When you go down to the woods today...

Soft mist lined an urban street of Nottingham on which a teenage boy, destined to become a man before his time this very night walked down. Balancing on the curb edge, trying desperately to entertain himself, for he knew he was in for a long, long walk home. No matter how he tried to focus on other, seemingly more important things, there was something in the air that night, something just not quite right. Little did Archie know, he wasn't the only one who felt it.1

The mid-October night caused Archie to shiver, he pushed his hands deeper into the pockets of his hoodie. The cold night was getting colder as it stalked him through the street. The sky that particular evening, shone but a few sequined stars through it's black blanket. The cool breeze grew into a strong cold wind to make the hairs on the back of the boy's neck stand on end. Shuddering from the cold once again, Archie pulled his hood up over his red hair, as discoloured hedgehog. The hood shadowed his eyes, leaving him with a most sinister look, far from the innocence the teenager usually had about him.2

Archie spotted something from the corner of his eye, it ran between the houses, which were partially lit by the street lights. The tall figure moved fast through the shadows. Not entirely sure what he had seen, Archie picked up the pace slightly. Then suddenly, someone... Or something had grabbed hold of his jeans, it tugged sharply in time with the strong wind. Without a gasp nor a word passing his lips, a drumbeat pounded away at his ribcage, he turned slowly. Archie breathed a heavy sigh of relief, seeing the denim had only caught a rough branch sticking out from a small tree on somebody’s front garden, which was otherwise well groomed. The plant wasn’t quite the murderous monster Archie had at first perceived. He turned back to face down the road and carried on walking.3

Archie made the decision to take a short cut through the woods, he couldn’t take the thought of having to walk the full three miles around the woodland area all alone, not tonight. Especially not tonight. The woods were dark, there were only four or five street lights scattered up and down it’s one mile, winding path. 4

He first discovered this quick route as a curious child, never listening t a word his Mother advised, Archie was forever wondering away from her. At the age of four, he adventured (unknowingly to his parents), unaccompanied through these very same woods and he's walked them ever since. Of course, this is when the council cared about it's city and the wildlife living within it, but since then it has stopped and the once beautiful scenery has decayed and become a breeding ground for crime and unsavoury behaviour.5

The path was continuos darkness with flickering stars of light, with every lamp-post passed. The towering trees cast shadows of monsters in ever available crevice, fright hit Archie's heart and he desperately longed for the warmth and security of his home. Letting paranoia get the better of him, he started a gentle jog, displacing the gravel from it's once comfortable position on the ground, Archie slowed his pace as he reached the fork in the path.6

Archie fiddled with the controls on his ipod, it blared away through tiny white headphones, spewing out 'Foo Fighters' at full volume. He didn't hear anyone approach, yet he did notice one thing. However, it be damn near impossible to two gloved hands clamp down on your shoulders.7

“Rawr!! Hehehe, scared you didn’t I?” Giggled Archie's follower.8

“Sophie, I really do hate you sometimes.” Archie gasped, still shocked from his not so pleasant surprise, but he was still pleased to see a friendly face in the form of his best friend.9

“You love it really,” Sophie giggled and tossed her long dark hair over her left shoulder. “So, what on earth are you doing in the woods, in Autumn, at...” She looked down at her phone. “Eleven o’clock at night?” She enquired (she was in a rather quizzical mood, if not a slightly hyper-active one).10

“Walking home, I was at my Aunts, baby sitting for my little cousins, terrors the pair of them.” He joked, then getting serious he asked. “And yourself? What are you doing out here all alone?” Concern shining like a star through his pale blue eyes.11

“Just thought I’d take a little walk... That’s all.” She stared at the floor refusing to let her eyes meet with his. She scraped patterns into the gravel with her toes. He lifted her chin forcing her to make eye contact with him.12

“Why are you really out her? You can’t lie to me, you know you can’t, I can read you like a book.” He smiled, trying to lighten the mood.13

“Had an argument with my Mom again, I couldn’t take staying in that house any longer.”14

“Okay hun,” He wrapped his arms around her as she fought back the tears. “Well you can’t stay out here all night, you’ll freeze to death, you can come back with me. You don’t know what kind of psychos are around.” 15

“Thanks Archie!” She gave him a smile to assure him she was okay. He tousled her her hair and grinned.16

They talked about everything and nothing. Complex issues such as physiology. But then again they also talked about what colour Sophie was going to dye her hair and where Archie could get cheap Van skate trainers.17

“Stop dragging your feet.” Sophie ordered, not even thinking about what she had said.18

“I’m not.” Archie said, looking quite confused.19

“Well neither am I.” But somebody was... She gripped hold of Archie’s arm, so tightly his fingers tingled from lack of proper circulation. Sophie was terrified, she wasn’t a particularly jumpy person, she never had been, but this was too much for her to take.20

There it was again, the figure Archie had seen earlier that night. It had no features, no nose, no eyes, no smile, no nothing, just pure black. He held onto Sophie for reassurance.21

Something brushed against his leg, he screamed and jumped backwards. And just his luck there was tree behind. He fell sideways onto his ankle, twisting it on impact. There was no way he was going to be able to walk home on it now. Sophie would have to call someone help her get him there.22

“Sophie.” No answer. “Sophie!” Still no answer. Archie started to get a little panicked. He looked up to discover he was all alone. His hands began to sweat, his face flustered, thoughts rushed though his mind. “Sophie where are you!?!?!” Already dead or bleeding he thought to himself. He rested his head in his hands, “Sophie where are you?” He whispered to himself. At that moment Archie felt hot breath on the back of his neck and a deep, husky voice spoke,23

“You want to know where she is. You’re going to have to come with me...”