The Monster

The Kidnapping

Chnk! Chnk! Chnk!

The woodsman sent his axe deeper into the thick length of the tree, watching as the wood split between his axe. His steed snorted and kicked the leaves impatiently as he continued his work. Suddenly, there was an abrupt chill down his spine that stopped him in his tracks.

"Excuse me, young man"

The blonde woodsman spun around to a hooded figure, smiling at him; her face seemed to resemble a prune in the way in scrunched like a rotting fruit as she squinted at him. "My, my! What thick logs of wood you have there!" She exclaimed, walking behind his horse to the pile of logs below. "Ja, these logs have been chopped from the thickest trees for the cold months ahead. Would you be interested in buying a log or two?" The woodsman sunk his axe into the wood of tree he was working against and walked closer. Then the old woman's expression went blank. "...." ".......?" "......!" "........?" "So....it's you who has been harming the woods...." Her voice came out cracked and hurt, as if her voice was recovering from a cold. "...I've been cutting down the trees on the outskirts of the woods for a decade, selling wood to the people who pass by in time for the winter months. The trees have not fallen in vain. Their wood has kept me and many others warm at night" He replied stiffly. The woman's face curled in disgust and she sent a hard slap to his cheek, causing him to fall backwards into the slush of new snow. "What is your name, boy?!" She hissed, stepping back in defence. "Hey! Why did you-tsk...my name is Ludwig Beilschmidt. But that's beside the point. Leave these woods or I will be forced to call the authorities on you" Ludwig growled, standing up and rubbing his red cheek.

"Authority? The only authority here is me. I am the witch of these woods. The guardian of the trees. And you, Ludwig, will pay for hurting these innocent trees" She hissed.

Ludwig scoffed and took his axe, walking to his carriage and steed. "Oh ja? Crazy Fraulien, run along before the wolves find you. It's getting dark, they're bound to be searching for frail old women such as yourself"

Suddenly, an unknown force began to choke Ludwig and sent him against a tree, emitting a grunt at the pure force. "Chk! F-fraulien...!" Ludwig winced and looked over to his horse, which began to whinny in distress as a strange yellow light swallowed its body until it resembled a glowing ball of light.

"The heart of a human. The heart of a horse. I will lift the curse when you obtain both"

Ludwig had no time to react as his body was suddenly thrown into the ball of light. And the pain took over. The pain was indescribable. It caused him to scream and thrash and cry as he felt his lower torso twist and bend and merge into a different form entirely. It was all too much. He passed out into the snow, his moans of pain slowing as he lost consciousness.

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"Yo! Feli, so you're going to do it, right?"

The auburn haired boy shivered and looked at the big black gates tangled with vines. Beyond these gates was the legendary 'disappearing woods'. What made them so legendary?

"So like, apparently, anybody who goes in there NEVER COMES OUT. Crazy right? Dude! Where's your camera? You gotta have video evidence!"

Feliciano gave Alfred an anxious glance and pulled out the camera from his pocket. "It's just down the trail and back. It won't be too bad. Nothing can go wrong!"

"Except...it's at night! Ooohhh, spooky~!"

"A-Alfred, why are you making me do this? Why can't you come with me?" Feliciano cried in protest, clutching the camera to his chest. Alfred looked hesitant for a moment, shuffling on the balls of his feet. "Aw hell no, man. You're the camera-guy, remember? And besides! The media project isn't going to do itself, is it? I-I'll stay in the study hall and work on all the spooky effects and you...you go get the footage! It'll be sick, bro!" He replied with a booming laugh, although it came out a little shakier than intended. Feliciano swallowed and took a few paces forward and nudged the black gates open, jumping a little as the gates let out a demonic screech and bats flew from the treetops into the night sky.

"....." "......" "So anyway, good luck, bro!" With that, Alfred sped off in the other direction. Feliciano swallowed and switched on the flashlight, frantically shining into the trees threaded into the darkness. Reluctantly, he took his first shaky steps and held his breath, walking through the gates.

In all honesty, these woods would be far less frightening during the day. It didn't help that Alfred wanted to do a horror movie as their college media project. It didn't help that these woods were quiet and eerie. It certainly didn't help that there was a rumour that had been long passed in saying. Anybody who entered these woods disappeared forever. That's what the story was. Although, to settle his nerves, Feliciano liked to think of something else. Maybe they were called the disappearing woods because the path would disappear? Or the wildlife?? Scratch that, Feliciano thought hastily, shivering as a cold breeze blew against his thin jacket. The air started to grow colder. Too cold for his liking. Feliciano turned around and began to sprint in the opposite direction, gasping in fear as the bats in the trees grew startled of the flashing of his torch as he ran.

"Hey! Stop right there!"

Feliciano shrieked and frantically shone the torch in every direction possible. "W-w-who's there?! I-I have pepper spray a-and i-if you're a murderer, I'm not afraid to use it!" Feliciano squealed, clutching his torch. "N-nein, I'm not a murderer, you just look startled, human. And it's late at night. Nobody should be wandering these woods this late. There are wolves that will prey on your flesh if you are out during their hunting hours" The deep voice continued. Feliciano could have sworn he heard large, heavy footsteps walking up from the trail. He quickly shone the flashlight in the direction and screamed.

In the glow of the torchlight, stood a monster. The body of a blonde horse with a white, sleek tail, and the upper torso of a well-toned man with blonde, messy hair and piercing blue eyes, looking down. "Wait! Shh! Shh! Please don't be scared!" Feliciano froze in his place and fell to the floor with a gasp. "Human! Human, wake up!"

Looking around quickly, the monster scooped up the young man and slung him over his shoulder, walking further into the woods.