Into the Woods
The bright overhead sun filtered down through layers and layers of leaves until it reached Karen's bare head, her cornsilk-colored hair braided loosely to one side and her hat long since shed in the heat of the day. Her skirts were carefully tied up as she picked her way through the forest where no path led, avoiding nettles and brambles as best she was able. Her legs were somewhat the worse for wear as day slowly turned into dusk, so it was with great relief that she came across a clearing under a giant oak tree. Here she spread out her light cloak and sat, making a small meal of bread and cheese before curling up against the tree's base. In the dimming light she laid her father's pistol across her lap and willed her eyes to stay open, tired though she was. The Beast would surely come for her tonight and she wanted to be ready.
Her brother pitches backwards, screaming, blood spraying her across the face as she flinches away. The light leaves his eyes and she is falling, falling...
She woke as if surfacing from a pool, desperate to reach the surface. Her hands reached for the pistol in her lap and it was...gone? A little more frantic now she shook out her skirts, her cloak, began to grope around in the dirt (it's dark, when did it get so dark?) when she heard something that froze her statue-still.
The voice was human, or nearly so - a low rumbling tone that Karen felt in her throat almost before hearing it.
"What are you doing in my woods, girl?"
The voice seemed to come from across the clearing, and Karen focused her gaze there. It was impossible to make out anything amongst all the underbrush, but she faintly heard the noises of something moving through the ferns and the vines. Something big. She swallowed, the sound overloud to her own ears, and said nothing (maybe if I hold very still he will go away).
"I asked you a question, girl."
The voice was closer this time, the rustling louder. Karen imagined she could see the outline of something moving with liquid ease through the forest on all fours. Towards her. She rekindled her efforts to find the pistol, hands sifting through dirt and leaves while keeping her eyes locked on the last spot she'd heard the voice speak.
"Are you looking for something?"
Much closer now, nearly right behind her. Karen couldn't help her shriek of surprise, and she whirled around to face...nothing. She could hear laughter though, soft and low, could almost feel breath on her neck. Taking a deep breath, she spoke to the forest at large.
"I am no girl. And I came looking for you...Beast."
The last word she practically spit, though she could not seem to keep herself from shaking.
"Oh? And since you have found me, now what? Would you have used this?"
Something heavy landed in her lap, and she nearly cried in relief as she recognized her father's pistol. Carefully she gripped it and set her fingers against the trigger, though she left it laying across her lap.
"You will have no need of that. I only hurt people that deserve it."
The voice seemed to have shifted to her left, and Karen thought she sensed some small measure of humor in it. Her reply was perhaps not so wise (but she had always been a bit headstrong).
"Should I take your word for that?"
Laughter again, this time from further off.
"My word does not matter. If I wanted you dead, you would be dead."
Any response to those chilling words was left lodged in Karen's throat, as she considered death at The Beast's terrible claws. After what seemed like an eternity she worked up enough courage to speak again.
"Beast...?"
But though she waited, no reply was forthcoming. Eventually the needs of her body won out, and once again Karen slept.