I was still young when it happened. The trees are gone now, but I remember that forest. I used to take a shortcut through it after my night classes at the university. I couldn’t afford a car, but I learned to enjoy the peacefulness of the walk. On one particular night, after an exam, I had been walking along the usual path when I heard footsteps crashing through the underbrush.

Panicking, I ran off the trail, away from the sound. It was a foggy night, and even though I knew my way around well enough, I soon got lost. Before long, I heard the footsteps again, this time close behind me. So, I ran and ran.

After some time, I stumbled upon a path that split into two. Standing at this fork was a peculiar character. He wore a fine suit and a top hat, and a pair of leather gloves Although he was not especially tall, he carried himself with dignity. And his withered old face had a friendly smile.

“Good evening!” He called out cheerfully.

“Good evening sir.” I replied with some hesitation.

“Lovely evening for a stroll, don’t you think?”

I nodded, checking over my shoulder. The man raised an eyebrow quizzically.

“Is everything alright miss?”

“I’m not sure. There was some sort of animal chasing me before.”

“Well, in that case, we should stick together. Safer that way,” he said, offering his bony arm.

I agreed. As we walked, we made small talk about the weather, politics, and other such drivel. While it was nice to have some company, I realized that I did not recognize this path. I tried mentioning this to my companion, but he shrugged it off, saying: “No need to worry, this is a shortcut. We’ll be out of the woods in a jiffy.”

And it did seem like the woods were fading. Through the dwindling trees, I could see farmland and I realized we were on the outskirts of town.

“What is your line of work, sir?”

Before he could reply, the man broke out into a violent coughing fit.

“Hm? Oh, I work with livestock in a manner of speaking.”

“Really? I didn’t take you for a farmer.”

“You misunderstand. My business delivers animals to slaughter.”

“I didn’t know there was a slaughterhouse in town.”

“I don’t think there is one yet. I happen to be visiting on a personal matter.”

“What sort of matter is it? If you don’t mind my asking.”

“I have an affliction that requires special care. It’s plagued me for quite some time now.”

“Is it contagious?”

“Of course not my dear, but I shall have some respite from it soon enough.”

“Congratulations.”

There was a strange twinkle in the man’s eyes. A silver light that made me want to break off running again. But he spoke before I could act. “What of you? Do you have family in the area, or are you simply prone to wandering at night?”

I did my best to explain that my parents had passed and that I was pursuing an education at the local university. He went on to ask if I missed my family, and I replied. “Of course I miss them, but I have come to accept that their souls are at rest…I guess it gives me some comfort.”

He laughed; it was a harsh laugh, and a cruel response, so I slapped him. As my hand touched his face, I felt his skin crumble like ash. He let go of me, putting a hand to where I’d struck him.

I wish I hadn’t seen what I saw when he took away.

Great bouts of what looked like smoke were pouring from his face, and in the midst of that haze, I saw the grin of a skull. Most of his face seemed intact, but he no longer made an attempt to hide his macabre expression. I backed away, as he stood there, grinning even as more of his flesh seemed to crumble. As if enjoying my terror, the thing held up its hand and gently tugged off the glove. There was an outpouring of more dusk and I saw that the hand was naked bone. It waved playfully.

I screamed and ran. Yet as I hurried forward, I realized that the thing had picked this path. I could hear it rattling as it grew closer. I glanced over my shoulder and saw that it was nearly upon me. More of its face had torn loose, and the hat had long since fallen off its head.

In the mist up ahead, I saw a small farmhouse. As I ran, I shouted, praying that somebody would hear me. Against all odds, I saw a light flicker on. A moment later, the door opened. I was almost on the porch when I felt something grab me by the shoulder.

I was tossed aside as if I were as light as paper, flopping gracelessly into the dirt. It did not stop then. The thing was at my side in an instant, lifting me up by my throat. This close, I saw that its eyes were blank pale things, resting in a shining skull.

“The last breath is always the sweetest.” It whispered in my ear as I struggled.

Its bony fingers were colder than ice, and under their touch, I felt that cold draining me; drawing away my strength. My vision began fading when I faintly heard some shouting from the house.

I was dropped without a second thought. I heard the door slam shut and realized that the creature was no longer near me. Then I heard the screaming. There were gunshots. More screams.

I thought that it might come back for me, so I started crawling. I was afraid, but I didn’t want to die. I considered finding my way back through the woods, but there was no guarantee that it wouldn’t find me again. So, I hid under the porch.

I could hear the thing above me, moving from room to room, slaughtering that family. One by one they screamed and went silent. Finally, the thing walked back out, with a springy step. I saw it walk down the path, dust off its hat. In the light from the open door, I could have sworn it wore the face of a young man. I watched until I was sure it wouldn’t come back.

In the house, I found four bodies. The kitchen still smelled like gunpowder when I entered. There was the farmer, still clutching a shotgun, and his wife with a revolver. Both of their bodies looked like they had been emptied and discarded. What I could see of them was shriveled and withered beyond recognition. The children had been dragged out of their rooms and tossed aside. I found the son in a broken heap at the base of the stairs and the daughter in the hallway. It was too much. I shut myself in the bathroom to collect myself.

As I was splashing cold water on my face, I noticed something. The side of my face where it had whispered and the place on my neck where it had touched me were withered like the bodies. Looking closer, I saw that my left eye had grown cloudy.

As soon as it was daylight, I left town.