Tales From Hell's Eternal Waiting Room

The Beast of Winslow Forest

"Do not go into Winslow forest after sunset"  the bartender told the traveler.

"Well sir, why the devil not? 

"Because it will not be safe"

"I don't see what that has to do with anything. I must make it to the coast by tuesday"

"You will never see tuesday sir if you do not heed my warning"

The barkeep turned from the man and began rinsing glasses in the sink.  The door opened letting in a cold breeze. Everyone looked up to see a man stroll in and hang up his coat then they all went back to their drinks and cardgames. The traveler was still waiting for an answer to his questions.

"Please sir, he asked the small, wiry bartender, what is wrong with Winslow forest?"

The barkeep slowly turned around with a look of trepidation on his face. He stared at the traveler with beady eyes and the traveler began to feel nervous and looked down at his drink.

"Listen to me closely stranger. Many men have gone into Winslow forest at night . Not a one has ever come back out." he softly told the man.

"Is this some kind of a joke? Is this a game you play with all passers through to amuse yourself in this one horse town? If it is, I can assure you it won't be good for business. I myself already feel like leaving your establishment and never returning"

"This is no God damn game!" The barman roared and the traveler knocked his beer over he was so startled by it.  The other men in the bar looked up from what they were doing to see what the commotion was.

"This is no game, the barman repeated at a lower volume. There is evil in that forest sir, evil. Folks round these parts have known for years not to set foot in Winslow forest at night. No one would dare"

"Evil?" the traveler asked with confusion in his voice.

"Evil." the barkeep repeated.

"Sir, I don't know what it is your after, but I am not amused by this talk of evil forests and rubbish of the sort. I have to get to the coast by tuesday or the ship will have left without me. I cannot have that. Cannot have that at all."

"Go around the forest by way of the western trail" spoke a man in the next seat the traveler hadn't even noticed was sitting at his side.

"Well excuse me sir but from my estimation following the western trail would take me an extra day and that would do me no good"

"It would save your life though."

The traveler swiveled in his stool and looked over the new member of the conversation. He wore a large hat and an old beat up trench coat that seemed to be two sizes too large for his body and was missing the buttons on the front. He was rather tall but thin and there seemed to be real fear in his eyes.

"I hate to disagree with you sir but that extra day would actually ruin my life. I must make it to the ship on tuesday" the traveler said.

The tall man leaned in close to the traveler and said sternly:

"Listen stranger, I will warn you one more time then I will leave you to your own devices. . Do not go into Winslow forest after dark if you value your life. This is the last time I will warn you. What happens from here is up to you" 

The tall thin man in the hat then stood up from the bar and dropped a few coins down. With a tip of his hat to the barman he turned around and walked to a table by the door, sitting alone .

The traveler turned back to the bar and looked again at the bartender.

"What is it in the forest that is so terrible?"