Short Stories

FEAR

Katlin walked into the old cottage that was situated in the middle of the woods. Her sister Maddie was already sitting on the couch, her feet taping nervously and her head in her hands. On the other side of the living room, looking through the books, was her best friend, Jake. Katlin fixed her crossbow properly and walked towards her sister, squeezing her shoulder in assurance. But Maddie remained the same nervous mess.

They were hunting in the jungle before the night fall when Maddie had lost her footing and fell into a lower plain. Katlin and Jake followed Maddie to help her out. Maddie being injured, they knew they wouldn't make it to their village, to their homes. The sky was starting to darken and they knew they have to find a shelter before they couldn't see anything, risking their lives as the animals in here were vicious. One would even go ahead and call them monsters. But other than the animals their lived a ghostly figure who would kill and steal anyone's soul to get rid of his loneliness. The captured souls would be trapped in an endless abyss forever and The Shadow will keep bringing more. The only thing they needed to remember was to keep themselves from feeling a certain emotion.

The tale was well known in the village they came from, right on the border of the forest. This tale has been passed down from generation to generation. Katlin never believed in such things like ghosts nor did Jake but she did believed in the animals to finish them off. Maddie on the other hand was young being only twelve years of age believed in every single tale the old people in the village would tell them during the bonfire night making her shiver in fear in the current situation.

Jake climbed up a tree to scout the area for possible hideouts. Katlin was unsure if they would find any decent place to crash in the middle of the jungle. With Maddie's ankle being twisted, they needed somewhere good enough to let her relax so she could heal faster. Jake skipped down the tree with a news of an old cottage down to the south of them. Maddie did not like the idea of staying there for the night one bit. She said it must be the house of the Shadow.

But having no other choice or place safe enough with the night growing on them every passing second, Maddie agreed. They had started hearing the shuffling of the animals when they reached the cottage. Jake lifted Maddie up and they increased their speed. Jake rushed inside the cottage with Maddie in his hands. They knew they had made a close call with the said monsters. Katlin followed them inside after roaming her eyes over the woods around the cottage.

The outside of the cottage was in a very overwhelming state. The ivy had grown on the walls of the cottage and the trees were shadowing and closing in on all sides. 'Like a hidden cave.' Katlin thought. She remembered this phrase being used in the story of The Shadow and stiffened. 'No' she thought 'It's just a story to scare children off so that they keep away from the woods.' She shook her head and focused on her sister who was shaking like a leaf.

Inside it was a lot cleaner than the outside. Jake started checking for anything he can find useful around the living room to start a fire. 'It must be sight to see at some point, the cottage.' Katlin said to Jake. Jake agreed looking through the dust covered books on the book shelf. Maddie was still out of it. 'Maddie' Katlin said 'shouldn't you be stopping yourself from feeling fear if you believe in that story. Didn't The Shadow hunt the people who are scared according to the tale elders tell us?' Katlin was trying to lighten her sister's mood but the effect was completely opposite. Maddie whimpered pitifully and curled up into a ball.

Jake raised his eyebrows at Katlin in amusement to which she replied with a grin. They didn't start the fire in the end as the old books were the only burnable material present in the entire room. They lit their travel lanterns one at a time so they won't run out of oil. They sat close to each other to keep themselves warm.

The night was passing slowly with the shuffling of the animals here and there. They knew they had to be awake the entire night to keep themselves safe. They decided to leave at dawn. Just a little past midnight, the air in the cottage started to feel heavy. Maddie looked around frantically for any intrusion. Maddie being more scared she was feeling the effect more. On the other hand Katlin knew something was wrong but that did not cause fear in her. She was on high alert. Jake stiffened with the heaviness of the atmosphere. He was starting to feel uneasy.

They looked at each other in understanding. Whether night or not they knew they had to leave the cottage this instant. Something was terribly wrong here. Without talking to each other they got up started to pick up their weapons. After fastening their weapons in record time, they started walking towards the entrance of the cottage with Maddie in the middle. As soon as they left the cottage, they felt someone following them. Maddie started to whimper. But Jake and Katlin were on high alert. Through all this they knew not to turn around. They kept walking. The feeling of something creeping on them was strong to them but they kept on walking at a fast pace.

Katlin knew by now that if the tale of The Shadow was true then they needed to eradicate any fear they possessed in their heart. Jake and Katlin were doing well on this but Maddie, she was a hot mess. When they were more than half way through the jungle a cold voice rang through the air. 'Maddie'. Maddie stiffened and was about to turn but Katlin and Jake kept her going. After sometime the same voice slithered again. 'Turn around Maddie. Look at me.' Maddie stopped moving. She seemed to be in some sort of trance and to top it all Jake and Katlin were unable to move her.

'Turn around' the voice commanded and Maddie turned around making Jake and Katlin to turn around with her. In the shadow of a tree they saw a silhouette of an old man few feet away from them. The man had a cane in his hand which was supporting his frame. The old man tilted his head a little and started laughing menacingly. That seemed to have brought Maddie out of the trance. She whimpered cowering in fear. They noticed the beasts lurking in the trees. They were surrounded. Turning around was a major mistake.

All of a sudden the old man started to grow monstrously. His hands turned into claws. His face twisted with a mad hunger. His limbs stretched twisting madly. There was a second's pause and his claws shot towards Maddie. Jake pushed her out of the way and the old man's claws closed around Jake's torso. 'Run' Jake shouted to the girls all the while fighting out of The Shadow's grip. Katlin pulled Maddie to her feet and was about to go help Jake when the monster opened his mouth and something silvery white escaped Jake's mouth making him slump in his claws. The monster cackled and threw Jake's body on the ground. The beasts lurking in the trees wasted no time and started feasting on him. Maddie's blood curling scream ran through the night air making Katlin snap out of the horror in front of her. 'I have to get Maddie out of here.' She thought.

The monster was busy enjoying his meal of a soul but Maddie's scream had brought his attention back to the girls. Katlin pulled out her crossbow and loaded it with an arrow. She grabbed Maddie's arm forcefully and started running towards the edge of the forest. Katlin knew she has to get out of the forest to survive according to the tale. The Shadow was right on their tail. His hand came rushing out towards them. Katlin ducked and shot an arrow at the monster. It actually pierced its skin making it cry in agony. Katlin took this opportunity and started running in full sprint pulling Maddie in tow. They could see the lit fire on the border of the village now. Just a little further. Katlin looked over her shoulder to find the monster's hand shoot at them again. Katlin loaded the crossbow and threw Maddie out of the forest. She shot the arrow towards the hand. Maddie's scream rang through the silent night air waking every single person in the village.

Maddie woke up fromher sleep screaming and drenched in cold sweat. It's been two years since theincident. That day Maddie lost Jake her sister's best friend and her sister aswell. After Katlin had shot the arrow at the hand of The Shadow, it missed dueto her wasting her focus on delivering Maddie to safety. The claw closed aroundher and The Shadow didn't waste any time devouring Katlin's soul and giving thebody to the beasts to eat. But the monster couldn't see Maddie as soon as shecrossed the border of the forest. He turned and ran inside the forest. Maddiedidn't talk to anybody for atleast a month. Her parents and Jake's parentsmourned for their children with the entire village. Rules have been strictsince then. Now the non-believers too knew that the danger in the forest isreal. After a month or so Maddie told everyone in the village about whathappened in the forest. Memorials were made in the names of Jake and Katlin torespect their bravery. Maddie on the other hand has continuous nightmares aboutthat night. She just hopes that no one will meet the same end as her twobeloved people.