Chapter 4: Shadows can be Deceiving

All three children screamed in fright and Wirt covered his head with his arms. The man looked about in his forties and had lumber strapped to his back. He had gray sideburns showing under his tall black hat. He was also wearing a buttoned up jacket with black pants and black boots. His eyes were glowing as bright as the Beast's and brought his ax down on Sara.

The cheerleader jumped out of the way and the weapon slammed into the ground.

"Why do I have to everything myself?" Beatrice leaped into the air, landing on Sara and onto this so called 'Woodsman' the Beast called him, and whacked him on his spinal cord with her wing. The Woodsman made a groaning sound and eyelids fluttered shut when his eyes stopped glowing. He fell forward and face planted in the snow.

Wirt grimaced and clenched his teeth at the sight while Sara just stood there with her mouth wide open.

"What are you waiting for? A zombie to come out of the ground?" Beatrice said sarcastically rolling her eyes.

Wirt and Sara peeled their orbs off of the man and snapped back into reality. The clown dressed girl bent down by the Woodsman and picked up his ax that he dropped.

"We should keep this. You know, for safety. I wonder if he had kids," Sara looked like she just ran over a puppy crouching by the Woodsman. There were tears welling up in her eyes but she blinked them away.

"Come on, Softie and Cone Head! We have to get out of here before he wakes up!"

"Are you sure he'll be alright?"

"Fine, whatever you want,"

"Where are we going? We are lost in the middle of nowhere with a knocked out man on the floor for pete sake!"

"Just . . . listen to me. I know how to get you guys home. Just follow me and I promise you two won't get hurt. Deal?" Beatrice said in a calm voice. Wirt and Sara looked at each other and nodded. They had nothing better to do and this was their only hope.

"Deal," agreed Sara and Wirt.

"Okay, let's move out!"

-O.t.G.W.-

The trio of friends traveled along a running creek which Beatrice said that it would lead to 'civilization'. Wirt had his doubts but Sara was desperate and did whatever she said. On the way there a winter storm started. Then the snow got harder, and harder, and harder. The winds started to pick up and got to a point of where they couldn't see a hand in front of their face.

"Beatrice! We have to get out of this blizzard! We'll freeze to death!" Wirt cried with concern on his face.

"Just a little . . . further," the bluebird replied.

"But you said that twenty minutes ago!" Wirt whined. He felt an ice cold hand wrapping around his. Sara! Two seconds later his cheeks were flushed a bright red.

"We'll get through this together. Beatrice will get us home, I just know it."

"Yeah,"

"Don't let go of my hand. We could get separated,"

"Oh! Sure!" Wirt blushed even harder. The stream beside them started to ice over and the trees made way to a clearing.

"There it is," the bluebird informed. There was an old abandoned house with boarded up windows. Rotted trees were leaning against the walls and had no color. The roof was falling apart and there were no lights on.

"Umm . . . Beatrice? I don't think that this is a safe place . . . There might be ghosts!" Wirt whimpered.

"First of all, you two made a deal to came along with me. Second of all . . . there is no such thing as ghosts!" Beatrice yelled.

"But . . . b-but —" tears started to well up in his eyes and quickly froze.

"What now?" she said impatiently.

"You yelled at me!" now he was crying hysterically.

"Uugh! Sara, calm this monstrosity!" Beatrice huffed. Sara bent down to Wirt's eye-level and gave him a hug. Well, that closed him up.

"Hush. . . let's go inside to warm up. You're freezing!"

"O-okay,"

-O.t.G.W.-

They entered the abandoned house and realized that the front room was empty. At least, so far. The fireplace was lit causing the room to turn a faint reddish orangish. It was exactly across the front door. There was no knob so it was pushed open. Candles were lining the counter to the left. Sara took a step forward and suddenly a fog settled over them. Wind was swirling around them and a horrifying screech filled the air.

"I'm sorry my turtles . . but I must feed!" a ghost-like voice said. A warped girl's face that was out in front of the smoke came out with her arms lashing out trying to grab them. She wore a bonnet and a green dress with a white apron.

All three children widened their orbs in horror to realize there was another being in the room but this one was three times bigger. It was also wearing a bonnet but had a black cloak on. 'She' had a large face and a red nose. It's eyes were also large and were yellow. She was holding a bell-like trophy that she kept saying while ringing, "The ringing of the bell commands you!"

Sara clutched her ax herder in her right and brought it up to her ear and swung at them. She abruptly stopped and her eyes started to glow as well as the bluebird. They all turned to Wirt and the clown dressed girl swung the blade right next to his ear.

The boy took a step back with confusion and hurt. They're trying to hurt me! I have to get out of here!

"Don't come closer! Sara! Please! Get away!" he yelled putting his hands in front of his face. The female ghost grabbed his arm with ice cold hands. He yanked free and threw a punch at her nose and dashed out the door grabbing Beatrice. Run, run run run run run!

When the two were about a half of a football field away, Wirt glanced back.

"Ha! We lost them! Wait, Sara! I-I thought she came with us! We have to go back!" the gnome dressed boy said.

"I can't go back to that circus," Beatrice exclaimed.

"Rude"

"Just keep moving, Cone Head."

Wirt stuck his tongue at her. They traveled deeper and deeper into the forest without Sara and without Greg.

I don't know how many chapters there is going to be, so prepare for a bunch to flood in! I'm going to try to update as fast as I can before school starts, so leave a Lucky review! :D