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We’re relieved to find the passage smooth and without peril. I’m finally able to let out the breath I was holding as we take our first steps into the dark kingdom.
Shadows blanket every surface of the land. We take a moment and light torches, emitting a faint glow around us. The darkness seems to overpower its reach.
Making out shadows and figures in front of us, I realize the only way forward is through the dreaded haunted forest that everyone in the realm is warned of. The overarching limbs of the largest trees I’ve ever seen block out the moonlight. At the edge of the forest, a thick fog dances as if it’s alive. It moves in a hypnotic rhythm, beckoning us toward it. Unease washes over me at the sight.
We hesitantly move forward, expecting it to hurt us as we enter. Luckily, it doesn’t, and we keep walking. The only sounds are our and our horses’ heavy breaths. Where are the birds and small animals that usually roam the woods? Their absence causes the hair on my neck to stand.
My instincts flare, telling me to run, and I tap the mare to go faster, but she doesn’t listen. She keeps her cautious pace. Her ears are at full attention, and I scan the trees nearest to us with my torch, its dim light barely breaking through the thick shadows around us.
My gaze catches on something seeping from the trunk of the trees, and I steer my horse closer to inspect. A thick, red liquid drains from the trees. Deep pools of what appears to be blood saturate the ground near the base.
Trees don’t bleed.
My insides roll with dread and a breath lodges in my throat.
My men must have noticed the blood, too, because their faces are ghostly white, and their breaths turn shallow.
“Keep your eyes open,” I warn.
We pick up our pace, each of us watching the trees for the beasts that are supposed to inhabit the haunted forest. In front of us, the trees thin into a clearing; the fog circles the barren space, appearing as though it’s caught in a breeze, but the forest is deathly still.
We cross into the open space, the moonlight shines down on us through the broken canopy above. I sense movement out of the corner of my eye and snap my head to catch it. All I see is the dark forest looming, seemingly ready to swallow us whole.
The horses huff and pace nervously. We try hushing to calm them, but another dark mass cuts along the tree line, just out of sight. Raising our torches, we try to get a better look at whatever is circling us but see nothing. Two more masses dance around us. A moving wall of shadows, void of any shape. There are at least four of them; they appear to be hunting us.
We all swing our torches around the clearing, trying to glimpse what we are up against, but the shadowed masses are too fast. My heart quickens as they stalk the corners of my sight. The creatures dart along the tree line, using it as cover.
Wind picks up out of nowhere, engulfing us in a whirlwind of leaves and dirt. The shadows are racing around the circle, becoming a black blur as they swirl the space. The wind douses the torches, plunging us into complete darkness.
Our horses panic and buck wildly, trying to flee. I hold on to the reins as tightly as I can , but it’s no use. I hit the forest floor hard, sending shooting pain through my back. From the sounds of their grunts, my guards didn’t fare well either.
“Is everyone alr—”
Screams render me silent.
Oh,gods!
Bloodcurdling shrieks of agony tear through the darkness. It sounds as if the creatures are ripping my guards apart, limb from limb. My blood runs cold as I try to push down the terror clawing its way through my body.
I wince in pain as I scramble to my feet, my muscles protesting the sudden movement. Reaching over my shoulder, I grab for my sword, but it isn’t there.
Damn it!
I unsheathe a dagger from my hip and try to ready myself to fight to the death with these beasts. More screams from my guards pierce my ears, and I spin, unable to find where they are in the dark.
Something massive knocks me on the shoulder, and I fall to the ground, my dagger flying out of my hand. The forest floor is wet and smells of iron.
Blood.
The blood of my guards covers the ground. Panic consumes me, and I fight to get my feet under me, but they keep slipping on the blood-soaked forest floor. A branch cracks, and I raise my gaze to find six sets of glowing yellow eyes staring back at me through the darkness.
I fall back on my ass with my hands slamming into the blood-soaked ground. I crawl backward, trying to get away. The eyes move with me, not letting me out of their sight. There’s no escaping.
The forest falls silent. My men are no longer screaming. At least it’s a quick death, even if it’s painful.
Just like the guard said it would be.
A sliver of moonlight trails over my body, providing me with a thin view of my red-stained clothes. They feel sticky against my skin.
