Head for home
The forest shadows deepen as the sun retreats from sight. The air is freezing now. With all the excitement and rushing, you stop to double-check your bearings when the sound of footfalls behind you breaks the quiet. You know no one is there but feed your curiosity with a glance, to be sure.
They are standing there. You’ve seen them before. The shadow. The glowing eyes. You’ve been here before. The shadow takes a step forward, and you hesitate. It’s all happened before. Just like this. It keeps approaching, and you run.
You know this is the wrong way. Too late to worry about it now. Putting distance between you and the shadow is your only concern. If that’s even possible.
A light flickers among the trees. You slow down and cut into the woods away from the light. Your heart pounds. What’s happening? Low mumbled voices pour from the surrounding woods. There’s no one around, but you can feel the presence of several entities. And their staring eyes. Another orb of light bobs in the air before disappearing. You double over in pain from the oncoming headache. The woods seem to spin, and you lean against a tree, waiting for it to pass. It’s too late. Icy, familiar hands wrap around your neck. You weakly try to break free but are held by an ever-tightening grip. Before consciousness drifts away, you turn your head to see your attacker. All you can observe in your last moments are glowing eyes.
The name “Abigail” echoes in your mind like the memory of a whisper. Is this what happened to Abigail?
Thomas P. King, author and game designer 