Signs plastered the forest entrance. Signs in red and yellow, caution tape plastered around, all holding the same type of warnings.

”Warning” “Keep out” “Danger inside” “Caution”

People go missing in there, anyone that goes in are never seen coming out. It says monsters live there, anything inside gets eaten or killed, no one really knows. People swear they hear screams from the inside, many go missing in there. A tale of monsters in this forest were told to kids at bedtimes stories to be good and all.

And at this very important, it didn’t terrify you at even. A child, barely even the ripe age of ten. Bag slung over your shoulder, nothing but torn rags keeping you warm in the brisk cold night. Old scars, bruises, wounds that laced precious skin that should be smooth and bright. Hair messy and tussled, never have been cut before, eyes gazing every sign and caution tape around.

It was either this forest, or probably your life. Anything better then going home, then being found and brought back to that hell. So even as the signs made it clear, the rumors and tales ramming in your head. You pushed the tapes back and stepped in. If it wasn’t terrifying during the day it felt more at night. No light, the wind blowing and causing leaves the ruffle. Every sound sounded worse then ever, louder.

Stumbling about the grounds, trying to find something, somewhere to hide in. And yet a twig snapping behind you made you tense. The rumor were right, the tales weren’t fake nonsense to scare kids. Massive beast lurked around and one stood in front of you. Its mouth parted open, drool dripping down, eyes glimmering with hunger. Before you knew it you were running around, trying to get away. But every corner you turned a new beast would just appear, always bigger, always new terrifying.

With the forest so dark at night you couldn’t even see the way. You hadn’t even seen one of the many trees rooting sticking up from the ground. Causing you to trip and tumble down. Pain etching into your already weak and shattered body, dirt scraping into old wounds and cuts, falling only adding more scraps to your legs and hands. Scrambling forward a bit to turn back, one of the many beast towering over. Slowly walking over as if enjoying your fear and this power play. As if the laying with you, as if it was playing with its next meal.

It made you sick, that this was how you’ll die. Not by your parents hands, but by a beast twice your size. Only able to shut your eyes as tears slipped down and turning into an endless stream of water. Body shaking violently that it could shake beneath you. This was it, this was your death. Running from one ending doom to get a worser one.

But nothing came, nothing but silence and leaves crunching under steps. Eyes slowly peeling open to gaze and to pause and freeze. There stood someone of the normal size of a human. Covered in a sweater seemingly made of leaves, a mask house a deer skull, glowing white eyes. They stood holding a glowing lantern that seemed to instantly brush off the beast into a different direction.

The person only turned to glance back at you, lantern swinging slightly and exposing more of the darken area by the night sky. Its eyes taking you in before moving, only stopping a bit away to gaze back at you. As if, silently beckoning you to follow.