Don’t Go Into the Woods

The moon hung low in the sky. Its light cast an eerie shimmer over the trees.

Ellie shivered.

If you go down to the woods tonight…

She thought she heard a guttural cough come from the trees to the left. She pulled her cloak closer around her and peered up through the gap in the canopy.

The moon seemed to taunt her. In her mind a haunting melody played, a nursery rhyme she’d heard as a child and forgotten.

If you go down to the woods tonight…

Something crunched underfoot. Ellie looked down. In between dead leaves and fallen twigs, white bones littered the earth.

They were not all animal bones.

Not all animal bones at all.

If you go down to the woods tonight, you’re in for a big surprise.

A growl, low and menacing.

Her time was up.

It would be quick, she told herself.

It would be quick…

The darkness exploded and she screamed. For one brief second she saw it, outlined against the silver of the moon – a monstrous creature with claws like scythes and fur matted with blood.

Then it was on her, and she screamed no more.

Tonight’s the night the teddy bears have their picnic.