It was a pitch-black night. Not a single star could be seen and not a cloud for miles. The moon shone with a blood-red glow. It didn’t help the couple with the fact that the guy’s idea of a shortcut was through a dead forest. They walked along a mossy, cobblestone path. It was old with many chunks of the path missing and stained with an endless history. The only thing that helped make this path bearable was the fact that the lamps along it still worked; just barely though. Their lights were dim and just managed to bright up the path for a few feet. The couple shuffled as quickly as they could from lamp to lamp, doing their best to avoid the darkness and shadows looming over them. Their over-active imagination made them think the trees were creeping over them extending their branches to grab them. It didn’t help with the fact that they had just left a party and had decided on taking a few shots before departing. The truth, however, was that they had nothing to fear from the trees or the darkness, but instead on what hid behind it all.
“Blake, I thought you said this was a shortcut? We’ve been going through this shortcut forever.”
“Relax, babe. I’ve gone through this path a dozen times.”
As the young couple continued to walk footsteps could be heard. It sounded as though the footsteps were coming from behind them. They sounded light but they could be heard loud and clear. The couple looked over each other’s shoulder and looked. They saw nothing and continued to walk. A few seconds later the footsteps could be heard again.
“Don’t look back!”
“Why!? Do you know what it is?”
“Just keep on walking and don’t look back!” In a whisper he said, “Damn, it’s that day already.”
“Blake, I’m scared.”
He stopped and held on to her hand and looked into her eyes. “Don’t worry Cindy. Nothing is going to happen to you.”
She smiled at his eyes, but then she noticed something was wrong. His smile was awkward and his eyes showed fear. She knew something was wrong. The giggling of a child could be heard from behind her and her smile faded. She turned and saw nothing but the darkness of the forest of dead trees. Her eyes were full of fear and her heart simply continued to pulse telling her to get the hell out.
“Blake, did you hear that!? Blake!?”
She turned around and Blake grabbed her by the wrist pulling her further down the path.
“We have to get the hell out of here!!”
“You know what’s going on!! What is it!?!”
He kept on going along the path pulling Cindy with him. There was determination in his eyes to leave this forest as soon as possible. He ignored the alcohol in his system and kept driving himself forward. He didn’t want to stay for what was hiding for him. Up ahead there was a tunnel dug through a hill. It was pitch black in there and the only thing showing an exit was the dim lamp at the end. On their way to the entrance of the tunnel all they could hear was the giggling of the mystery child. The lamps would flicker furiously as if some force was flipping a switch. Once they got the entrance of the dark tunnel Cindy came to a complete stop and resisted Blake.
“We have to go through this tunnel to leave!”
“Can’t we just go back?”
“Cindy, once we’re through this tunnel we’re pretty much out of here.”
The giggling could be heard coming from the forest again along with the howl of the winds which were now picking up.
“It’s dark in there; we won’t see a thing.”
Suddenly the wind stopped and the nearest lamp shut off leaving the only light to be that of the red moon.
“Now it’s dark out here. Hold my hand and just keep up. I won’t leave you behind. Trust me.”
She reluctantly held on to his hand and entered the tunnel. They walked as fast as they could. All they heard were the echoes of their shoes hitting the ground. Suddenly the footsteps could be heard again. They came from everywhere. Then the giggling came back too.
“Just keep on going! Ignore it all!”
They were only meters away from the light of the lamp until it went out.
“Don’t stop! Keep up!”
The couple continued walking until the light came back on. They stopped and they were outside the tunnel. The couple looked at each other with relief in their eyes. They were short of breath and their hearts were beating rapidly. Suddenly, they heard the giggling again, this time in front of them. They slowly turned toward the noise. Standing right there, in the light of the lamp, stood a small child who looked no older than five years old. He was dressed in a black, ripped, and dirty tuxedo. His skin was pale white, his hair was a dirty black, and his eyes were as red as the moon. The boy just stood there giggling to himself and holding a pair of scissors that were soaked in blood.
“It’s my birthday today. Are you here to play?”
“Blake, who is that?”
“It’s my older brother, John.”
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