When I was growing up, I was never Afraid of the Dark.
I never fear the dark spaces under my bed, the Gloom in the
closet. The one corner of the basement,
that the light never seem to reach.
I didn't get scared of the knocks on the walls.
The groaning of our old house settling, or the odd scraping
noises outside my room at night, even a slight flutter, or
tapping on my window, wasn't spooky to me.
And I could sleep comfortably through the night.
That all comes from spending your whole childhood in a
haunted house. When my room would be Be
rearranged by an unseen Force. I just clean it up when cups
flew across the room. I'd catch them.
Eventually. I started responding to the
actions even giving my friends names.
It wasn't uncommon in my early teen years for my mom to hear.
Don't even think about it. Darrell as a cup would start to
slide across the table. So I'd never been afraid of the
supernatural. I believe in Monsters, but I
never used to be afraid of them. They all had to just be
misunderstood and lonely, like me, you think?
My favorite place on our property was the Knoll a little
bump of a hill at the edge of the cornfield where the woods
came closest to the house. It was a good 500 feet from the
Barnyard but still far enough that I could get some space and
some quiet. The trees in this part of the
woods were tall far taller than the trees that covered the rest
of our woodlot, their canopies blocked out some of the Sun.
And their needles made the ground soft perfect for sitting
and relaxing, with a thermos of coffee and a book on an Leaf all
afternoon before the snow hit, it was always easy to find a
place to lean as these ancient trees have long ago, lost their
lower Limbs, and the forest here felt like a Gothic Cathedral
High vaulted pillars. The partial Twilight, even
during the day, with small bursts of Light breaking through
the canopy. Even the singing of the birds or
the rustling of mice was like a symphony of its own.
I may have lived in the house, but I lived for the woods,
especially my little part of it. My parents always taught me to
Back before Sunset not to whistle and to never follow.
If anyone was calling my name, I never questioned these rules.
I grew up with them after all. Mom and dad never cared if I
went to the Knoll but they wanted to make sure that I was
safe. I was always happy to oblige
knowing full. Well, that if I broke these
rules, I'd be grounded and stuck inside, even when the birds
sang, I never whistled back when I was in the forest, No Matter
What. By now, I'm assuming you've
gathered that I grew up in Appalachia Shh isolated
surrounded by the supernatural raised in it.
So, it was second nature. I guess I can thank my deeply
superstitious grandmother for that.
After all. It kept me alive.
I can't say the same for everyone else.
By the time, I was in early High School.
My parents were getting tired of the commute.
After all, it was about an hour's drive to the nearest
town. There was no cable and the power
to the house was always dicey because squirrels would short
out the Transformer on the power pole about once.
Week. They were considering moving and
I was looking forward to not waking up at 5 in the morning
for school. They bought a new house in town,
and we were preparing to move. We packed anything that wasn't
necessary and had already moved it into the new house.
But Mom and Dad decided to have one last house party before we
threw the bed since suitcases. We've been living out of into
the moving truck and finally finished the move.
They invited friends, co-workers and their kids.
Many of these families were from out of town.
Down. They didn't know the rules and
certainly thought we were all superstitious people.
I wish I could say that we were just superstitious the party
started in the early afternoon on the last beautiful day in
late. August, the Sun was shining
bright. There was just enough wind to
keep the bugs at Bay and everyone was basking in this
truly gorgeous day, the younger kids were playing with my
brothers, the older kids were with me watching a movie Inside
and generally being antisocial teenagers, eventually the heat
in House drove us out into the late afternoon sun, and I began
to give the tour of the property.
I begrudgingly agreed to do hours prior.
The older kids were generally polite as I showed them around
except for Cassie. Cassie wasn't from around here.
And she like to remind everyone about that.
Cassie's family moved out to the middle of nowhere, because her
father was offered a really good job.
And in a town with a low cost of living in a decent salary, they
decided to move Cassie, had made it clear from the start that she
hated everything. Thing about this new town,
including everyone in it. The most interesting thing about
Cassie was probably that she'd never gone in the woods around
here and she was desperate to go for a hike in the woods in
retrospect. I never should have taken her, I
should have accepted being grounded for refusing to be
hospitable. But hindsight is 20/20.
I guess after the cajoling pleading threatening and
eventual blackmail from Cassie, I backed down an offer to show
her. The Knoll I told her that a hike
was out of the question. In after dark because the sun
would be setting soon and we shouldn't be in the Woods After
Dark, despite her sneering at the superstitious Backwoods,
idiot. I refuse to give in.
I knew for a fact that the woods weren't safe at night.
Once the sun sets, the Shadows change, you can lose your way in
the dark and nocturnal Predators like Bobcats can hunt you
silently through the brush. I was not willing to risk it.
I told my mother where I was taking the group of older kids,
she looked me in the eyes and told me very firmly.
Lie to make sure they all follow the rules, especially the
whistling under no circumstance. Should any of us whistle in the
trees? I promised to go over the rules
before we left, when I was returning to the group, Cassie
began mocking me for having to check with my mommy.
Before we went out for a walk, I just ignored her and turn to the
group. Okay guys, there are a couple of
rules before we head out. Pretty sure most of, you know
them, but I just need to make sure we're all on the same page
first stick together. Second, we will be back in the
barnyard by sunset. This is not up for debate.
Third, under no circumstances. Are you allowed to whistle?
Once we leave the yard. And lastly, if you hear, anyone
calling your name, we're all leaving the woods as soon as
possible understood. All the locals, nodded
understandingly, Cassie, rolled her eyes.
I turned and started walking towards the null followed by the
older kids, including Cassie, she ran up to me and started to
ask me the questions I had been dreading.
Ting. The others won't tell me why the
rules exist. They're pretty stupid.
If they don't have a reason. I mean, are the woods really?
That different at night? I stopped dead in my tracks.
I turned to her grabbed her by the shoulders, and look.
Deep into her. Eyes are normally dismissive
expression turned almost fearful.
When I began to speak tasi, the woods are different at night, it
changes and the other rules are there to make sure you don't get
lost in a strange place or attract some type of Predator.
There are coyotes. Bobcats and God knows what else
in the woods for once in your life, shut up.
And listen, please the color drained from Cassie's face.
And she nodded, I turned back to the Knoll and kept walking.
I hope that maybe just, maybe she would listen for once the
Knoll was just ahead a calm Sanctuary after the craziness of
the party that day, when we stepped into the shade of the
ancient trees, the temperature was noticeably cooler and the
slight wind made the great giant sway, gently, and produced a
sound like Creaking Timber and a Faraway whisper, as it ran
through the needles above us. The others looked up into the
canopy, then found a place to sit and relax.
I was starting to chill my back against my favorite tree.
When Cassie came up to me, hey, um, is the whispering in the
trees normal? It sounds like my name Cassie.
It's just the wind. Seriously, you need to relax.
You were the one who wanted to come out here.
Remember, I answered trying to sound relaxed but on the inside,
I started. To get a bit nervous.
Cassie was silent for a few moments after that and I could
see her starting to relax out of the corner of my eye.
I started to allow myself to calm slightly listening to the
sound of the wind in the trees. Just as I was starting to think
everything was going to be okay. Cassie turn to look deeper into
the woods. She was staring intently into
the gloomy trees as if she was hearing something from the
woods. Suddenly, I had an awful feeling
in the pit of my stomach. I looked over at the others.
Those who had also noticed the difference in Cassie's behavior
and it was beginning to make them uneasy to.
We all stood up walking over to where Cassie was sitting.
It was like she was hypnotized or paralyzed staring off into
the shadowy trees. There was no sound other than
the wind, no birds. None of the usual forest, sounds
out of nowhere. Cassie let out a loud whistle.
I grabbed her by the arm, snapping her out of her trance,
realizing what she done, and seeing the fear.
In my eyes, she went to run. No, don't run.
If we're being hunted, we walked quickly but we never run that
will trigger the prey drive of whatever is out there and that's
the last thing we want. Let's go I said in a low whisper
to her and the other kids barely audible over the now much
stronger wind we made for the safety of the house battling
Against The Wind that had picked up.
Since we entered the trees it was gusting and felt like it was
trying to drive us back into the woods the dust from the Barnyard
Stone our faces as we made. Our way across the field moving
slowly despite our efforts, I refuse to look back at the
woods, instead, focusing on the adults who are suddenly rushing
to get everything. Inside a tablecloth blew off,
one of the picnic tables and flew.
Right by us, looking every bit like a ghost as it whipped.
Past us towards the woods, I followed it with my eyes as it
flew towards the Knoll I froze in my tracks.
The woods look different somehow changed.
As if the place I had known all my childhood was darker.
Stranger almost evil. I knew it was impossible, but I
thought I heard a growl come from behind me as I stared The
Impossible noise. Snapped me out of my stupor.
I turned and began to Sprint the last 100 yards towards the
house. Run, I screamed, as I caught up
to the group, we all broke into a Sprint.
My mother was in the barnyard. When we all came flying through
the gate, she tried to stop us but we wouldn't stop all out
flight until we'd gotten through the main door of the house as
the rest of our group was catching their breath.
Breath. My mom took me aside.
I told her everything that happened and she immediately
looked afraid her expression, darkened.
When rain began to patter against the window, the local
kids, and their parents left, leaving only my family and
Cassie's in the house. My parents had previously
offered for them to stay the night as they lived.
The farthest from our house about an hour drive one way,
Cassie's family, not used to driving such long distances,
would have been nervous and even perfect weather.
Let alone the Storm that had blown in suddenly, my parents
did everything they could to keep us all distracted from what
was going on outside and it was working for everyone.
Except for Cassie, she kept staring out into the darkness
and the direction of the Knoll every time, the wind would
whistle past the window. It was almost like she kept
hearing her name. Every time the wind blew, I
tried my best to relax and calm Cassie down eventually by
bedtime. She'd relaxed enough to lie down
on the air mattress. We had set up in our guest room.
Knowing that she was safe in the house with her parents allowed
me to finally fall asleep at about 1.
A.m. I woke up to the sound of the
guest room, door opening, which was unusual seeing as I was used
to things, going bump in the night, I got up immediately
putting on my slippers and stepping out into the hallway.
Just as the top of Cassie's head disappeared down the stairs.
She was muttering that she could hear something calling her.
And she had to go, I woke my parents up and then ran down the
stairs. As I heard the front door
Creeks, Open my Father followed me down the stairs while my
mother woke her parents as Dad and I ran out the open door Into
the Storm. We saw Cassie walking and
tranced towards the gate out of the Barnyard, we shouted and
tried to follow but the wind seemed to whip our voices away
chassis mother and father Spilled Out into the yard
shouting for their daughter to snap out of it.
If she heard them she didn't respond the gate which had been
changed. Shut flew wide open.
Allowing her out of the relative, safety of the Barnyard
and into the open field. Owned a bolt of lightning, split
the sky and we saw the silhouette of a figure right in
front of Cassie, it was pitch-black easily standing Ten
Feet Tall with impossibly long arms and legs.
It's hands were narrow fingers, long and spider like Dad and I
froze as we watched a pitch black hand wrap around Cassie.
She didn't wiggle didn't protest as it lifted her into the air.
I heard Cassie's mother scream her name and suddenly Cassie was
gone. It was like in the blink of an
eye whatever. Old Cassie had vanished back
into whatever realm she'd summoned it from and taken her
with it. We called the police and they
came in the morning. After the storm, they said that
the storm must have washed away her tracks and that she must
have been sleepwalking. We moved out of the house, the
same day. While Cassie's disappearance
made local news. It never became a national
story. I haven't even seen her
disappearance being discussed on internet forums or True Crime
podcasts. Cassie's parents were never the
same. They moved away.
Way, after the case went cold, I think about what happened to
Cassie, almost every night when the formerly comforting dark
descends on me, like, a wet blanket.
I no longer think that monsters are just misunderstood.
I'm afraid of the dark and I haven't set foot in the woods
since There's a story that you won't
read in history books. It's a truth that you only hear
in my Village, The pendel Witches were innocent, but there
is a real witch in The Forest of Bowland, my name is Thomas and I
grew up in barley, which is a small English Village in the
borough of pendel. Most of you won't know that
place. You might have never heard of
the pendal hangings, even if you do know about the famous witch
trials that took place during the 17th century, you probably
don't believe in superstitious nonsense.
You probably think. The hangings were the mark of an
uncivilized era you wouldn't be wholly wrong.
It's ghastly that throughout history.
So many innocent women were taken based on unfounded
accusations of Witchcraft, that doesn't mean, however, that
witches aren't real. And if you'd ever stumbled
across a certain house in Boland Forest, you would know that
watch out. Sammy The pendel Witches might
turn you into one. I giggled as my four-year-old
sister nearly tripped over a towed by our local pond.
I was six years old. At the time and I'll never
forget the way. My grandpa looked at me his eyes
were filled with a mixture of dread and fury.
He grabbed my wrist in his gnarled decaying fingers and
left a mark that didn't fade for days.
Don't you ever joke about that? He snarled.
Grandpa, you're hurting me. I wind my sister.
Samantha had stopped playing. We both quivered in the shadow
of the old man, who loomed above us height.
Am I hurting you? Good reckon that'll help you.
Remember this lesson there's only One which have pendel she
was never tried and she never died.
I don't ever want to hear you kids mention her again.
Understood my little sister was sobbing at this point, but I
tried my best to put on a brave face and protect her.
I always hated my grandpa, he was cruel.
Still the old jerk was certainly not creative enough to tell tall
tales and he was no liar. I didn't realize that.
As a young child, at the time, he seemed far worse than any
witch, get off me. I demanded my grandpa grumbled
and released me. I complain to my parents.
We didn't spend weekends at his house.
After that. Of course we do live in the same
Village. My mom pointed out.
You can't avoid him forever. Just watch me.
I remember thinking that my dad pulled me aside when my mom left
the room. Listen, I hate my father-in-law
as much as you. He's always been a jerk.
Don't let your mom know. I said that he whispered I
snorted then my dad's. And changed.
I'd never seen him look so Stern.
He was always soft. He was a clown.
He didn't do serious. However, I will say that, I
don't want you to talk about the, which again, some things
are best left alone. And I did I left her alone for
eight years, of course, I grew up in pendel so it was hard to
avoid General talk of witches, especially at Halloween that
being said, I did start to notice that adults.
And barley would climb up when that dreaded W, word appeared in
conversation, And I could never understand why other towns and
villages in the county of Lancashire seemed to derive,
great, pleasure from telling scary stories about the witches
of Pendle Hill whilst people in barley shunned.
The topic, I didn't hear of the real, which again until I went
to a sleepover with my, for closest friends, I suppose, we
were still young and foolish enough to find the myth
fascinating, and at the age of 14, we were fueled by
testosterone. We relished in discussing
something forbidden. I cannot as hard as I, Forget
that weekend in December, the year was 2009.
It was the coldest winter in decades, why we chose to sleep
in a tree house on such a brutal evening, I'll never know, I
suppose. It was another way of proving to
ourselves that we were strong. We weren't children.
We sat in a circle and told each other ghost stories by
Torchlight. I think it might have actually
been a lot of fun at first, but it's hard to remember.
Everything afterwards was so horrible.
The weekend, steady decline began.
Michael told his story, there is a force he began.
Oh, not this again. Jack groaned.
What Gareth asked. Don't encourage him jack side.
I'm not sure you've got the stomach for this one.
Gareth Michael laughed. Menacingly Bradley was snoring
away at this point and I Still Envy him for that.
I wonder how different my life might look.
If I'd had the privilege of missing Michaels story.
What I have had the courage to do things differently.
What about you Tommy? Want to hear my story, Michael
asked, I Shrugged whenever we say, we're going to hear it so
just get on with it. Jack nodded agreeing, with my
point. Gareth lay on his front,
propped, on his elbows Jack. Scrolled through his phone, I
wrapped myself up in my sleeping bag.
Focusing on the icy Breeze, that was seeping through the cracks
of the flimsy boards that formed Michaels, rickety Treehouse
somehow. I knew the story he was going to
tell here, once was a witch who lived in Pendle shoe.
Michael started. What Gareth interjected.
We all know about the pedal which has Michael glared at him.
Did I say which has dimwit? No I said, which now shut up.
And listen in 1612 12 innocent women were convicted of 10
murders and tried for witchcraft not a single one of them ever
harmed a soul in the Modern Age, we all know that don't we
because witches aren't real you jerk, Jack muttered looking down
at Phone and typing away Michael laughs maniacally.
No, that's not why they were innocent.
The people simply hang the wrong women.
There was only ever one. Real Pendle, which, and she's
still out there. She lives in the forest of
Bowland. Hold up.
Gareth said, sitting up 16:12, she's like three hundred ninety
six years, old older than that. Michael answered.
Is that it is that the story. Gareth asked, Jack nodded still.
Not looking up from his phone. Yep, that's the entire story.
My grandpa told me about her. I finally said one side, rid my
throat of the stubborn. Lump that was blocking it.
Why have I never heard of this? Gareth left, that's way cooler
than the original story. About the pendulum, which has
the original isn't a story jerk. Its history people were hanged.
Show some respect. I said Woo, Jack mocked
giggling. Yeah.
Gareth show some respect, dude. Seriously, why haven't I heard
it before? Gareth asked you never heard it
because you didn't grow up in barley.
Gareth Jack explained still absorbed in his phone and
utterly disinterested in the topic of conversation.
That's what Michael always reminds me.
I moved here from clitheroe and Outsiders, just don't get it.
What do you mean? Gareth asked every barley grown
up tells their kid that dumb story.
I explained shrugging. It's a rite of passage or
something. I can't wait to To traumatize my
kids with it. Yeah, you guys are weird.
Gareth laughed. This Village has a real Hot Fuzz
Vibe. Move back to Chorley than a
jerk. Michael barked and did I say?
I'd finish the story. Yes, Jack replied.
No, Michael said, there's a part of the story that you haven't
heard Jack. Oh, well, please do Enlighten us
Jack side, rolling his eyes, Michael Grint.
I know where she lives silence gareth's at their slack.
Jarred staring at his Idol. In eager anticipation.
I don't know why I instantly believed him but I did.
It was some sort of intuition, I froze.
And tried to force back the wave of nausea that threatened to
incite a round of projectile. Vomiting Jack's reaction was the
most surprising. He put his phone down, bullcrap.
Jack said, you're really going to give us an opportunity to
call you out on one of your lies.
You're going to give us a location that we could visit to
prove that you're full of crap. It's not a lie.
Why Michael assured us, she lives in a house right?
At the heart of the Boland Forest.
I know how to find it. And how do you know that Jack
asked? It's a long kept barley secret
Michael explained. That's why it's only people from
our village who wet their pants At The Mention Of pendel, which
has only we know that she exists.
Yes. Okay.
But how do you know we're in the forest to find her?
I asked, you know, mr. Henderson.
Our old history teacher, Michael asked the three of us nodded.
I saw him in the pub. Last He was sitting in the
corner, crying just himself, mrs.
Henderson was at home. He's in the pub.
Most days. Larry said, Michael explained,
he's not been the same since Millie went missing.
Whoa, Jack interjected stop. We put up with a lot of your
crap, but I'm not going to let you bring a real life.
Story into this little ghost tail.
That's messed up. We all knew Millie, she was a
buddy, Michael slammed his fist on the hardwood floor of the
treehouse. House for a second, it felt as
if the whole structure might crumble, but it didn't it
quieted Jack, though. It's not a story.
Michael growled. Let me finish.
Okay. This is why I invited all of you
here tonight. You see, I learned something.
I talked to mr. Henderson, quick.
Dared me. Rick was Michaels, older,
brother. He was a jerk.
You can probably imagine what we called him behind Michaels back
and what did mr. Henderson say, dareth asked
Anxiously biting his nails. I asked him whether he was okay.
Michael continued, I said I missed Millie.
I wasn't a knob. All right, I only went over to
shut Rick up. I was nice to mr.
Henderson. I didn't expect him to open up
and he opened up. He really opened up just say it
Jack side. He told me that he and Millie
went on a bowl and Hiking weekend but they weren't really
hiking. They were looking for something
the pendel, which see Mr. Henderson comes from a long line
of Henderson's, one of the oldest families and barley and
they've been passing on a warning for Generations.
Ever since the 1600s, his family has been telling the villagers
of barley to stay away from the Boland Forest.
William Henderson was the only person to ever see the Witch and
survived to tell the tale. He wanted everyone in barley to
know about her. He wanted everyone to stay away,
and they listened folk from other towns ignored him and said
the pendulum, Jews had already been tried and hanged but
William was respected in our Village People.
Trusted him and he did his warning.
Some new lure, fantastic Jack, mocked Michael ignored him when
mr. Henderson are mr.
Henderson heard that story from his father, he became obsessed.
You see William Henderson told his son something that he didn't
tell the rest of the villagers and barley.
It's a secret that's been kept in his family for hundreds of
years. He told his son, something, he
was too scared. Scared to tell his friends and
Neighbors in case. They might feel brave enough to
do something about it. He told his son where the witch
lived. So when mr.
Henderson learned this family, secret, 400 years later.
He wanted to prove that the which was still out there.
Then Millie found his facts, she wanted to go with him.
She wanted to see whether the legend was true like her dad.
She wanted to prove that a, which really exists and mr.
Henderson, just let her come with him.
I asked choking on my own It's he was excited.
He said he wanted to share the adventure with his daughter.
He didn't heed his own father's warning.
He didn't encounter any danger or maybe he admitted to me, he
didn't really believe the which was real at all.
He was just excited to share something with Millie.
Michael said, is that all he told you Gareth asked,
tentatively Michael shook his head, he looked me dead in the
eye and told me that they found it, they found a house in the
heart of the Boland Forest. They found the which mr.
Henderson did not say that Jack scoffed but even his steady
voice seemed to be waning, he did Michael assured Jack and she
took Millie just just took her. Gareth gulped, I tried to ask
him what happened, Michael replied, he wouldn't tell me, he
told me to go away. Told me some questions weren't
worth answering that he said was what he had finally learned.
Jesus, Jack side, collapsing on his sleeping bag.
Okay, Take it all back. Maybe you could work on the
ending. But that was a good horror
story. Yeah.
Gareth whimpered crawling into his own bag.
I think I'm ready to call it a night before I wet my sleeping
bag. Gareth and Jack fell silent.
But Michael and I were still sitting up in our bags.
He was staring at me with the most petrified eyes.
It was a look. I'd seen in the eyes of both, my
grandpa and my dad real terror. It's not a story.
Michael whispered before lying down and turning off the lamp
beside him. I sat there for a while longer
at this point. I wouldn't blame anyone for
thinking the tail to be make-believe but it's not about
the words. It's about the feeling.
Maybe it's something only barley folk can understand like,
Michael, I'd caught the fever, I'd seen the, which not
physically, but in my mind and my dreams, she felt real to me.
I didn't need to go to the heart of Bowland Forest to find out
whether she was real. I already believed the next
morning I woke. The sensation of something heavy
landing on my chest. It was my rucksack.
What is this? We going on, a hike Bradley
asked throwing his bag off himself.
Michael was dressed in full hiking gear and standing by the
open trap door to the Treehouse. You slept through some weird
stuff. Last night, dude.
Darreth laughed sitting up in his sleeping bag and rubbing his
eyes the pendel, which Jack clarified.
Oh, right. Bit old for Ghost Stories,
aren't we lads? Bradley chuckled, he'll grow up
eventually. Don't worry.
You're the same age as us Bradley Jack pointed out anyway.
Michael's updated the legend. He added a pretty freaky story
at the end. Actually David a spooky update.
I was impressed. It's real Michael explained and
we're going to find her who Bradley asked snorting with
laughter Millie. Michael answered everybody fell
silent Jack scolded him Mike. Don't be an idiot, man.
You're pushing it too far now, the girls gone mr.
Henderson told me everything that I told you last night,
Believe it or don't, I couldn't give a crap.
I know, Tom believes me, Michael said, suddenly all eyes were on
me. I looked down at the rucksack,
on my lap. I do believe you.
I said well, I believe that something bad happened to Millie
out in that Forest. So why would we go out there?
Yeah, which are know which I think is I'm going to pass on
that one Bradley said, I don't want to find somebody.
I thought you were saying, we all needed to grow up Michael
pointed out, and you said it yourself.
Nobody ever found her body. She's still out there, she might
still be alive. She wasn't even then, I knew
that, but I also knew that Michael loved her.
He had always loved her. She had softened his coarseness
and he'd return to being a full-blown jerk when she went
missing. But maybe this wasn't just about
finding Her maybe as I've been the case with mr.
Henderson, Michael had the obsession he had to find the
Witch and then I had a horrible thought a thought that sickened
me to the very core of my being. Maybe that was what the which
wanted. Maybe that was how she found her
prey. She got into their heads and
lured them to her Lair. I'd love to give you an answer
but I don't know even after what happened a group of teenagers
searching for a past body. In the forest.
Gareth said, sounds like Stand By Me Everything.
As a reference with this guy Bradley left, forget it Lads.
I'm going home I'll tell the villagers of barley about your
Brave. Sacrifice safe travels, my
friends and then he disappeared through the trapdoor.
Whatever that leaves the idiot would only slow us down.
Michael said, his words were pure vitriol at this point.
His eyes were red. It looked as if he hadn't slept
all night. I know.
I hadn't. I'd barely managed more than a
couple of hours. There was no way I was going on
a hike. In this sleep-deprived state.
Anyway, I had the excuse that. Any 14 year old would have?
My parents won't, let me, I said, oh, shut up, Michael
moaned. I got your precious permission
slips. My folks, rang your parents last
night. How would we even get to Bolin
Forest? Dude, Jack pointed out.
It's a bit far on foot ready? Idiots?
Came a voice from the bottom of the ladder, we all gathered
around the trap door. I looked down to see Rick
standing at the foot of the tree with a Out of car keys,
dangling, from his fingers, my heart sank.
It was, at that moment, I realized I had no Escape.
Michael wasn't going to take no for an answer and the 10 years,
we had been friends. He had never taken no for an
answer and yet naively. I had hoped this would be the
exception as everyone started climbing down the ladder.
I remember looking at Michael with tears, in my eyes, I tried
my best to hold them back. I had accepted the inevitable,
but we shared a look. I think for a moment, his
Russian was apologetic. It was as if he were under the
witch's spell he probably would have let Gareth or Jack walk
away if they'd really wanted to do so, but he wouldn't let me.
I was his Rock. So we all piled into Rick's
battered. Old camper van bringing Ruck
sacks filled with supplies that Michael had gathered before.
We even woke up and said goodbye to our parents who were standing
and waving in the front yard of Michael's house.
Everything was arranged and our parents were happy for us to go
camping as long as Rick and Stacy.
His girlfriend looked after us on the trip and brought us back
before 6:00 on Sunday night. I watched Pendle Hill from the
car window and thought about how beautiful it looked in the early
morning sun. I wished more than anything that
we were going on a pleasant stroll, up the hill to find the
which anywhere but the forest. Haven't you got anything better
to do than hang out with a bunch of teenagers, Rick Jack, teased
making Gareth snort. Yeah of course, Rick replied.
I'm going to feed you idiots to the way.
That sounds much better than hanging out with you.
Rick don't be rude. They're just kids, Stacy
protested. Aren't you guys only like 18.
Gareth asked, 19, which corrected, sorry mr.
Nineteen-year-old darreth responded, making Jack laughs.
You two, make a cute couple Rick retorted, which silence Gareth
and jack for a while. So why do you boys really want
to go to Boland? Stacy asked, shouldn't you be
busy playing Call of Duty. Why they're going to sit around
the campfire to listen to each other's ghost stories, Rick
answered, gross, Gareth groaned. You should be on some kind of
register, Jack added. We're just going on a hike.
Michael explained coldly as he stared vacantly out of the
passenger window. I don't believe you Rick replied
shaking his head. You're a bad liar, little
brother. How about you?
Shut up and mind your own business?
Michael asked, dude, how about you remember?
Who's driving you to your Little sleepover spot.
Rick pointed out silence. Anyway, I know you're looking
for the witch Bradley. Told me Rick said, Michael
didn't say anything. He just continued to watch the
scenery flood past the window. I don't really give a crap.
Stacy and I won't be going on your little hike though we'll be
staying behind and having some alone time, Rick said what?
But Mom said Michael begin. Yeah, I know wake interrupted.
We'll set up camp. And make some food whilst you go
on your little Adventure. So don't walk too far, okay?
I don't want to have to go looking for you and that creepy
Forest Michael side. Fine just don't need everything
whilst were gone. You greedy idiot screw you.
Rick laughed. I listen to music on my iPod for
the rest of the trip. I tried to convince myself.
It wasn't happening. I tried to convince myself that
the which wasn't real, which I'm sure you're already doing but
you just don't get it. Michael's.
Right. People from barley are
different. The, which has some sort of hold
over us. I always believed my grandpa
deep down. I just didn't want to admit it.
I won't tell you where we camped.
I don't want some ignorant person to stumble across this
story and decide they want to go looking for the, which don't do
it. Rick was most certainly a jerk,
but he looked after us, I can't really fault him on this trip.
He was Kinder than usual, the teasing started to fade as we
drove closer to the forest, he became like Michael and me.
He grew quiet fearful, he was a barley lad after all, he might
not know mr. Henderson story, but everybody
in the village feels something about the which like I said I
can't really explain it. You've got two hours.
Rick said as he and Stacy started to put up the tents.
That's not enough time Michael protested.
Clicking together the rucksack straps across his chest two
hours Rick repeated fiercely. We didn't question him.
Everyone was on edge, even Jack, and Gareth seem to sense that
something was wrong with The Barley kids, they seemed a
little nervous. We'd infected them with are
superstitious fear. So we just blindly walk through
trees, Jack asked Henderson. Told me where to go, Michael
explained, you don't have a map or something.
Gareth asked, no Gareth. I don't have a map, Michael
side, let me guess. Jack said it's a barley thing.
NG, Michael, didn't respond, Gareth turned to face me.
I was walking at the back of the line as we weave between tall
trees. What's the time?
He asked me? My phone's dead already, Jack
left, you wouldn't last, two seconds on your own, shut up.
I would have charged it before we left, but somebody didn't
even tell us we were going on a camping trip this weekend.
Gareth shouted. Nobody forced you.
Michael said you always forced Tom.
He feels Sorry for you. We all do.
So we go along with what you say, Jack said or maybe unjust
the alpha of the group and you'd all be lost without me.
Michael suggested, laughing bull crap Jack, retorted you throw a
hissy fit when you don't get your way.
We were just avoiding a scene. Keep telling yourself that
Michael replied, I'm here for Milli.
You only want to find the Witch and maybe you feel guilty about
that. It's okay.
I looked at my phone and finally answered Gareth's, original
question, 12:57 mokey Garrett said, so we turn around and head
back to camp at 2:00. We turn around when we have
found Millie, Michael answered Marching for Words.
Michael were not going to find Millie Jack said his tone
becoming aggressive. We're not going to find anything
or turning around at 2:00 in the afternoon and we'll get back to
the camp. A three?
Yeah, I'll be hungry by then I haven't even had lunch.
Gareth said I packed everything. We need Michael explained there
are crisps in your bag. Eat up and shut up other than
the sound of Gareth munching. We were silent for a little
while the lawn while actually, after about an hour.
I looked at my phone screen prep, it's 2007.
I said, come on, Michael, let's turn around the sun will have
almost set by the time we get back, we're nearly there,
Michael insisted, we can't turn back now while I'm turning
around, Gareth Head spinning on his heel and stomping past me.
Screw this fine go. He went Michael spat, we're all
going Jack said, firmly you trying to be the leader.
Michael asked turning around and squaring up to Jack.
You haven't got the guts, we don't have a leader, Jack
replied standing his ground, stop being an idiot and come
back with us though. I'll just do it on my own,
Michael mumbled, continuing on his way without us.
We should go. After him, I saw I'd screw in
Jack said, I'm not going to get lost in the middle of this
forest in the dark and neither are you come back with us?
He'll turn around. He can't do anything without you
Tom, I begrudgingly followed Gareth and Jack back to Camp.
I hope they were right. I hope Michael would get cold
feet and follow us. He didn't.
We were all starting to feel the chill of Bolin Forest as the
sky. Turned a mesmerising shade of
orange and eased Into Darkness. Is he our long walk back to Camp
passed quickly when we arrived? However, the site was deserted,
there were three fully pitched tents and a smoldering pile of
lugs. In the dirt, there was an open
packet of marshmallows. Some were lost in the mud.
There were six camp chairs. Two of them were also lying in
the mud. Thanks for ruining the
marshmallows. Jerk darreth yelled at no one.
Are they here? Jack asked walking over to the
camper van? They're not in here.
Then we heard a haunting sound a razor, sharp scream that pierced
the air, and cause the three of us to immediately throw our
hands to our ears. What the hell?
Gareth cried shaking that sounded like a woman.
It must have been Stacey. I said, oh, Jack said, lowering
his hands from his ears. I get it.
What I asked, they're messing with us, Michael, Rick and
Stacy. They planned this whole trip to
scare us Jack said before starting to Bellow, Ooh, nice
prank guys, you can come out now.
Nothing, I guess they're really committing to the bit.
Gareth suggested gulping, Jack pointed to the forest, only a
few hundred yards from the field.
We chosen for our campsite, they're hiding behind some trees
and giggling, Jack explained to heck with them.
I say, let's eat some grub and wait for them to get bored.
I'm freezing my hands off out here and they must be cold to
will restart the campfire to draw them.
Us Gareth. And I follow Jack's lead sitting
into of the Still Standing camp chairs and proceeding to roast
some marshmallows, half an hour passed, then an hour, then
another and another 6:30 p.m. it's pitch-black and freezing
cold out there. Why would they still be pranking
us? Gareth asked, I don't know, and
I don't really care. Those brothers are jerks, Jack
side picking up the portable stove and throwing it at me,
feel like cooking us some proper food.
Food chimp, I looked up from my lap.
I've been sitting there silently, contemplating.
Everything Michael had told us, there was a cutting Breeze in
the air. Something unnatural the
campfire, had warmed us up, but I felt a different kind of
coldness, something. I can't explain everything felt
wrong. I pushed it aside, I did, as
Jack said, I wasn't being a pushover.
I just preferred his plan of staying away from the forest.
I was scared. I was a coward and I know I was
a cow. It because I knew that scream
had been real. I knew something had happened to
Stacy Rick and possibly even Michael.
He'd been gone for hours. I cooked some sausages and
clumsily shove them in buns, passing them shakily to Gareth
and Jack we ate in silence. My friends weren't their usual
chatty selves and I know they wouldn't ever have admitted it,
but they were scared. They were starting to have their
doubts, about the whole thing, being a prank, it wasn't until
8:00 that any of us said, anything.
And it wasn't, Who you'd expect to speak up?
Something's wrong. Gareth said, leaping out of his
chair. We have to go and find them.
I pulled my earphones out in Jack, put his phone down, it's
cold, and it's dark Jack replied.
You really want to go out there. They're not pranking us.
Gareth whispered quivering. We've been here for five hours.
They're not pranking us. I think we should all just go to
bed and wait until morning. Jack said, it'll be light and we
can figure out what's happening. Plus, they'll probably have
caved in crawled back into their tents or maybe they're camping
out there on their own. They don't have any supplies I
pointed out. They left everything here.
The place was a mess. There was that scream Garrett's
right? Something's wrong, no Tom.
Well what do you want to do Jack questioned?
The two of them looked at me. I didn't want to March into the
forest and save anyone. I wanted to go home.
I think we need to phone our parents and tell them something.
Things wrong. I said Jack and Gareth groaned.
Great idea. That's a sure way for us to
never be allowed to do anything like this.
Again, Gareth side. Something might have happened to
them. I insisted.
We have to be sensible, guys. I'm all for avoiding the forest,
Tom, but we're not snitching to our parents note of that Jack
said, shaking his head. Two options.
We go to sleep. Are we search for them?
I vote. We search for them.
Garrett said, I vote. We go.
Ed Jack said turning to me deciding vote, Tom, Michael's
not here. Now, this is finally, a
democracy. I looked down at the campfire,
wishing for Rick Stacy and Michael to come running out of
the trees with smiles on their faces but they didn't and I had
to make a decision. I wanted to phone my parents, I
wanted to run back to Barley if necessary I could have followed
the dirt path back to the main road.
Five hours, I reckoned five hours to walk home.
I wish I'd done that but peer pressure is a supernatural force
of its own foolishly. I voted to search for our
missing friends. I might have been a coward but I
couldn't live with the prospect of cozying up in a tent while
something Unholy was happening in the heart of that Dreadful
Forest. So Guided by the Torches, that
Michael had packed for us. We delved into the forest Jack
and I had gone to Scouts together, but we were not
equipped for this. We had no idea how to navigate
The Forest of Bowland at night. We had no How to track missing
people. Instead, we were Guided by
adrenaline boyish, stupidity and perhaps a smidge of Bravery.
Stacy, are you okay? I called Rick Michael.
Garrett's shouted, not a sound, not even the rustling of tree
leaves, such an icy night and yet the air was still.
So, why could I still feel wisps of wind?
Like, Winters breath, washing over my skin, I can forgive
Gareth in Jack for ignorantly running into the witch's Forest.
But I should have known better. Everyone from barley knows
better. This is hopeless.
Gareth cried, we should go, no Jack interrupted, lifting his
boot, out of something that made us squelching noise.
What is this? Gareth, and I slowly walk
towards our crouching Friend, Casting our torch lights on to
what he held in his hands. God Darris shuttered before
turning and vomiting behind him. Jack immediately.
Dropped the squishy object trembling as he returned to
reality. And Only realized what he picked
up with his bare hands. It's a site that haunts me to
this day. A heart, a human heart.
I'm no biologist. But I knew it was human.
No Jack cried. We have to find them.
I said calmly, I was stunned by my balance composure.
Perhaps I wasn't a coward after all more.
Perhaps I was in shock. I'd probably know if I were ever
to see a therapist but I'm sure they'd have me committed if I
were ever to tell them the rest of the story that I'm about to
tell. Tell you, you see I'd love to
say that Gareth and Jack. Didn't listen to me.
I'd love to say that they decided we should go back to the
tents but we were boys and boys follow leaders in the absence of
Michael. I seem to have assumed that role
perhaps that would have always been my role in the Friendship
group. If I'd ever fought for it.
Perhaps, I could have challenged Michael in the treehouse and
prevented any of this from happening.
What if, as we marched on words, I felt A Renewed sense of
confidence. Something I hadn't.
This since the age of six before my grandpa, and dad had
traumatized me into being a sheltered little limb.
I wish I'd stayed a frightened lamb rather than the dumb person
who decided to delve deeper into the woods.
What was that? Gareth whimpered.
What was white? I asked as we continue to walk
through the black and Forest, I heard something behind me.
Gareth whispered, I stopped walking and turned around,
casting the torch light, onto my two friends, the color left my
face and any Ounce of courage. Swiftly vacated my body.
I screamed, I screamed louder than I knew, I could scream.
There was a figure behind Jack. A pale woman was strolling
between the trees. I thought it was the witch help.
She said weakly it wasn't the, which it was Stacy.
The three of us rushed over to her and Gareth dive to cushion.
Her fall has her knees, buckled, and she fell to the ground.
What happened? Jack questioned, kneeling beside
her. I was relieved to see that.
She didn't seem Have a cavernous hole in her chest but whose
heart was it? That was all we wanted to know
anyway. That didn't mean Stacy looked
physically. Well, she didn't her face was
grey Rick. She cried pressing her face into
Gareth shirt, he just he disappeared.
What do you mean? I asked, where did he go?
We were at the camp, Stacy sniffled.
He said he heard something I thought he was playing a cruel
joke on me he said she was calling to him.
He said he had to find her who Gareth.
Asked Millie. Is Stacy whispered?
How did you end up out here? Did you follow him?
Jack questioned. Stacy nodded.
I saw something. I can't.
I don't know. Please, we have to go.
We have to find Rick and Michael.
I pleaded. She shook her head.
No, they're gone. We found you.
So we can find them. I insisted.
Gareth and Jack were in a state of uncontrollable Panic.
We were It's hard to understand that when you're young, but I
saw it for a brief fleeting moment.
Then I snapped back into my leadership role.
I don't know why, I think I wanted to prove something to
myself. I wanted to be brave.
I wanted to be a hero. Rick, Stacy, wind, he tore out
his the four of us fell. Silent Gareth, turned paler than
Stacy pulling himself away from her.
So he could empty his guts into a nearby Bush.
She didn't need to finish her sentence.
We knew what he Or out. We didn't however expect her to
say what she said next. And after he after he did that
after he tore it out, he just carried on walking.
She sobbed. What Jack questioned where's his
body? Stacy, listen to me.
She pleaded assuming a fetal position on the ground.
He didn't die. He walked away.
We still need to find Michael. I stated firmly, Stacy sat
upright and screamed at me. You don't know what I saw it.
Sounds horrible. But I started not that.
She interrupted that was only the start.
I told you I saw something. I want to go home.
Gareth cried and Jack hugged him.
So does Michael, I said, whatever Stacey saw he's still
out there. We have to save him, jack
stopped hugging Gareth and he walked slowly towards me.
There was such a disgusted look on his face, Rick's dead, Tom
and Michael isn't here for all. We know that little psycho is
The one who did this? He's the reason we're all here,
isn't he? There's always been something
wrong with him, something wrong with his mind.
So no, I'm not going to risk my life for him.
Nobody else is dying tonight. That doesn't explain what Rick
did. I replied that doesn't explain
what Stacey saw. We have to go Stacey cried
stumbling to her feet and tugging at gareth's leave, Jack
whispered to me Stacy's got PTSD or something, I don't know wake
Tom week didn't rip his heart out and walk away.
No something else did it to him, I muttered trying to repress.
The fear that was clawing at the surface of my mind.
Jack suddenly shoved me to the ground, it knocked the wind
right out of me. I looked up at him and confusion
pulling myself to my feet dies. Gareth protested.
Shut up. Gareth Jack shouted.
Are you really trying to say? What I think you're trying to
say Tommy, I held up my hands. I know you don't believe.
If there is no, which has everybody lost their minds Jack,
built it at the top of his lungs.
Then there was the faint sound of humming, we all stopped and
listened. Stacey looked bewildered wiping
the tears from her face and watching we three boys exchange
horrified. Looks at one another Millie
Gareth whispered sobbing, that's her favorite Psalm.
I cried fervently, clinging to my last strand of Sanity.
She be told off for humming it in class.
What are you saying? Cried.
I don't hear any humming please. This is all in your heads.
Don't leave me. Not like Rick.
Michael Jack said it has to be Michael.
He's toying with us. It isn't Michael.
Stacy screeched. We have to leave this place.
I agree. Jack replied.
Let's go. Screw you Michael you guys get
Stacey back to Camp. I have to keep going.
I said, what was propelling me? Forwards?
The farther. We walked the sicker, I felt in
the pit of my stomach and yet, as we've Vanished Into the Heart
of the forest, the more compelled.
I felt to find whatever I was trying to find.
It wasn't Michael. I knew that much Stacy wailed,
no, please I can't leave you on your own.
Please don't make me come with you.
We need to go back to the camp. Come on, Tom Jack said putting a
hand on my shoulder and speaking more gently you've done enough
for him. You don't have to keep going.
You're not under his spell anymore with tears.
In my eyes, I smiled at my dear friend.
Said something that I wouldn't understand until later, I'm
sorry, I kept walking, I knew that Gareth Stacy and Jack would
follow. They did not protest, but Stacy
continued to cry, the boys, followed the siren Call of
Millie's hum as I did. Then we saw it something.
None of us had really expected to see a small house, little
more than a derelict shed really situated.
In the midst of this dense tree cluster was a tiny little house.
What is this Gareth Asked, what is this house doing out here?
I don't like it Jack whispered. The Voice is coming from there.
I said, it's a trap. Stacy said, she's not really in
there and, you know, it, you know, it Tom, please stop this.
I have to go inside Millie and Michael are in there.
I said, I cannot describe how I felt.
I was not possessed, I did not hear the cackling voice of some
Sinister, which in my head. There were no demons telling me
to off my friends. I felt entirely inconsistent.
Role of my limbs and my mind nonetheless, I was not myself.
I was filled with an urge, and urge to go into that haunted
hellhole. I started to walk towards the
front door, but Stacy barge past me still sobbing her heart out,
I suddenly realized, she had Gareth torch in her hand.
Let me, I remember her crying as she sprinted towards the door.
She thought she was protecting us.
She thought she was the grown-up and we all thought that at the
time. But she was 19.
She was a child. Child just like us, Stacy, grab
the door handle shaking as she did.
So and called out Millie. Michael, are you in there?
I'm going to come in, dareth Jack.
And I stood, a few yards behind her, we waited with bated breath
wondering, what could possibly lie inside?
It was too dark for us to see. Stacy opened the door revealing
nothing. But Darkness she slowly lifted
her torch and we all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
It was just a House, she stood in a narrow hallway with doors
lining either side and there was a painting on the wall at the
end. I couldn't quite make out the
picture from that distance but it looked familiar.
Stacy stepped inside. Shining her light onto each of
the doors and calling out for million Michael again faster
than any gust of wind could have carried it.
The front door slammed behind her, she screamed Stacey Gareth
yelled lunging at the door. He inject started ramming their
shoulders into it whilst I Plea clasp both of my hands onto my
head. Dropping my torch to the ground.
What had I done? Where had I let us.
I still wanted to believe it wasn't real.
This was just a house. Rick.
Michael. And Stacey were pranking us.
That heart was fake. It wasn't real Tommy.
Jack shouted, his slamming into the door that wouldn't budge
help us. I snapped out of it and join my
friends, eventually, the latch snapped and the door flew open.
My bravery seem to have abandoned me.
I let Jack take charge, he led the way with his torch and I
followed to mentally broken, to remember to pick up my Fallen
torch, we stepped into the house, I don't know why.
I think we all knew that they were gone we just couldn't
accept it or maybe that same Force.
The same thing that hummed at us was drawing us inside Stacee
Jaxx shouted which door Stacy. The house was a bungalow and it
only had one hallway with six doors.
There were six rooms that could be holding.
In our friends, one, at a time Jack said, opening the first
door on his left. Gareth and I cowered behind him
watching, as he illuminated, the first room, there was nothing in
there, but a pile of rucksacks, their rucksacks, they're here.
Gareth whispered, they have to be here, Jack, quietly.
Close the door, and we shuffled across the hallway to the first
door on the right? A bedroom there were scribblings
on the walls and some language, we couldn't understand for more
rooms with each. We opened my throat seem to
close a little more tightly. The second door on the left
offered nothing but a book on the floor, jack cast, his torch
on it. The Pied Piper of barley was the
title on the front. Where are you?
Gareth screamed into the empty space, Jack clasped a hand to
our friends mouth. And with this torch holding
hand, he raised a finger to his lips.
Dareth nodded, and we shuffled silently across the hallway.
It was the second door on the right that gave Jack a reason to
hesitate. Tate, he placed his hand on the
door handle, Stand Back. Jack said something about this
room. Do you hear that hear what?
I asked feebly of its own accord.
The door to the fourth room flew, open, what we saw next to
something that I cannot explain there, stood Stacey with her
face contorted in a way that defied all laws of Nature's.
All I can tell you is that her eyes were gone.
Her sockets were two black, kazan's.
Stacy was gone. She looked as if she had Stared
into the face of fear itself. The worst part was that she was
still alive. She lifted a shaky arm and
stretched her bony fingers towards us.
I think she wanted help. I think she wanted the end.
Stacy Gareth cried squeezing between Jack and me.
He knocked Jack's arm as he ran into the room and the torch went
flying out of his hand. Gareth wait, Jack, screamed, the
door, slammed behind him without the last torch, we had been
plunged into complete darkness. I was too afraid to walk back
outside and find mine Jack fiddled with the door handle but
it wouldn't budge. Neither of us.
Had the energy left to fight it. I think we realized we couldn't
fight it. I realized I had my phone, so I
slid it from my pocket. I used the flashlight to find
Jack who was leaning with his back against the now-closed,
fourth door. He had his hands on his knees.
They're not making a sound in there.
He said, nobody leaves this house, do they?
I don't think So I replied, solemnly casting the light on
the third right-hand door to more rooms.
Tom Millie is gone. Rick is gone, Stacy is gone, and
now Gareth Jack stopped, stifling his tears.
Michael is gone too. You know that I just I paused I
think Michaels here maybe Jack nodded and maybe he's messed up
like everyone else. Look, I've seen some stuff, I
can't explain. Okay, I believe I believe in the
which you and I can still make it out of here.
I ignored Jack and walked over to the third door on the right.
We'd reached the end of the hallway and I remembered
something, the painting, I slowly lifted my phone light to
get a better. Look at it.
It was a picture of a pond with three figures standing beside
it. A boy a girl and an old man,
that's when I realized it was my grandpa's Sammy.
And I it was a painting of that day in the picture.
My grandpa was clutching my Just the brush Strokes captured that
horrifying expression he'd worn on his face as he told me of the
real Pendle which it's me that's me in the painting.
I whispered. What are you saying?
Jack cried from behind me. Let's go whilst we still can Tom
but I couldn't I reach for the door handle to the third room on
the right and lightly pushed it open inside.
There was a boy standing up in a boy lying At His Feet.
Rick and Michael Rick. I gently whispered I had my
Light firmly fixated on his looming.
Figure, he shuffled around to look at us.
There was a bloody hole in the center of his jumper, and he
revealed a face, even ghastlier than the one we had just seen on
Stacy, unlike her. Rick did not look as if he had
seen the face of fear. He did not look scared at all.
In fact, beneath the black empty holes were, his eyes used to be.
He wore a toothy grin. That stretched from ear to ear.
It haunts me. I still see Rick's face.
I still see him raising a finger to his lips and Kingfish rushing
sound. I remember his Wheezy laugh.
I remember him pointing at the floor behind him.
Unable to utter a peep. I shakily move my phone light to
the floor. There, lay the remains of
Michael. He was missing an arm two of his
legs and both of his eyes, but they weren't black holes.
Like the ones that Stacy and Rick had.
They were red wounds claw. Marks ran down his face.
He was pointing at something in the corner of the room.
I found her Michael groaned the which made Henry Listen, do it,
I leaned around the door frame and cast my light into the
corner there. It was a pile of bones wearing
hiking clothes, Millie. I finally started to cry and
when I turned around to find Jack, he was gone, it was just
me Michael. And what used to be Rick Jack?
I screamed nothing, the fifth door, slammed in my face, the
brothers were gone. Jack was gone.
I found myself standing alone in the hallway.
I could feel a weight. Thing from my mind as if I had
been in a trance and now I could see I wondered why I was still
in that house. I turned on my heel and I bawled
the open doorway that led back out into the forest, but
something still had my body, I couldn't move and that was when
the sixth and final door creaked open the third door on the left,
I found my feet carrying me towards it.
I remember glancing at the painting at the end of the
hallway. Before I entered the room, the
three Figures were gone. There was a silhouette between
the painted trees and moved out of sight.
I found myself standing in the last room and the door closed
behind me. It was cold like no coldness.
I'd ever felt in dark like, no Darkness.
I'd ever seen, I felt my arm moving.
I couldn't stop it. My phone light was moving across
the walls slowly making its way towards something.
At the back of the room. No, I cried trying desperately
to stop myself. I didn't want to see what was at
the back of the room. I could hear breathing I
couldn't move my limbs but I could move my lips.
Wait, I pleaded, why did you let William Henderson?
Go my arm stopped, my whole body stopped the breathing stopped.
Whilst I had control of my limbs.
I let the phone dropped to the floor.
It landed face up. So the flashlight was pressed
against the floor. I breathed a sigh of relief, I
didn't want to be forced to see what Stacey and Rick had.
Seen made a deal a voice whispered, it wasn't the voice
of a woman. Woman.
It wasn't the voice of a man, I always say it was the devil, but
I do that to help myself sleep at night truthfully, whatever
was in that room scared me more than the devil.
What deal at whimpered. I'll never forget seeing her
blackened silhouette as she moved in front of the one window
in the room. Dim Moonlight wasn't dim enough
to completely hide her seven foot tall, gangly Limbs and
ahead, far, bigger than that, of any human.
I see her in my dreams. I see her in my waking hours.
Yes, I'm lucky. I dropped the phone.
What I'd be like, Stacy or Rick. If I'd seen her in the light
must eat. That was all she said before I
passed out, but I knew what she wanted.
She had already told me what I needed to do.
The book on the floor, the Pied Piper of barley, she would let
me stay alive, but I had to continue what William Henderson
had started the tales. He told the villagers of barley
have been leading victims to the which for years, maybe he hadn't
given exact directions but all It takes is a spark, an idea.
Of course, everyone in barley knows, the story, but not
everyone feels the pole, maybe it only works on the broken mr.
Henderson ignited, that spark and Michael.
He planted the idea of the which and Michael did the rest.
I like to think our dear old history teacher did not
willingly lead his daughter to the slaughter, just as Michael
did not willingly lead our friends to that house, mr.
Henderson was just a fool who learned the hard way what his
ancestor had really done to make it out of the bowl.
And house alive and like the Hendersons.
I knew what needed to be done. When I woke in the morning, I
was back at the campsite, I rang my parents and told them that
everyone had gone missing in the woods.
I told them they tried to find Millie, but I stayed in the tent
I'm 27. It's been 13 years and the
families of my friends still hunt for their missing children.
But they don't know where to look, I could have told them
where to go, but the, which would not have taken kindly to
an angry mob. I misdirected the police and her
house was never found. Not everyone in barley is pray.
Some of us are just storytellers The Witches, pied, Pipers,
speaking of which, I still see mr.
Henderson in the village from time to time.
I think he knows what I am. I think he knows what I've done.
He shames me with a glare but no more than he shames himself,
heed my warning, the pedal, which is real.
She's something far older than you or me and she's hungry, very
hungry. Angry.
I think, you know why? I have told you this story.
I think you finally understand. I am sorry.
It's an idea and I have to plant it.
If you feel something pulling you deep into the forest of
Bowland, please forgive me.