towards it. Its eyes were black, like a stag’s, but full of human-like intelligence. I stepped back. “What goes there!?” I called. Even though I knew.

It moved ever so slightly. It was shaped like a person, but made of wood. Its hair was green, blending in with the leaves around it. Sun glinted between antlers that reached from the crown of its head like branches. It smiled, lifting its mouth over sharp teeth. Its voice was deep, but barely audible, like the wind howling through the hallow of a forest glade. “Your payment for the truce is accepted.”

“Who — who are you!?” I stammered. I don’t know why I did it — but I looked back. My mother was in the kitchen window. She was openly sobbing now, being consoled by a man that had been trying to court her. That bastard! My heart stuck in my throat, my stomach sunk, as there, standing in the road, all staring at me, were the rest of the villagers! They were all watching me! They all knew!

When I turned back towards the wood, the creature had stepped out from the protection of its trees. It was wearing a huge smile now, revealing all of its teeth. They were all sharpened, like all of them were for tearing and ripping at flesh! It was so tall, standing what must have been nearly eight feet!

I turned to run, to ask my village for help! But the words wouldn’t escape my lips! My mother turned away. <Mama!> I thought, for thoughts were all I had. It seemed that nothing else was working. I was too petrified to scream or cry. Flight took over, but I couldn’t move fast enough! The creature snatched me with an impossibly long arm and hand! <No!>

It yanked me back with little to no effort. I struggled. “No!” I finally found my voice! “No! Mama!” The creature drug me back into the forest. I was dragged from the perfectly manicured lawn into the underbrush and brambles of the wood! I wasn’t inside more than a few seconds before arms shot out from everywhere with grasping gnarled hands! The trees were alive! Each of them had black eyes and toothy smiles.

I was alive long enough to see them rip my limbs from my body. I felt nothing — at least not yet. It was all happening too fast. Blood! I was crying. At least, there were tears streaming down my face, but I had no hands to wipe them away. The trees crunched through my bones.

The creature said over a bloody mouthful, “Until the next twin moon, fleshlings.” And all went black.

Horror
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About the Creator

Nathan Charles

Enjoy writing sci fi, fantasy, lgbtq fiction, poetry, and memoirs!

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