Hecatomb

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window.

The woods were a wretched place to be at night. The cold crisp air blew towards the cabin. Winnie felt a shiver, not from the cold but from that cabin. *Hoot Hoot* She fixed her eyes on an owl, who slowly turned its head and stared at her and the young girl. The Owl watched as they made their way to the cabin, walking the stoned path to the front door, Winnie held the young girl's hand firmly. The wind suddenly stopped howling and nothing could be heard in the dead of night. The girls heard a thunderous voice that made the younger one feel as though the skin had been peeled off of her skin.

"HUNGRY!!" The young girl hid behind Winnie and began shaking with unimaginable fear. She looked up to the window where the candle was burning and saw something. The young girl could not tell what it was, only that it seemed to be a figure of some sort. "HUNGRY!!" The voice made her jump and lose control. Winnie turned to the young girl to comfort her. "Now now little one. Do not be afraid, this is a great honor and will help our village." She wiped the young girl's eyes and kissed her forehead. The young girl looked back up to the window to find what she saw had disappeared. There was only the candle flickering. The young girl could not stop the tears from streaming down her face. She took a thin strand of her hair and wrapped it around her fingers to calm herself. "Do Not Weep, For I Must Have My Sacrifice" said the voice, in a raspy tone.

The young girl lifted her head as they made their way to the cabin. The door creaked open to reveal the darkness of night and a pair of eyes that seemed to be fixed on the young one. "What is that?" the young girl asked Winnie. "This is what will help our village," Winnie smiled. "Is it friendly?" the young girl asked innocently. "Yes, it needs you young one, to help us flourish." Footsteps could be heard coming from the old creaking floor of the home until a figure in a cloak was revealed. The young girl hid behind Winnie as she heard a low growling sound that made her gasp. "Stand Aside" growled the cloaked figure. Winnie knew she could no longer protect the young girl from what was to come.

The figure removed its cloak to reveal no face and rotting skin. What lay on it were hundreds of sharp razor teeth. The young girl began to panic as the teeth began opening, chattering and some even oozing blood. The figure began to writhe and spasm, quickly moving towards the young girl. She fell to the ground and began crying uncontrollably. Seeing this the creature spoke to Winnie. "HUNGRY!!" "No Winnie!! Help me please!!" the young girl got up and began running back to the village. Black tendrils emerged from the creature and quickly captured the young screaming girl.

She was desperate to break free and began calling out for her parents. The night was quiet and all that could be heard were her screams. "Winnie!! Winnie!!!" Winnie looked away. The tendrils wrapped around the young girl's ankles, dragging her back to the creature, and pulling her inside the cabin. "HUNGRY!!" The creature spasmed uncontrollably as it mercilessly dragged the terrified girl. "No!! No! Please!! Winnie! Help Me!!" At that moment the wind began to thrash the trees violently. The creature pulled the young girl even closer as the teeth opened completely, revealing a swirling abyss. The young girl dug her nails into the ground, trying to keep herself from coming into contact with the creature. Drool and blood began oozing from the abyss as the creature roared, and swallowed the girl.

"Legend has it, the young girl was devoured by the creature, her body was never found. Winnie eventually went mad from the immense guilt she felt, every night of her life, she could hear the poor young girl begging her for help, so Winnie drowned herself in the river next to their village a few weeks after."

"Is she the voice that people keep claiming they hear out here? Do they really see Winnie's ghost?" Tatum asked. The sparks from the fire had died down. Tatum pulled the blanket closer to her, feeling an uneasiness as though they were being watched from afar. Alice giggled. "There's nothing to be afraid of Tatum, it's just a story we tell campers here," Alice said reassuring her. "We should get back to the mess hall, dinner is soon." The two rose from the logs and headed back to join the other campers. *Hoot Hoot* An Owl perched on a branch stared at the two girls as they walked down the stone path. "It's so creepy out here," Tatum said as she wrapped her arms around Alice's.

"Sorry, we should have started walking sooner, the sun will be completely down once we get back but if we move fast we can beat it," Alice replied as she wrapped a strand of her hair around her fingers. Tatum narrowed her eyes as she looked around. She didn't recognize the way they were going. "Alice, I don't think this is the right way," she said. Alice didn't answer. She only kept her eyes ahead. Tatum looked ahead and saw a small 2 story house. "Alice, are we lost?" she asked "No" Alice replied flatly. The closer they got, Tatum realized it was a cabin."Here we are." Alice said. Tatum unwrapped her arms from around Alice.

"What is this?" asked Tatum. Alice chuckled, "I left out something from that story Tatum." The wind began to blow, shaking the trees. The Owl watching them quickly flew away as if sensing something dangerous coming. "What?" Tatum said. "The young girl was able to escape by unexpectedly giving the creature a different sacrifice that night, before making a deal with it, she was able to push Winnie in front of her." Alice grabbed Tatum and started dragging her towards the cabin. "Alice? What are you doing?!" Tatum screamed. She looked up as something caught her eyes. It was a single candle burning in the window. "This is a joke right?!" "No, no joke. I made a deal with this creature, by promising to bring it many sacrifices every 400 years, it even made me immortal so I could help it, I guess you could say I cursed myself" Alice said with a laugh.

"Winnie, well, everyone in my village, they all met their demise by the creature that night." "Help! Somebody Help Me!!" Alice laughed, no one can hear you, Tatum!" I'm sorry I have to do this, I am. I really like you, but I have to keep the creature happy...and well-fed, you're the appetizer, so be happy!" "No!!" Tatum tried to resist as the door to the cabin creaked open, revealing the creature from the story. Its body began to twitch and spasm as it crept towards Tatum. The teeth in its body slowly opened as it growled from hunger. "HUNGRY!" "Yes, and there is much more to come." Tatum's eyesight turned black as she felt her body go weak. The mere sight of the creature was enough to make her body go weak and break out in a sweat. Her throat closed as she could no longer scream. Tatum fell limp in Alice's arms.

"Tatum, I know how you feel. I was petrified as well, but do not worry, whatever is on the other side, I am certain it is better than this world," Alice kissed Tatum's forehead and laid her body down gently as her master's tendrils curled around her. "GO" Alice bowed and closed the cabin door. "Now then," she walked back down the stone path, towards the camp's mess hall, the wind dying down, making the woods quiet again. An eerie moonlight shined over the campsite. "It's time for Supper."