"Butch? We ain't supposed to be out here cutting Christmas trees." The girl looks at her saw, slightly confused. "Ain't no one here to stop us!" Butch replies. "Actually, there is." I walk in front of them, stopping them in their tracks. "I want names. Now," I demand, crossing my arms. "I'm Butch, little one. This here's Tasha, Leon, and Kenny," Butch says, pointing out each of this group.
"Butch... Look you can't be here. I'm stationed just outside these woods to make sure people like you don't get in. Besides, I plan to investigate the murders soon," I sigh. "Murders?" Tasha asks. "Yeah! Apparently, the whole town thinks this place is haunted!" Butch turns to her, laughing. "They all scared of some beast that they call "the Lamu,"" Leon says. "Ain't lamus supposed to eat fruit?" Kenny asks.
"Yes, they are. But this one goes after people. The reason why is still unknown. I haven't gathered my gear to investigate," I say. They begin to walk forwards, and I step back, trying to stop them. "Look, kid, you're real sweet, but I need to find my dog," Butch says. I take another step, and cringe as I step into something sticky.
"Oh. There he is." Butch looks down. "Uh... Didn't he have a head... When we got here?" Tasha asks. "Huh... I reckon he did..." He replies. I freeze in place, my eyes wide in fear. "What's got you looking like that?" Leon asks, following my gaze. They catch sight of the Lamu behind them, and scream, running away. Kenny hugs me out of fear, snapping me back to reality.
I run with Kenny and Tasha, but turn back to make sure the other two are alright. "Leon, run! He's right up on you!" He shouts. The Lamu grabs him, and I run forward. "Quick as death and all consumin'!" Tasha grabs one of Leon's legs, trying to tug him away. "Barely beast, but clearly inhuman..." Kenny mutters. The Lamu grabs an ax, and I close my eyes, preparing for the worst.
Tasha and Kenny fall back, holding a pair of legs. I cringe, turning around as Butch approaches. "Leon! What happened?!" He asks, placing his hands on his head. "I was one step ahead! Now I'm just a head..." He says, his head laying on the ground. "Butch, come on. Your friends are in trouble if we don't help them now!" I grab his wrist and run after Tasha and Kenny.
"Hurry, hide! The Lamu's hungry!" Ken says, ushering Tasha behind a tree. The Lamu plucks a beehive off a tree, and throws it at them. "Ow! A dadgum bee just stung me!" Tasha shouts, swatting at the bees. "Move your bum! That thing'll kill us!" Butch shouts. The Lamu grabs Tasha, and I begin to run after her, but Kenny grabs my arm. "Don't! It'll kill you."
"She's with that thing alone. Someone has to help," I respond, shoving him away and running after him. The Lamu maws her neck, and leaves her remains behind. I look down, and kneel, looking at the head on the ground. "Tasha!" Kenny says. "My life flashed before my eyes! And my feet... And my hands... And my insides..." She says. "Do you smell something?" Butch asks.
"Lamu..." I mutter, turning around. They follow my gaze, and run, hiding in a bush. "Hit the deck and keep it quiet!" Butch whispers. "Lamu needs a vegan diet..." Kenny whispers. I hide behind a tree, watching from afar, my heart pounding. I should've listened and stayed at my old post! But no, I just had to see what was haunting the woods. I watch as Lamu lights the bush on fire. "Something's smoking..." He says. "You're not joking!" Butch says, the bush he's in started to catch fire.
"Drop and roll!" I shout. "Put it out! Hurry up!" He shouts. "Please don't shout," Kenny replies. Lamu grabs Butch, and I turn away, biting my lip. "One of us is next," I murmur, running after Kenny. "Lamu broke my friggin' pickup!" He shouts. I meet up with him, and he checks the back of the truck, grabbing a knife. "This is it... Just us and Lamu..." I murmur, seeing if I have a weapon. I left it at the post...
Kenny had already left, and I see him fighting the Lamu. Just as he's about to kill it, someone gets in the way. I ran up to the group, my hands in fists. "Wait!" He shouts. "Get out of the way," I sneered, taking the knife from Kenny. "No, no, no! That's my reindeer!" He says. "This thing?" He asks. "Seriously, Santa?" I ask. "Yes, yes! You know, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Lamu..." He says.
"You know this thing eats people?!" We both ask. " Budget cuts... Heh... Say, how about I give you two a nice gift, and we can all go on our merry little way, and forget this whole nasty little business even-" he cuts off. The Lamu had devoured Kenny, and Santa had just stepped in his blood. "And you ate him... Where's that ranger?" He asks. Lamu points at me, and I back up, nearly into the river behind me.
"Look, have a gift-" "What I want is them alive! This could cost me my job!" I cut him off. Santa sputters. "Uhm... Well, I could see what I can do-" "Listen, buckaroo. I don't mess around. If you want me to forget this all happened, then I'll see them walking out of these woods, tonight!" I shout, storming off. I head back to my post, and lean against the wall, sighing. Eventually, night would fall, and it began to snow.
"Whew... It's cold!" I shiver. "Merry Christmas, Y/N!" Santa shouts. I look above, and see him in his sleigh. Sure enough, Lamu was one of the supporting "reindeer" in the group. "Whew! I knew we'd find the perfect one!" I hear someone say. I turn around. "Hey, you guys shouldn't have been-" I stop and stare. "Are you alright, miss?" The woman asks, stepping forward.
"Tasha...?"
YOU ARE READING
The Woods of the Forbidden
Fanfiction"Dang it all, it's hungry Lamu!" Y/N, a park ranger, has ventured too far from their post trying to get the attention of some people trying to get some Christmas trees. Just as they get the group's attention, they meet a predator whose hunger knows...
