Terror in the Night

It was nights like this one, bathed in the fairy lights of fireflies, that seemed to go on forever. One almost dared not breathe for fear of breaking the spell.

In the inky darkness the forest beckoned. To some frightening, to others an otherworldly place of magic. She felt the call and slowly walked through the woods.

All was quiet except for the soft crunch of pine needles underfoot. Time was suspended in this eery woodland that belonged to the night.

Making her way to the clearing she walked as if in a trance. Her dress, like gossamer, floating behind her. The paleness of the moonlight illuminating her ethereal beauty.

When she reached the clearing, she stood still for a moment like a fairy statue and then slowly she began to dance. Her dancing, at first hesitant, grew increasingly more animated and passionate. The music she listened to was that of her untamed heart. It was her, the music, and the darkness.

The night was her god and she revelled in its presence. Twirling and dipping, she moved ever faster, a puppet without a will of her own. The frenzy excited her. In the heat of the moment she felt as if she could dance until dawn.

When the spell broke, she was flushed and breathless, her hair hung loose about her shoulders. She found a log to sit on. Breathing deeply she took in her surroundings and relaxed from her exertions. As she sat a calmness fell over her. She enjoyed the fireflies flitting around the clearing.

Her heartbeat slowed, the spell was broken. She became aware of the habitat she sat in and the darkness that surrounded her. The blue cast of the moonlight was not enough to illuminate the trees beyond the open space she sat in.

The trees, no longer a mystical wonderland, started to feel menacing. Were the trees moving forward? She knew she was being silly and shook her head. Still, there was a thought niggling at the corner of her mind. There was no shaking the feeling that she was being watched.

The sense of foreboding started to grow. The hairs on her neck stood up and she felt faint. Was someone behind her? She was sure eyes watched her and waited. Eyes squinting, she searched the trees for movement. There was nothing to see and nothing to be heard.

Slowly, she stood up. Frozen in place, heartbeat quickening, her imagination was starting to get the better of her. Something menacing lurked just beyond the trees. The veil of darkness protecting the formidable eyes of a predator. She contemplated what she should do next. Her legs felt wooden. The way out of the forest seemed so very long and dangerous.

Forcing herself to move, she started down the path. The suffocating night air did nothing to quell the panic welling up inside. She quickened her steps as fear took over walking faster and faster. Unable to no longer control the terror she sprinted for the edge of the forest. Adrenalin pushing her faster and harder. Her heart was in her throat.

Nearing the edge of the forest, she thought she heard movement. Panic was now at a fever pitch as she raced through the forest. Strange, that in her hysteria, it was as if she ran in slow motion. Time ceased to be and she thought she could run forever. She was sure that what chased her was closing the gap. A scream tore from her throat.

When the forest was behind her, she quickly turned to face her nightmare. To her surprise and relief the nightmare vanished. She was certain that something had been watching her. What she didn’t see were the eyes looking down on her from high in the trees. Yellow, unblinking eyes that opened and shut with unnatural deliberation. The eyes watched, then looked away. She was far too large a prey for a barn owl.