[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Playfair+Display] [size15 [Playfair+Display [i Come little children, I’ll take thee away...]
The blue-eyed child looked up at the black shape, peeking out from behind a tree, a single red light emanating from the monster’s face. The boy knew he shouldn’t have followed the voice into the midnight forest. He knew he shouldn’t have brought Hop with him.
[right [i Into a land of enchantment.]]
He gripped the stuffed bunny in his hand tighter, lifting it up to his chest. Maybe he would be protected. Maybe nothing would hurt him like this. The black shape almost moved invisibly in the darkness, using the natural cover of the forest to creep closer.
[right [i Follow sweet children, I’ll show thee the way. Through all the pain and the sorrow.]]
The child swallowed hard, too scared to run away, silent tears running down his cheeks and pooling at his chin. Hop will protect him. The creature paused just a couple steps away tilting his head at the boy. It mused in silence, watching the heartbeat of the young one increasing by the second before finally moving forward.
[right [i Rest now my children, for soon we’ll away...]]
The shadow shape grabbed the boy by the shoulders, lifting him up slowly, the gap in the monster’s chest opening up wide to a row of pointed teeth and blackness. The blue eyes looked up at the red light, the tilt in the monster’s head unwavering as it pushed the child into the starving cavity, the stuffed toy falling at its feet. The blood gushed into his system and only at the last moment, did the shadow realize its grave mistake.
[right [i Into the calm and the quiet.]]
[center -.-.-.-.-.-]
It was a rather gloomy day in the Hollows forty miles outside of Amsterdam. The country had been seeing a lot of rain the past week, making the rolling hills vibrantly green and fresh with life. Norman appreciated the landscape, as one should if he was to be a fair groundskeeper. He took a moment to sink in the view whilst he finished his cigarette.
The manor, located in the heart of the Hollows, stood tall and wide, littered with windows and gothic architectural design. The Harte family was known for being private, often preferring the remote location despite their business being settled another twenty miles out. They managed a specialty hospital where the care of the patients was greatly sought by many wealthy families all across Europe.
Having recently cradled another child into the manor, the head of the family decided to expand his staff with strict specifications. From Norman’s understanding, he only acquired the position based solely on an incident that happened with his last employer. [i Saved by a mad man who simply trimmed the hedges, Arthur Reese survived a vicious attack by a monster that hid itself away in the surrounding backwood mountains.] Or something like that...
These ‘shadow beasts’ weren't as uncommon as one would think. In these olden lands, creatures born of darkness were more than folklore, known to most of Europe as changelings. Once taking a host, they lived solitary lives for the most part but some, though rarely, go beyond taking a life by living a better one. Unfortunately, changelings were not cute or stubby faerie like creatures. No... they were monsters. They were [i all] monsters.
Norman dropped the cigarette butt and crushed it into the gravel beneath his boot. Leaving his rusted underwhelming Beetle near the edge of the extended curved driveway. Checking his unkempt hair in the side mirror one last time, the landscaper walked up to the grand front door and knocked, shifting in his wool coat. The ebony door clicked open, an older gentleman in a black suit bowing briefly before stepping aside to let him in.
Norman ran his fingers through his black hair, drinking in the grander of the main foyer. He’d been in reputable homes before but nothing close to this. [b “We are waiting on one other to arrive, sir. The head of the family appreciates your patience.”]
[#722aa8 “Yeah, sure, no problem,”] he mumbled, distracted by the large painting of the family to his left. Two parents and four- now five children... Interesting. ]]