At Night

There it is again. What is that? At first the sound was part of my dream but as the realms of dream and reality slowly part, I realize it is all too real. There it goes again. I clumsily stumble to my bedroom window to peer out into the cold January night. My breath fogs the glass as my eyes slowly adjust to the darkness outside the bedroom window. The tree line that is my back yard fades into view. A shiver runs down my spine either from the cold radiating from my window pain or maybe it’s the sight of those woods. Why would she ever move us to this god awful town with these creepy woods. Slowly, I scan the tree line. The longer I stare the more that comes into view.

My eyes fall upon what must be the largest and oldest tree in those woods. Old-Rusty, a nickname it earned by those weird rusty nails someone stuck all around it. I tripped on one of those darn things and had to get a shot the size of my arm! I was so angry I went home and pulled every single one of those nails right out of the ground.

As the crooked arms of old-rusty come into view I see something, something glowing. Is that a reflection of the moonlight on the snow? I blink and stare harder, it blinks and stares right back. Startled I take a step back and hit my foot on that darn bed frame. Ugh, why would she keep this old clumsy thing. I gather myself and slowly return to the window. It’s gone. Wow, you are freaking yourself out. There are plenty of animals in those woods so just stop psyching yourself out, I tell myself as I retreat back into the warmth of my bed. Just a dream I say as I slowly drift back to sleep.

It has been a month, and I can say with certainty now that it was not a dream. Every single night I’m woken by old-rusty, or that thing that is living on him. Every night like clockwork I hear the tapping. There are no tracks on the freshly fallen snow. There are no trees near my window. I know it’s old-rusty’s friend. I’ve tried so hard to make out what it is but all I can see are those big round eyes. Black as the night around them but it’s the shimmer that gives them away. I know it’s watching me, if it isn’t the tapping it’s the chill that pulls me from my sleep to my bedroom window. To old rusty’s stare. I set my alarm for 3am, its favorite time.

Tonight is the night old friend. I’ve been preparing all week. As I stand at my back door preparing to face my nightly tormenter, I feel an overwhelming sense that this is a bad idea. No, I whisper to myself as I shake the thought away. I will not take this any longer; This is no way for a kid to live. It's not like anyone even listens they just think I’m crazy. I’ve been made fun of enought to know better then go to anyone for advoce. I hold my hammer tight, the same hammer I used to remove the minefield of nails poking out around the tree. I take one last breath from the safety of my home, slowly open my back door not to wake my mother, then step out into the cold January night. I’m ready for whatever may come. I refuse to cower and hide any longer.

The snow crunches loudly beneath my boots as I make my way to the old-rusty tree. The whole time I feel its stare. I stop right where the shadows of the forest begin and the safety of the moonlight ends. Making the forest appear to be even darker than the night itself. Here goes nothing, I begin to make my way inside. The forest is thicker than I remember, thornier too. Spirals of thick thorned branches dance along the forest as if punishing all that dares to walk through. I can’t turn back now. I do my best to maneuver past but inevitably succumb to a few scrapes along the way. Once on the other side I examine the damage done. Not too bad except one long slash. I feel the warmth from my blood sting my frozen cheek. It was worth it because their standing in front of me I see the gnarled roots of that familiar tree.

Old rusty looks different at night, almost beautiful. I become hypnotized by it’s long branches kissing the night sky, dusted in glistening snow. How could anything so beautiful ever be bad? As I come closer I feel the fear fading and am drawn closer in. I scan the branches searching for any sign of life. But almost forget my mission, hypnotized by the tree. That’s when I hear a rustle below. I jump back snapped out of my trance. There, in the hollow of the tree I see those all too familiar eyes. I freeze, I don’t want to make any sudden moves. My grasp tightens around my sturdy hammer bracing myself for what’s to come. Steadily the eyes move closer to the opening the moonlight now casting a glow onto it’s face. White as snow and hauntingly beautiful like Old rusty himself. I loosen my grip realizing that what has haunted my nights and waking hours was nothing more than a barn owl.

I set my hammer down on the forest floor and kneel down slowly hoping not to scare the creature. “Are you what’s been visiting me and keeping me awake at night?" I say, "Come on out, I won’t hurt you”. The owl slowly makes its way out from inside of the tree. I studied it’s features before becoming entranced by those eyes. Like never ending pools into the abyss. The more I stare the more certain I become that is exactly where they lead. An uneasiness fell over me and that's when it began.

An awful sound came pouring out of the creatures mouth. A scream. Maniacal and angry it vibrated through me with such intensity I fell to the ground covering my ears to try and save them from the piercing sound. I can barely make my way up to look around. That's when I see her.

...To be continued...