Cabin in the woods

It was way past the town's curfew, I knew I was forbidden from being out so late at night, especially near the woods. It was rumored that the woods were cursed or haunted. I paid no mind to the rumors. I found myself constantly attracted to the woods, though I had no clue why. So here I was, wandering through the dark woods at night. It didn't seem all that scary to me, just dark. I didn't get all the worry about this place, sure it was dark but it's just your typical woods. I yawned as I went deeper into the forest. I glanced back and noticed that I couldn't see my house anymore, the lights of the town were gone.

I shuddered in the cold a bit as I continued to walk into the woods and hugged myself. The trees seemed to be reaching out towards me in an attempt to grab me, the roots of the trees were coming up out of the ground, nearly tripping me various times. Disregarding the cold I continued to walk into the woods when a vine suddenly caught onto my pants and I struggled to get loose from the vine, the spikes caught my hand and slit it open, I hissed in pain as my hand throbbed and started to bleed. I held my hand to my chest when I was suddenly knocked down and I felt as if something was wrapping around my body like a snake. I tried to free myself but I couldn't see what was going on, I thrashed around more and more.

I never should have gone into the woods at night. That was all I could think of as an invisible force that pulled me deeper and deeper into the deep woods. I tried to scream but it felt like all the air in my lungs was gone. I struggled against the force, kicking my legs and thrashing around to no avail. I soon ran out of energy and felt myself getting tired. As I was being dragged my head hit a rock. Hard. I was out cold.

I awoke what felt like ages later. I was in a small cabin. There was a fire roaring in the fireplace and what appeared to be an old man sitting in a rocking chair in front of it. I tried to call out to him but found myself tied to a chair with a cloth in my mouth. I tried to get out of the chair but only managed to scoot it forward by an inch. The old man before the fireplace slowly stood up and turned towards me, “Finally awake, hmm?” I was startled by his appearance, he had a twisted, winding smile and he had two dark gaping holes where he should have eyes.

The old man slowly came towards me and I tried to move back but once again I was unable to scoot the chair back. The man continued to approach me and I squeezed my eyes shut. He suddenly stopped right before me. "Sorry if Ceal scared you, he's just not used to people being in the woods so late at night." The old man went behind the chair and released me from my binds and I quickly stood up, "Who are you?!... And where am I?!" He frowned as I yelled at him, "Hush, you'll wake the dogs." He nodded towards an open doorway where two massive dogs were asleep. I slowly nodded and asked him again, quieter this time. "Who are you..?" He went back over to his chair and patted the one next to him, "Join me and I'll explain everything." I reluctantly went over and sat next to him in front of the fire.

"Well my dear, this forest is hundreds of years old and Ceal is the protector of this here cabin." I looked at him then back at the fire, "Yea...but who are you?" He sighed, "My name is Alistair, dear child. You're likely wondering why you're here, yes?" I nodded, "You entered the woods late at night and Ceal nabbed you. You yourself came from these woods, you know." I sat there for a moment, "...What? No, No, I come from a small town not too far from here, I-" "Hush, Child. You were born in these woods, the people took you away from the forest, but you've returned, and soon everything will make sense. Go on and get some rest." He slowly stood up and took my hand before guiding me to a room in the back of the house.

It was a cozy-looking room, the wallpaper was a faded pink and was yellowing with age. There was a bed with a singular pillow resting on the head of the bed and a faded blue blanket. I sat down on the bed and the mattress seemed to sink. I sighed as I realized there was no way I could leave. I laid down on the hard pillow and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning I was awoken by one of the huge shadow-like dogs I had seen the night before, it had put its massive paw on the bed to wake me up. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, looking around as everything that had happened the night before came flooding back to me. "Ow.." I rubbed my head where it had hit the rock in the forest and yawned. The smell of eggs and bacon suddenly hit me and I got out of my bed and stretched, heading towards the smell. I found the old man in front of the stove, cooking enough bacon for me, him, and the two dogs.

He seemed to have heard me as the floorboards creaked when I stepped into the kitchen, "Good morning, dear." He turned to me, his winding smile was somewhat...comforting to me. "I'm making us breakfast, go ahead and wait in the dining room and I'll explain everything." I nodded and headed to the main room.