The Cricket Man

A family huddled together in the corner of the room. They held the bed blanket around their shivering bodies. Their bed was stacked against the furniture that blocked the doors and windows. A small sliver of moon light bled underneath the cracks.

Families around the town did the same, trying their very best to bolt and shut the door. Some of the families tied themselves onto poles and ovens, fearing what they might do when IT comes- afraid they might open the door and let him in!

The village was shadowed by a large forest- full of thin and frightened branches, full of noises of creatures lurking within.

In the midst of winter when the night is at its coldest, comes a creature from that forest- the Cricket Man!

His tall body hobbled forward with each long leg, looking as if it was loosing balance. Its thin, bony arms were tucked near its chest. Hairs and pointy bones prodded from its body, antenna’s on its head. Its head was thin and skeletal-like, with large eyes glaring at the village in front of him.

The family inside the house listened carefully. It was then they heard the noise- twigs and straw cracking. The Cricket Man was coming their way!

Lucy Evans, the daughter tucked between her parents, pulled the blanket tighter to her chest as a shadow came across their door.

The Cricket Man stopped and smelled something good. He went to the door and listened carefully. A moment later he lifted his pointy nose to the aged wood and began to smell through the cracks. Smelling the fear inside. Hearing the blood rushing quickly through veins. Smelling a child’s breath.

Joshua Evans quickly covered his daughter’s mouth as she began to cry, fearing that it had heard her.

The skeletal monster was satisfied. He lifted his leg up and began to chirp.

The Cricket Man’s chirp was nothing like a Cricket. His chirping was pleasant, lustful, and addicting. It lured families to their death. For what people heard, what they felt, was peace and beauty unlike anything they have experienced.

Sarah Evans felt her heart began to slow. She could smell the sweetest scent of strawberries and peaches. She felt safe and loved, as if she were being held by her mother before she passed away. She wanted to see her again, and believed her mother was at the door. She wanted to open the door!

When Sarah began to stand, Joshua and Lucy quickly grabbed her down.

“Listen” she whispered, “We’ll all be ok, it’s an Angel! This is music from Heaven, don’t you see?!”.

“It is the Cricket Man, Sarah. Don’t be fooled by the angelic harp when it’s played by the Devil!” he replied.

The Cricket Man could hear the struggle of the heart inside the home. He began to change the tune of his chirp.

Lucy stood still as her father tried to desperately hold her mother down. She looked to the door and listened to the music being played, and couldn’t help but cry. She went to her father, pulling the knife from his belt and stabbed him in the back. Blood flowed around the floor.

Quickly after, as the loving father and husband slowly began to rot on the floor, they removed the furniture that blocked the door.

A moment later, the door slowly opened.

The chirping had stopped and the Cricket Man hobbled forward.

What have they done, the Cricket Man was inside!