The moon was falling as it was past midnight. For some reason, I couldn’t sleep. Whenever I did though, I wake up screaming just a mere five minutes later. Since I figured my parents, who barely even realized I was there in there first place, wouldn’t realize if I was gone at two o’ clock in the morning. I walk out the front door, not even bothering to creep and took the small path that I had memorized as a kid down to the lake. I realize that it was a waning moon, and that there was only the slightest bit of it to give off light. I lay on the shore of our small lake, the water making a slight trickling noise as the breeze moved it. The grass is just damp from the dew, so my pajamas are probably getting wet, but that didn’t bother me. Something else is, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Everything seems to be perfectly still and quiet. I listen for the chorus of crickets, but all I hear is my steady breath.
Then it hits me. There is no breeze! I bolt upright from my comfortable position and feel the still air. I look across the lake and there are no ripple in the water. I hold my breath as I strain to hear the water noises that I heard not even a minute ago. The noise is still there, yet I can’t tell where it’s coming from.
Curious, I get up, my ears listening for the sound after every step I take. It doesn’t sound like it is coming from the water, but as if it’s coming from the world itself. Still hearing for the sound, I almost run into a tree at the edge of the woods. I stand like a statue, the darkness and mystery of the woods beckons to me. My heart speeds up and I take a careful step onto the underbrush.
As soon as I enter the woods, it’s like a whole new world. There are noises everywhere, little creatures rustling the leaves and making squeaks and hoots and growls. The air seems to be vibrating under the canopy of trees, unlike out by the lake where the world was still. I walk further, confused by the change of atmosphere and still searching for the source of The Noise.
Suddenly, everything is still just as it was by the lake. I listen closely and sure enough, The Sound is there. This time though, it seems to be getting louder. Stalk still, I listen and realize that whatever is making that noise is coming towards me! There is a faint glow among the trees. Odd as it was to be there in the first place, there is something more strange about it. It is black. It’s like the darkness itself is glowing, reaching out with tentacles and a black light beam. Staring at it and waiting is all I can do. Not a scream or urge to run can come to me and I am a statue, waiting for the source of the glow to emerge.
Finally, I can see the owner of the light and The Noise.
At first, I can’t believe my eyes. I had only ever heard stories of this majestic beast. Of course, I had only thought they were real until I was five, and the myths that I read about them said they had gone extinct long ago. Yet it still stands there, tall and dark no matter how many times I blink my eyes.
The Unicorn stands still, not moving a muscle in its strong body. The horn protruding from its skull is at least three feet long and the most pure silver twisted in a knot. His hooves kick at the ground with such force that dirt blows up behind it. Each muscle on its body is clearly outlined and its body is covered in sweat. Its course hair is pitch black, unlike any of the pictures I have seen in my children’s books. In fact the hair is so black, it looks like it has never seen the sun in its life. As the beast takes a step towards me, it looks into me with blood red eyes, eyes that could kill a grown man with one stare. I take a deep breath and smell the sweat coming from his tangled mane.
I step back from the beast, frightened and wanting to run, though afraid of what would happen to me if I did. The monster’s cool breath is a cloud in the air every time it exhales. It steps towards me and I see it snarl with razor sharp teeth. A low rumble of thunder comes from deep within the unicorn, shaking me to the core. I try to walk backwards, but I trip over a low root. I am pinned to the ground by sheer terror
Suddenly, the beast backs off. The faintest light of sun reaches through the canopy. It is already morning. When I look back at the unicorn, all that is left is the trampled ground in its wake.
***
The Fall Festival is waiting for me as I stepped out of my friend’s rusted pick up. It is 3 months after my little incident with the unicorn and I have not seen it since. I have tried to forget about it, not telling anyone, but I am brought back to that horrid memory whenever I hear the slightest bit of water movement. I hide my fear as best as I can, though my parents aren’t likely to notice anything weird.
My friend, Lavender, and I rush to our favorite carnival that only comes in the month of October. The smells of cotton candy and hot dogs fill our noses and laughter arises form all around us. The ground is already sticky with soda and littered with the trash of the people who came to the festival before us. It is half an hour before night completely falls and the carnival lights are already on, lighting up the world like a wonderland. The sunset is orange and pink flames are set across the sky.
Lavender and I run around the carnival, having the time of our lives and not even paying attention to time. Soon, it is well past midnight and were are running out of steam. Evidently, we go to the docks near the small lake and try to suppress our laughter. As we sit and relax, I am horrified.
The sound is back
I listen carefully and there it is, the faintest trickling noise. I look at my friend to see if she’s noticed anything, but either she thinks it’s the lake or hasn’t even heard it over the roar coming form the amusement park behind us.
I stand, slowly walking away from my friend, and then I break into a run. I avoid the nearby woods and sprint strait into the bathroom. I sit on the counter breathing heavily, whether from the run or sheer terror, I don’t know. My friend comes into the bathroom looking confused and she tries to calm me but I just wave her off. She’s asks me what’s wrong, but I reply to her with a simple “nothing”.
Just like I did with everyone else. No one would believe me, not even Lavender who is my best and only friend. I tried talking to my parents but they were absorbed in other things and I even hired a therapist for myself, but quit when I realized I couldn’t tell him anything either. So I just stayed quiet, telling my teachers and classmates that it was just the stress of the next test or something at home.
Finally, at almost 2 in the morning, Lavender says that it is time to go home. I’m still scared, though I tried to shake off the fear and went on the ferris wheel after my episode in the bathroom. Shakily I tell her that I want to walk home, she refuses at first, but seeing the shape that I’m in, she reluctantly agrees. She makes sure that I have my cell-phone and goes over what I'm supposed to scream if someone randomly decides to rape or kidnap me and what way to run if a car is following me or something. I tell her that I'm OK and I wave as her car pulls out of the near empty carnival parking lot.
As soon as she leaves I listen for the noise again. It is still there, and getting louder. I look to my left, horrified that the beast would be standing right next to me, breathing down my neck and waiting to devour me whole. I turn slowly, but I realize before I am fully turned around that the unicorn would never meet me out in the open. That would be stupid and attract the attention of too many people.
Scared as I was, I felt an odd need to look for and find the majestic creature that keeps deciding to visit me.
I look to the woods right next to me, somehow knowing that the unicorn would be waiting. Waiting to do its evil deeds upon me. Things that I never want to know, but can’t stop my needing and curiosity from taking over me. As the black woods whisper my name, I slowly head in that direction.
I step into the statue like forest, just daring to take the smallest of breaths and looking for the unicorn that will surely be the end of my 16-year life.
As the noise get louder, I see the glow and my fate walks towards me, barely making a sound on the crowded forest floor. As I look into the beast’s eyes, I feel a jolt and the world goes dark.
I am never to be thought of again…
