Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The dull scenery of the forest rushes past the corners of my eyes as I desperately sprint down the dirt path leading to my house. My legs were aching, and my throat was stinging from the pain of sobbing.
I'm an independent, grown woman yet I'm still crying like this. I could hear another pair of rapid footsteps from behind, accompanying my wobbly, panicked running.
I had left the house to check on Jack, he was meant to be visiting our cottage for our 40th anniversary...but the moment I found him, he was laying motionless on the ground next to a dented tree.
His decapitated head rolled towards me and stopped at my feet, the blood covered axe blade next to him hinting that it broke and executed him immediately. I don't even remember what happened next, but now I'm running from what seems like his spirit...?
All he was doing was cutting wood to keep him and Maisie warm. They were struggling with food, warmth and shelter ever since running away from those cruel people.
I failed to keep my tears in and continued to bawl my eyes out. The thought of my poor Maisie, sitting in the cold, abandoned, not knowing that her only hope was laying dead in front of a stupid tree.
I'm such a bad mother...all my children are going to die at this rate...the Mobian family tree will come to a halt, all because of me.
I quicken my pace as I finally reach the small, log cottage and shut the door behind me, turning the lock desperately despite how tired I was getting.
"Izzy, Digby!" I yell over to my children, who were playing in the middle of the main room in front of the fireplace. "Go upstairs, something bad has happened and mummy doesn't want you two to get hurt, okay? If something happens to me, go straight to Lily's house."
They both nodded and immediately rushed up the stairs. They knew what to do ever since Jack and Maisie were almost taken away.
The moment they both got to safety on the second floor, a huge axe was swung on the door, ripping the log open as if it were simply paper. I jumped back, whimpering like a little girl. What am I supposed to do now?
I turned around and made my way to the storage closet, in attempt to hide, but as I turned around, another swing of the axe occurred. The axe flew through the huge gap in the door and hit me right in the middle of my back.
The pain was unbearable. A huge wave of stinging agony rushed through my body, and I fall to the ground. I start to cough and hack from the soreness of my throat, splatters of blood making its way through my system and out of my mouth.
The warm floor around me is quickly dyed crimson from the blood. This is the end, I'm losing too much of my blood at this rate...
My heavy breathing causes my chest to tighten, and I start to pant to try and keep breathing. I want to live. I want Izzy to live. I want Digby to live. I want Maisie to live.
Managing to lift my arm, I grab at the surface before me and try my best to pull myself up, but it's no use. A crackling, popping sound suddenly fills my ears, but I can't turn around to see the source.
My questioning is quickly answered as I feel the area behind me get warmer and warmer. The warmth keeps getting closer, until my feet and legs start stinging and burning. He was trying to set the house on fire.
The fire easily spreads around the all-wooden house, posts and parts of the walls fall off with a small thud and wisps of red flames surround me.
It's so hot.
So unbearably hot.
I can't take it anymore.
It's too hot.
I slump down in my spot, giving up and letting my body slowly shut down. Small footsteps come from down the stairs and run out the door into the woods. Good. Izzy and Digby escaped.
I smile to myself, knowing that I've at least protected them from harm.
I look up to take a last glance at my surroundings, and the last thing I see before my eyelids drop is an orange, Halloween styled pumpkin.
