Tales from the Dark

5.

Once upon a time, in a small town, there was a middle school at the edge of a forest. Legends whispered of a mysterious creature that lurked in the shadows of those woods—a creature with glowing eyes and a hunger for mischief. One stormy evening, a group of schoolers dared each other to explore the forest after dark. Among them were Erika, the brave leader; Alex, the skeptic who thought it was all just a silly story; Lily and James, who were determined to prove the legend true. With flashlights in hand and hearts pounding with excitement, they ventured into the murky depths of the forest. The trees creaked ominously in the wind, and the air was thick with an eerie stillness. As they pressed deeper into the woods, the shadows seemed to grow thicker, and strange noises echoed through the trees. Alex laughed nervously, trying to shake off the feeling of unease, but Erika, Lily and James exchanged worried glances. Suddenly, a pair of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness, followed by a low growl that sent shivers down their spines. Frozen with fear, they watched as the creature emerged from the shadows—a creature with fur as black as night and sharp claws glinting in the moonlight. With a bloodcurdling scream, they turned and ran, their hearts pounding in their chests as they fled through the forest. Branches clawed at their clothes, and roots threatened to trip them at every turn, but they didn't stop until they reached the school grounds. Breathless and trembling, they collapsed on the ground, their minds reeling from the encounter. Alex looked at Sarah and Lily, his skepticism replaced by wide-eyed terror. "I-I guess the legend was true after all," Alex stammered. From that day forward, they never ventured into the forest again, but the memory of the creature with glowing eyes lingered in their minds, a reminder that some legends are best left unexplored.