Faerytale, The Greatest TAle Never Told... *Book One*

*Instincts* (1)

                                Mid-May 2012

*Instincts*

(1)

                “It had started out as a simple, normal day. So blessedly normal, until...”

                The broadcast today was far greater of a concern than any of the previous had been. What had been taken in humor and lightheartedness now rang with a sense of fear for the unknown. The incident today having managed to leave nearly the entire world reeling. Now, the question of reality was something that teetered on the edge itself!

For several weeks, reports of mysterious goings-on's had been reported on the late night shows after the news. Mostly spoofs that gave people a good laugh, or cry, depending on your humor. People reported incidences of seeing interesting animals around their homes, giant birds in the sky and strange noises in the day as well as the night. One story had even covered a group of teenage boys who claimed that garden gnomes had come to life. Chasing them in the fading light of dusk. All that humor had come to an end, as a breaking news report had begun this afternoon. By the evening, it had escalated to the only thing on all channels.                               

“What had started out as a normal day of little league soccer will forever be remembered as the first day of the end of our reality.” The once quirky, Becca Devlin reported. “In Central Park, around 2:30, a disturbance began. It was witnessed by nearly a hundred people. Caught on tape, all appears fine at first. Then, a disturbance begins along the side of the field.” She shuddered as she finished her lines.

 I must admit, I was intrigued by her reaction.

“It was there that large shrubs and overgrowth served as a barrier between the field and the park. The initial disturbance was not caught on tape, but what followed was. The images you are about to see are violent and brutal in nature, they should not be viewed by a younger audience.” Devlin disappeared to be replaced by a sunny scene of Central Park, a soccer field in motion, children racing, a ball flying and parents yelling.

Watching as the footage started. Out of view, you could hear cracking and swishing noises, when suddenly, the camera shifted off to the side of the field and it appeared that something large was trying to get through the thickened brush. The effect was terrifying as all hell broke loose, many guttural screams, all in unison, rent the air. Watching transfixed and mortified, the people on the TV began grabbing at their noses and mouths. It created the impression that something was giving off a horrendous stench. Breaching the  overgrowth, terror of a new form arrived. Literally.

I could feel the goose-bumps as they rose along my flesh, the ice cold tingle traveling up my spine.

                The hideous creatures, no more than four feet tall, burst through the overgrowth. They were terrifying. So many of them coming through the brush it was impossible to even begin to get a count of them all. The game stood still as the people observed the strange sight. No one moved or responded, minds frozen in disbelief. Then the attack began. The “Goblins,” as they were referred to after the initial report, attacked without mercy. The small creatures were dressed in rags. Their skin was a pallid shade of green. Scraggly, coarse strips of hair standing on end and rows upon rows of sharp and jagged teeth could be seen as they yelled their cries of attack. They ran across the field, carrying crude weapons that resembled swords and daggers. It quickly became apparent what they were after.

                The chill raced along my spine once again and the hairs on my neck were coming on end.

The children were easy prey as the goblins reached them. Pulling them onto their shoulders, attempting to haul them back to the overgrowth from which they'd come. Chaos truly erupted when the dumbfounded parents finally responded to the threat. They rushed from the sidelines. Grabbing anything they could to use as weapons, their desperate attempts to rescue their children, a terrifying and brutal encounter to watch.