At first, I couldn't exactly tell what had ripped me from the loving caress of sleep. I had previously been snoozing in my comfortable home. My body was wrapped in a warm blanket, and my head rested on a nice, fluffy pillow. Annoyed, I laid my head down once more, letting my eyes fall. It was then as I jolted upright in bed that I realized what had awoken me. Although almost drowned out in the wind that whistled a soft melody through the night, I could hear what sounded like footsteps and nails dragging along the wooden exterior of my home.

Curious, I allowed the soles of my feet to plop down onto the warm rug beneath me. Although sleep still cooed to me, I eventually dragged myself along the perimeter of the room to the window. There, I drew the blinds to get a better look. The pitter-patter of rain thumped against the thin glass to the tune of a soft melody that I soon found myself humming to. Due to the inky black darkness of the night, my visibility was heavily impaired, and I was unable to see what was making the noise.

Deciding I was wasting my time, I turned to head back to bed. When I did this, as if on cue, the noise began again, irritating me further. I knew the pleasant hold of sleep would elude me if the sound continued. I jerked around in frustration and shuffled to the dresser where a thick black flashlight sat. I grabbed it firmly, its handle cold as ice despite the warmth and comfort of the room. I walked through the narrow halls of my home with determination illuminating my eyes like that of a bright fire. Approaching the front door of the house, I grabbed the heavy trench coat that hung on the coat hanger. With the twist of the doorknob, I had exited the warmth and comfort of my dwelling.

I faced the chilly Autumn air and the drizzling rain which pounded against my face and back. I crept down the steps that led to the front door and clicked the flashlight on, its bright yellow light penetrating the darkness. Then, I proceeded to walk around the sides of the house in search of any animal that might have been the origin of the noise. It was upon reaching the rear of my home that I heard a peculiar sound from the wooded area behind me.

The sound was strange yet surprisingly... human. I stood frozen in attention facing the woods. The shrill cries of what sounded like a man screaming for his life came from the intimidating outline of the enormous trees in the distance. They rocked gently in the wind and beckoned me to come closer.