The Thing in the Woods
Everyone knew there was a Thing in the woods. For as long as anyone could remember, people had walked into Girham Wood and never been seen again. There were more horror stories in the town of Girham then there were people.
No one could agree on what the Thing was. Some said it was a vampire, some a monstrous insect, a shape shifter, a huge, murderous wolf.
What they could agree upon, however, was that, whatever it was, it would hunt, kill and eat whoever it came across. No one went into the woods anymore, no one from the town at least. Why would they?
--
It cracked open an eye. Someone was in its forest. Gracefully, it rose up to its full height, sleek and black and terrifying. Slowly, gradually, its lips moved. They curled up at the ends, pulling apart and revealing deadly teeth.
It smiled. Someone was in its forest.
--
The girl walked quickly through the trees, not stopping to get her bearings once. She wore smudged and dirty white jeans and a matching shirt. The white of her garb contrasted sharply with the deep black hair that fell from her head.
She moved like a dancer, never tripping or stalling. It watched her progress with two glinting eyes, amused by the confidence in her movements. It crept behind her, too far away to make out any features, but slowly gaining.
This was the part where its prey started to feel the beast following, usually. This girl seemed to notice nothing, and it laughed to itself at her naivety.
Purposely, it made its breath louder and harsher, eager to see her panic.
It was disappointed. Frowning, it found it was annoyed at the child’s stupidity. Easy prey was boring prey. It continued to follow her, steadily getting closer. She didn’t notice, just continued to stride through the woods.
Frustrated, it moved off the rough path she tread, stalking her now from beside, leaping from tree to tree noisily. Finally, finally, the girl cocked her head, listening.
It breathed a sigh of relief. Now, surely, the hunt was on. Perhaps the human had some hearing impairment. No matter, she would die soon enough.
Her pace picked up slightly, and it howled with joy. This was much, much, better!
“Little girl,” it whispered. “Little girl…”
The girl had sped up further, and at its snarl, she began to run. Its mad grin threatened to split its face open. Yes…
This was what it wanted, this glorious chase. Now, if only she would glance back in her blind terror, if only it could see the girl’s frightened face.
It would see her face, it decided.
It ran faster, keeping neck in neck with its prey. They curved together, as one, and it pulled ahead, intent on cutting her off and ending this hunt. Salivating in its anticipation, it looked back at the child that was now behind it, and froze.
The girl’s shirt was bloodstained and her face, the face it had so wanted to see twisted in fear, wild. She had impossibly long canines, and burning, insane eyes.
She smiled a bloodthirsty grin, and pounced, clawed hands outstretched.
It had thought it was the Thing of Girham woods. It had been wrong.
