Legend Of Howlswood

Chapter 1

It's all gone. I'm trapped... trapped in my own mind... no one to hear me... no one to understand... they're all gone. Homework and putting my clothes in the laundry basket use to be my only concerns... now my only thought is what is going to be my next meal.

Walking alone in my neighborhood entering one house after the next, the houses are in rows on either side of the street so it is easy enough to move through them. I am hoping I never cleared out everything on my first run through. All the houses are empty now. They are no longer homes, I have made them into my foraging grounds... but there's nothing left. I search through the cupboards of every house, looking past the blood stains on the walls as if someone took a bucket of paint and chucked it everywhere. I search under the beds hoping there is something left... nothing.

Furious, I slam the last door shut, clenching my hands into fists preventing my body from shaking. It has been three days since the last time I fed. I am starting to get desperate. A thought has run through my mind... but dare I follow through with it.

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There has been one house I have been refusing to search... it is right across the street from mine. Previously I had already gone up to the front porch, but that's as far as I could go... the memories. One glimpse of the white two seater chair, hanging from two silver chains, with blood red throw pillows... I just can't.

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Shaking the thoughts out of my mind, I realized I now needed to move else where to survive. Leaving Home at Fourteen... who would of thought?

I am now lying in the middle of the street staring up at the sky, hearing nothing but the growling of my insides as if a beast is trapped inside my stomach trying to escape. The sky is clear with no clouds insight... I can see every star and every constellation. The mood is shining only  half as bright... it seems to be hiding... it too is afraid...it should be.

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I use to lay here with the girl who lived in the house across from mine. Every full moon we would sneak out at midnight to watch the stars twinkle and make up stories about the constellations. I always preferred the dark. We would watch as the sun lifted while it awoke all the creatures of the day. Amazing how one night can change everything. Giving me everything... my best friend... to taking it all away. I will not let it take me... I will not let it change me... I will not let it control me.

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All of this is going through my mind as I lay here in solitude, in silence.

The sky is misty now for the morning snow in my little town of Howlswood. My body is still from the icy air, but I have a feeling I am being watched. It is still dark, I can only see my arms length away. I sit up glancing to my left towards a few fern trees. I try and squint my eyes to see if there is anything there, but there's nothing.

I internally laugh at myself for being paranoid and stand up while dusting off my jeans. Leaves rustle from the trees beside me and this time there are familiar eyes staring at me, watching my every movement.

I start a slow walk towards the opposite side of the street, not taking my gaze off the glowing blue eyes peering through the trees. I see this black paw, with a deep growl, emerge out of the trees towards me. I turn and run into the nearest house, closing myself into a cupboard, finding myself in a little girl's room. A brown stuffed monkey leaning against the bed watching through the cracks of the cupboard. I cover my mouth hopefully muzzling the sound of my harsh breathing.

The door of the room slowly creaks open... the snout of the creature searching for my scent. It's blue eyes turn towards the cupboard doors... She knows where I am. 

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