This is a story I've had for quite some time, about a year or two, but only recently did I decide to make it into an actual story. But, without further ado, let's continue with this fanfiction.


Bogeymen

August 12, 1712


"Another family's coming, sir," A man proclaimed to Saul Thompson as a carriage entered into the pilgrim village.

The family inside was mostly concealed, but even Saul could see the young boy within the carriage. He looked so innocent, having such a warm, oblivious smile on his face as he waved to some of the other village children.

"Poor lad," The man lamented as the carriage left. "A shame nobody told the family what's in these woods."

"Isn't that how it always is," Saul replied, the tone of his voice not matching his true thoughts. "The family comes in, then it happens. It's been like that since I was a child."

"But when'll it stop?" The man questioned, an almost amused glint in his eyes as he raised an eyebrow towards Saul.

"That's what I'm trying to do," Saul replied defiantly as he glanced off at the whole of the village. "It may take years, but someday, those creatures will learn that this village is a truly dangerous place for things like them."


I was scared.

I don't know why I'd gone out in the afternoon, alone. After all, this was when they were at their most active. And yet here I am, alone in this massive forest.

Normally, I wouldn't be so scared. After all, I've been in this forest my whole life, and I know many locations within it, but not all of them. There are parts of this forest I will not explore until I am grown. Maybe not even then.

Currently, I am travelling on one of their roads. It leads me to where they live. I've been there a few times, but never at a time like this.

For a moment, I wonder why I'm even doing this. I'll gain practically nothing, and I'm putting my life on the line by going near them. Nobody even told me to do it. Not my mother, or my friends.

Oh yeah, that's why. I'd captured one of them. I'd found it, alone, in the forest. It was smaller and frailer than I was when I was a baby. Someone must've abandoned it here. Typical.

I would've left it, but I have a conscience. So I took it, and it's in my arms now. Now, I'm taking it back to where they live, and I hope that they don't see me why'll I'm there.

It feels so weird. It's skin is unnatural, and it's eyes are a color I don't know what to call it. It's so deformed and ugly, and it's a wonder how someone could give birth to such a thing. I've seen them before, but never so up close and personal to them. I wonder if some time when I'm older, I'll do it again.

Their home is in sight now, but before I take another step, I can see a birds nest up on one of those trees. I'm curious so I climb up to see what's in it.

I see three small sparrow chicks in the nest, chirping up at me. Their mother isn't there at the moment. Aw, aren't they cute. Shame they're going to die now.

Chomp!

The nest is empty now. I wipe my mouth and then wipe the nest clean so when the mother comes back, her home will be clean. Then I continue towards their homestead.

Once I'm close enough, I hide behind a bush and keep watch as the creatures show up. There are three of them, and one is smaller and younger than the other two. He appears to be about a year younger than me, but I'm not sure how their age process works so I may be wrong. Maybe he's a century old, maybe a few days old, I don't know for sure.

It's a truly astonishing sight, they are. I've sighted creatures like them why whole life, and yet I'm still marveled at them. They are like us, but they are deformed, like some sort of mutation. They are so confusing, as well. These monsters always seek us out to trap and torture and kill us, yet they seem so scared of us. Sometimes, they try to attack me, but I'm too quick for them. They'd never get me. Others aren't so lucky.

These three are the most recent of these creatures that have been populating this forest. Sometimes, I think there are more of them than us. I wonder what attracts them to come here.

I hesitate. Maybe I should take this creature back and it show it to my family. They could study it and maybe figure out some of their secrets. We know how to do it. But I know I can't.

The monsters are leaving now, inside their den. This is my chance. I can go in, and then get out.

Quickly, I race towards the den, careful not to be seen. The creature in my arms is beginning to gibber something unintelligible, sort of like me, but I ignore it. The moment I'm close enough to the opening of the den, I set the creature down, then scratch the covering of the den. I then flee just as the opening opens.

In a few seconds, I'm back behind the bush. I've done it, and now I can go home.

That is when I hear rustling. As I hide a bit and hope it's a mere rabbit, I see them. These three creatures are now travelling through the forest. I recognize them instantly. These male creatures are the ones that try to hunt us down. And they're getting closer.

Crick. Creek.

They're almost there. Soon, they'll see me, and then they'll catch me in their massive paws.

One of them, the largest one, is lingering over the bush, and I can clearly see his misshapen face, a staple of their kind, the monsters that haunt my nightmares.

Humans.


End of the first chapter. Reviews are always appreciated.