The chilling flame

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. A young man was wandering through the woods, only a daily walk however just happened to take a wrong turn as he wasn’t used to walking through the woods during the night.

He looked at the cabin and was left in awe at the state of the place, amazed at how nature was attempting to take over the dilapidated cabin. However, he was quickly left confused as to why a candle was being burnt in the window.

“Surely, no one would still live in such a run-down place and with the state, the cabin is in there’s no way it’s just been burning since it was last left uncared for?” - The young man had thought to himself.

Walking up to the cabin with caution in each step he called out to see if anyone would answer. “Hello, does anyone live in this cabin? I’m a little turned around in the woods and some help getting back home would be greatly appreciated.”

As he got closer he was startled by the sound of the wind whistling and shrieking as if the wind were a banshee screaming at him, this caused him to take a step back but he reassured himself that it was just the wind and he needs to just figure out if anyone is inside the cabin.

As he got to what little was left of a door barely hanging on to the hinges he knocked and again called for someone to lend a hand. “Hello, I’m sure someone has to be inside I saw the candle burning in the window. I’d just like some help finding my way out of the woods and then I’ll be out of your hair.”

Again he received no answer so he thought the best choice would be to go check the window where the candle was burning, as he reached the window he could see the candle clearly however thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. The candle’s flame did not flicker nor dance which was odd given the wind that he could still hear screaming and whistling.

Nearing the window he saw what looked to be a finger out of the corner as if someone was holding the window frame which made the young man stumble and trip over his feet landing face-first into the ground, he collected himself whilst getting up as he did he realized that the flame was not only not flickering with what he thought was wind but it was also cold, so cold he could see his breath almost as if it were stealing his very soul.

Though as he looked up from the candle he saw a pale face with wide circular eyes which somewhat looked human but had an unearthly feel to it, he realized he had found what he believed to be the wind, this pale face stared deeply at the young man whilst creating a scream that pierced right through him, causing him to shiver and shake whilst being left speechless.

The pale-faced creature reached its grotesque long arm out as if to grab the man, luckily the young man realized in time and started to run, running deep into the woods as fast as he could not worrying about the direction or the outcome as long as the outcome wasn’t ending up with that… Thing.

As he ran through the woods he didn’t dare turn around in case he saw the creature again, however, as he ran he saw several lights around him in the trees. He was able to just make out that they were more candles he was surrounded by cabins as if this were some sort of game.

Hearing sticks breaking behind him he knew that he was still being chased by the creature so he was left with no choice after running for what felt like a lifetime to hide in a cabin so he started running to the closest one as he was about to enter the creature started screaming again but in this case, it screamed a sentence.

“Don’t go in there! Don’t be stupid! I’m trying to help you!”

None of it made sense and the young man was too scared to listen so as he entered the cabin and turned around to close the door he saw the creature screaming and crying as it was still insisting it was trying to help. As he shut the door all was silent.

There was no screaming or cries of the creature, no sounds of movement outside, no sounds of wind, nothing it was entirely silent as it was when he first wandered to the cabin.

All of a sudden the sound of a match being struck and lit was heard loud and clear and a still light appeared in the room next to it followed by what sounded like someone blowing out the match.

He crept over to the other room still in fear of what just happened, as he peaked into the room to make sure it was safe he didn’t see anyone. No person, no creature just a candle in the window and a used match.

As he noticed it he heard someone outside. Calling for help, stating that they were lost and just got confused in the dark and would appreciate any help finding their way back home as possible.

But whilst the calls for help started the young man felt funny as if a feeling of Deja Vu mixed with pain in their abdomen which quickly spread through their whole body. As the skin of the young man turned a pale white pigment and their eyes widened he realized the fate of people that end up here is to become a creature or as he felt a hunger he realized they could also be food.