The Telltale Bull

Leaves crunch and twigs snap violently, as a frightened girl sprints from horror. It is long behind her, giving no chase, yet she cannot shake that which resides in her mind. Her brother, gone. Her parents, as well. All taken from her by a monstrous witch in the woods. What started out as a family camping trip, turned into a terror, unimaginable. She runs and runs. Into bushes. Into branches. She does not care. She is scratched and dirtied. She pays that no mind. How would she explain what had happened to others? How would she ask for help? She knows not these answers. Run, run, run. Live, live, live. She had that mantra focus her to do just that, for she did not know how to do anything else but that at the moment.

It seems respite would come for her as the forest split to reveal a farm, in the distance. She ran to it, sobbing with swelling relief. Not that it will undo what befell her family, but surely some comfort will come, she hopes. An elderly lady hanging clothing to dry, sees the girl running towards the farmhouse and towards the door. The girl didn't notice the old lady come around to greet her, "hello, dear. May I help you?" The girl almost jumped out of her skin, gasps and catches her breath. "Sorry, for startling you. Is something the matter," the lady asks. The girl can't find the words to explain what happened, so she starts to cry instead. "Oh dear, come inside," the lady extends a welcome. The lady shows the sobbing girl inside and to the kitchen, where she cuts a slice of chocolate cake for her. The lady gives her the plate, but the girl shrieks and tosses it away, shattering the plate and smearing chocolate on the kitchen floor. "I'm so sorry," the girl apologizes. The old lady looks to her for a moment before cleaning up the mess, "I never had someone turn down some cake before." "I'm sorry, it's just--," the girl pauses, " can I use your phone? I don't want to cause any more trouble. I just need to go." "Sorry, the phone hasn't been operational in years. We can take you into town in the morning," the old lady responded. "Oh no, I couldn't stay the night," the girl declines. "I insist. It's a long trek to town and you look worse for wear, "the lady finishes cleaning, "my husband will be delighted to have some company," she smiles, "I'm Doreen Macdonald, by the way." "Pearl," the girl responds. She looks out of the window and sees a mail delivery van stop in front. Maybe she can hitch a ride with them, she thinks. Pearl gets up and heads out. "Where are you going, dear," Doreen asks. Pearl unknowingly ignores her and heads for the van.

A mail delivery van sputters to stop in front of the farm, with the driver frantically eyeing the dashboard's gauges. "Allie, what's going on? Why are we stopping," a young woman asks from the back of the large van. "I think the hit earlier finally got to it," Allie responded as she gets out, "come on, Ana, let's see if anyone lives here that can help us out." "Alright. Adam, I think it's best if you stay here," Ana said as she got out of the back. Adam, the beast, nodded, "agreed." The two young women go towards the farmhouse, with Adam covertly watching from a tinted window. Pearl walks up to them, "hey, sorry to bother you. I know it's a weird question, but can you take me into town with you? I'm assuming you're going back, being on the job and all." "Actually, we just broke down. You live here," Allie asked. "No. I'm stranded, too. Long story," Pearl sighed, "but maybe the Macdonalds can help you out." "The Macdonalds? And they have a farm," Allie asked. Ana snickered, "stop. Where--." Before she could finish her question, they heard loud noises coming from within the barn, as the doors burst open with the charge of a raging bull. Mr. Macdonald came running after it, yelling. The bull went straight for the 3 ladies, but before they met the bull's fury, Adam grabbed it by the horns and roared. Having watched from the window, he had to jump into action to save them. Pearl could not believe her eyes. Ana grabbed Pearl, to snap her out, "let's get out of the way, yeah?" The 3 young women ran out of the way, as Adam wrestled the bull to the ground, and pinned it. Adam's eyes widened as he heard the bull try to speak, "h-he-help... m-m-me." He knew right away that this was another poor soul that had been transformed by the monsters he was eager to stop. Adam looked to old Macdonald, as the old man said, "the Enchantress' beast!" Adam let the bull go, as it stood up. He roared and began to lunge towards Macdonald, as he began to transform into a giant bug monster himself, to take on the charging beast, Adam. They wrestled and swiped with their claws. Both trying to kill the other. Ana decided to run into the barn as they fought. "Where are you going," Allie yelled out to her. Doreen finally made her way outside, to see what was happening. As she saw her transformed husband fight a beast, she would attempt to transform as well, but before she could, the bull impaled her. She let out a vicious shriek as green pus oozed out of the puncture wound, killing her. Allie and Pearl watched in shock as all this happened, yet they both knew of the horrors around from their own recent events. Adam would at that moment, be pinned by the monster, struggling to free himself. It was then that Ana thrust a pitchfork into the head of the monster, killing him. Adam threw the body to the side and sighed with relief. Ana breathed heavily, filled with adrenaline, "anymore of them?" "Yes, actually," Pearl admitted, finding relief that there's people she could turn to about this, and that something could be done. They all looked to her. "Point us in their direction," Adam commanded. Their journey to stop the monsters continues.