He Who Lurks

Silence

The mysterious creature that had briefly announced its' presence to the stranded couple dashed through the woods at a inhuman speed and quickly stopped in an instant to climb up a tree from several tree limbs before reaching the top. It scanned the darkened forest and constantly sniffed the air chuckling with a low gutteral sound as it watched Ben and Jennifer from afar with sharp pale eyes that gleamed in the moonlight. The couple now shaken up from the unusual encounter slowly walked down the path, with a grin the creature enticed by the obvious fear radiating from it's targets. The couple continuedto slowly proceed in a frightened manner, occasionally they would stop and look around, either to the sides of the path or behind them, not knowing if it was following them.

Leaping from one branch to the other the creature followed it's prey from the higher limbs of the oaks, the wind and motion of the branches provided the perfect noise and visual camoflauge, though the couple had taken notice of leaves and branches shaking they could never pinpoint what movement was caused by the wind or by the creature that stalked them. Finally the creature hunches over onto a perch, the couple greatly spooked decided to walk foreward, while watching his prey he lept down with a slashing motion, slicing down upon Ben's back.  With a sharp scream from Jennifer and pain filled yell from Ben. The creature jumps back tasting the blood that trickled from his claws, with a twisted grin of satisfaction the creature
watches as the couple turn to run through the dense woods away from the path.

Several minutes pass by as Ben and Jennifer rush through the woods frantically to escape, the impish creature followed suite atop the thinner limbs with careless ease until moments pass and it had already passed its targets. The creature paused crouching in-between the nook of a thick limb and the trunk of the tree, exhaustion kicks in as the couple struggle to keep up their pace they slow down with each passing moment while heaving for breath, the wound upon Bens back fully takes effect his adrenaline kick finally ran out, he groaned in agony before collapsing onto the ground. Jennifer stopped and quickly turned to and knelt down to him "we need to keep moving there's no telling how close that thing is" while she struggled to move him to his feet a soft tap on the ground catches Jennifers attention, she fell back while pulling Ben backwards as she held onto his arms.

          Pale eyes glared at the two as the sickly figure stood over them a sharp howl escapes the creature, the piercing sound penetrating Jennifers ears as she clenched to Bens arm in pain, it approached swiftly over the two, groans softly coming from Ben who at this point is fading in and out of consciousness long, gangly fingers reach and grab at Bens head and arm, as she realizes what is happening she tries to pull ben away, which begins a match of tug of war over Bens body, the power struggle quickly becomes clear that the creature is gaining the upper hand, in a panic Jennifer yells out before kicking the creature in the leg, the sound of bone cracking echoed around the area and a deafening shriek as it cried out in pain. "Get away from us!" She yelled angrily while pulling Bens body from the creatures grip, a moment of her feeling victorious is short lived as another crack can be heard and suddenly a quick squishing sound and gnawing of teeth against flesh. Warm liquid splashes upon Jennifers face as she witness teeth clamp down upon Bens neck, the disturbing sight stunned her in that moment her hand shook and became weak while the creature ripped him from her grasp and darts away deeper into the darkness of the woods as the creature took Ben away leaving Jennifer in the woods alone "noooo!!" She cried alone her hands covering her face, her cries filled the silence of the woods.