Lies of a Fairy Tale

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

                        Sweat matted River’s and Willow’s light brown hair to their heads as both siblings struggled to get as far ahead as they could from the beast. The pounding of its feet on the ground, and the snapping of branches as it charged through the trees, could be heard close behind them.

            Willow started slowing down. “Can’t- run- any- farther!” she panted.

            River grabbed her arm and kept running, practically dragging her behind him. “We need a place to hide. I can feel it gaining on us!” he yelled back to her, still trying to run as fast as he could- although he could feel himself quickly tiring. He ducked under a big branch and looked around wildly. There was no place that he could see to take cover.

            “This is it. We’re going to die. We’re definitely going to die,” he breathed.

            Willow gathered enough strength in her legs to run beside him. “I’m so sorry, River. I never thought that anything like this would happen,” she said between big puffs of breath. “Well, actually some things close to this occurred to me in my nightmares, but I never actually suspected that it would happen in real life.”

            “Oh, Willow,” her brother began, as he jumped over an old log. “You’d better be sorry! After all, this is your fault!”

            Willow opened her mouth to gasp offensively, and promptly choked on a bug. She tried to avoid tripping or hitting anything as she ran, while coughing up the poor, previously unsuspecting, insect. Right as she finally spat it out, the two siblings heard a big crash from behind them. Chancing a quick look back, River glimpsed a huge animalistic figure stumbling back onto its feet, after most likely having tripped over the rotting log.

            “At least we’re a little ahead now,” Willow yelled to him, having also noticed.

“Hey, River, look; everything’s gotten lighter,” she said, starting to slow down again.

            It was true. There weren’t as many shadows, and most of the areas in the woods could now be clearly seen. The woods were brightening the further they ran. It was odd, but River didn’t have time to dwell on it, because he too was getting worn out.

             Just as he was about to collapse and surrender himself to the monster, a crackling sound started echoing throughout the forest.

            Drums.

            A piano.

            A guitar.

            A man’s voice.

            “Elvis Presley?” Willow exclaimed.

            ‘If you’re looking for trouble

            You came to the right place

            If you’re looking for trouble

            Just look right in my face.’

            “Yes, Elvis Presley, I will look into your ghostly face, if you and your toilet just get us out of here!” River yelled into the trees.

            Willow turned her head. “Why-”

            “Who cares?” River cut her off. “Follow the music!”