The Teddy Bear

Prologue.

We all had came out at night to play. The bear soft and friendly, spreading his kindness to those who weren't afraid. We weren't afraid. 

Reached into the back of itself, revealing toys and more toys that shined in the dim lit bonfire that we had made in the middle of the forest. Away from the orphanage where the adults couldn't find us. Not all the children were as reluctant as we were when he arrived. In fact, some were pretty  afraid of the bear. Not seeming to accept that he was someone who was there to make us smile and feel special. 

Each one of us took the toy he was handing out. Seemed like the toys were the ones we had been wanting. I wanted a Barbie; a Barbie that looked like me with dark skin, curly hair, but a princess from a faraway land wearing a purple sparkly gown and a crown made of gold. Pleased with what he's done, he watches us play. 

Playing with the toys felt as if we  were in some sort of trance. A trance we couldn't really pull ourselves out of. 

One by one, he started taking us by the hand, leading us deeper into the darkening forest. Suddenly things started  to feel off. My heart raced in my chest, fear rising. Something was definitely off about this. It was as if they all didn't have a mind of there own and he was... controlling them--us. Swallowing hard, I didn't move, I didn't want him to pick me out from the rest. 

Getting up, I follow the bear and the rest of the children deep into the woods. I didn't say anything. Looking at all their faces, they looked... different. Their faces with the same fake smile that stayed on a doll's face. But their eyes... they were just translucent white orbs. 

Slowly, I could see the bear checking to see if we were all under his spell. Quickly, I roll my eyes to the back of my head, praying that this'll work and not give me away. Then, he went to the front of us, grab hold of one of the little girls I recognize. Misty Byers. Her dress dirty and her hair messy hung down to her mid-back. She held on to a red  balloon and held onto the bear's hand walking stiffly alongside him like the rest of us. As I continue to look around, I see another kid--just like me--normal and aware. Our eyes lock with one another. I guess he knows what I'm feeling too. 

Fear. 

We finally stop in a damp part of  the forest. The smell of pine, dirt, and earth filled my nostrils, burning them a little. I felt numb, too afraid to feel a bone on body as I seen him take kids two by two into a darker area. The moonlight only allowed me too see so much. The toys that we once had, were gone,  or at least they weren't actual toys. Instead, they were sticks and dead things that were meant to appear like toys. Only the boy and I realized it. 

The boy came over to me quietly, making sure he didn't disrupt the bear during his... I don't know. Then that's when we hear a sharp scream. A boy's scream and cracking. My hands started shaking, my whole body did and I  backed into a tree sliding down it, sitting in the damp earth. 

"You're not hypnotized either?" if it were a question, it seemed more like a statement. He took a quick glance over his shoulder and then faced me. Places his hands on my shoulder and looks me in the eyes. "We can leave. I don't even think the bear's even finished with the first kid," he whispered to me in a hurried voice. 

Shook my head fiercely protesting. "We can't," my voice cracked a little, hopefully not too loud the bear heard me. Tears started to fill my eyes. "He'd c-c-catch us." 

Glancing over his shoulder again, he looks back at me frowning. "It's either we die or we leave, he's not going to do anything. I've heard stories about him." 

"W-w-what kind?" I stammered. 

"If we leave, I--" 

Footsteps interrupted our conversation. The bear appeared, but he seemed to not have noticed us. He grabs two more kids--two little boys--and disappears again. 

I swallow hard, too afraid to even continue talking. 

"C'mon," he demands taking me by the arm and starts running. "This is our only chance. He didn't grab many of us." 

Running through the thick trees, it seemed as if we weren't getting anywhere, but deeper into the forest. The hard footsteps echoed behind us. We both looked at each other. 

"The bear," we said in unison.