The shadow lantern made the room dim as shades of light crawled against the wall. Crickets trilled and wolves sang.
A pleasant rhythm to blend with the bedtime fable.
"What would it be like to slay the Jabberwock?" My father cackled at the thought. "Son, the way we live is in fear. No one knows any different. This is who we are," he spoke, his voice had been crisp and dry.
All my life this has been the answer. To live in terror, hoping the creatures of the wood stayed away from the townspeople.
The JubJub bird hunted from the heavens, striking below. The Bandersnatch trembled the ground, stalking the forest floor, but this was not the worst of all. 'Twas a story that blended to legend and morphed to myth.
A story of the Jabberwock. It had scales as dark as night and it's eyes were black marbles, reflecting the moonlight.
Such as frumious creature to live in a world I called home.
"My boy, this is a tale you will tell your children. One that will never change. That is our heritage." He blew out the candle inside the lantern and left without a kiss on my head. The Jabberwock stole all emotion, even with mere simple words. As soon as his footsteps became less than faint I knew what I had to do.
My people were scared, but I was not. That was not who I was.
YOU ARE READING
The Monster Within
ParanormalMichael is a young boy that loves his family and village. He also understands that the monsters in the stories his father tells will only come alive if he believes they exist. Michael believes every word of the stories. And he is willing to make the...