Why did I have to be the one to take this dumb dare?” Charles muttered as he walked from his house to the school. The cold October night blew through the many trees that were along his path, the occasional hoot of an owl accompanying every gust of wind like they were in sync with each other. Charles stopped in the middle of the field behind his school looking at the massive trees that seemed to glare menacingly at him as if he was responsible for some heinous crime that he’d been accused of.

He clenched his fists and prepared his video camera and flashlight for the long and perilous trip that lay beyond the black inky gates of the forest. He walked forward and took his first step past the fern tree that was in the way; when he got a few feet past the tree, he noticed the completely new world that he just entered. The smell of the cold weather became more noticeable and the voices of the animals filled his ears more loudly now that he entered the black woods.

He shook his head and kept walking and looked for signs of the old lab; the notes he took said that the lab was underground and what he heard from the town cooks was that a concrete pillar marked the spot for scientists in case they got lost.” yeah right, those old geezers don't even know where their glasses are “. He searched for a few hours before finally resting by a big pine tree, contemplating whether he should go home and live his life being called a chicken “ a knew it was a legend. Probably created by some old dude in a desk chair and posted on Facebook “ he said to himself getting up to return home. He dusted himself off and took a few steps before he felt a cold chill up his spine like someone was watching him, he looked around quickly thinking that it was a deer and that his quick light flashes would cause it to run away into the darkness.

He stopped and bent over taking a deep breath trying to calm down his dizzy head, the feeling didn't go away and he saw nothing while he was twisting and turning. He took his light in his hand and searched the woods again but this time he searched more slowly so he could see what it was that was there, he breathed a sigh of relief and began his walk again before he noticed a pair of mismatched eyes looking at him offensively. He gulped and threw a rock at the creature, but the rock returned back to him at equal force, he turned to the creature upon hearing its deep growl, he examined its features shaking in his boots.

The creature bore the resemblance of a wolf, a rather big wolf, this wolf easily dwarfed him on the size chart. Before he could examine the creature anymore it bounced at him, quickly thinking on his feet he ducked causing the wolf to hit the tree and let out a sharp yelp before hitting the ground, Charles took off running in the dark looking behind him every chance he got to see if the wolf was chasing him with the same ferocious intent that it had before, before he could even stop running completely he felt his body suddenly fall backward into the pitch black abyss.

He hit the ground below with a loud thud and the sound of glass breaking soon followed. He looked around for his flashlight in a panic not even taking notice of the metal table that his head met. He fell on the floor rubbing the new bruise that was hidden behind his curly red hair, he stood up after getting his light back on and looked at the new place, the science lab looked the same as it would have 75 years ago the only thing that seemed out of place was the smell of mold and dust that could be seen everywhere.

Charles walked to the center of the room and picked up a dusty jar full of liquid “I wonder what kind of things the scientists were doing. These jars are all over the room and their labels are completely covered in dust “he took his thumb and wiped off the label only to uncover the word “Erethizon dorsatum”. He shivered a little before taking a picture of the jar on his phone and shelved the jar, he walked the cold hallways examining every room by shining a light in them quickly “man. All these rooms and not a single sign of anyone or anything it's like whatever happened to them. It was a clean freak” he said to himself as he stopped at a four way of halls. He checked the time on his phone before he turned hearing a noise coming from down the hallway, the sound was the heavy breathing of somebody that has been running a 5k marathon at full sprint and was hit in the chest by a fist, Charles eased slowly down the hallway looking through the rooms until his light illuminated the white and red skin of a scientist ( the white is remnants of a lab coat-Author) “ hello.. Are you okay sir… do you need an inhaler “Charles said.

Before he could lay a hand on the man he shot up still staring at the wall mumbling incoherently, Charles stood frozen to the floor by the sudden action of the man “food…. I can smell food…. Its right behind me” the man bent over backwards accompanied by a horrendous popping sound of his back contorting inhumanly to face Charles, the man's eyes had an eerie soulless, violet glow to them.

The man unleashed a loud screech that echoed throughout the building causing Charles to cover his ears, the screech was followed by four tentacles coming out of the man's mouth ready to search for its feast. Charles quickly turned and dashed down the hallway not even turning back to see if the man was following him he just kept running making turns whenever he felt like it was necessary until he reached a door that was locked. He turned behind him hearing the screech again getting louder and louder, Charles turned to the door and began shaking it violently and pounding hard on it hoping to break the jams before he met his untimely demise by the monster that was hunting him now “come on you damn door. Open!!!!” he said between breaths. He turned at the last second hearing the man jump for him. He closed his eyes ready to die

“yelp….”. He peaked one eye open and saw he was illuminated by the bright light of a door being opened and the man running away like a wounded dog “sorry about that young man. Wait. what is a poor thing like you doing in a place like this quickly get inside before more of them come”. Charles felt a hand grab his shoulder and pull him in. The room was bright violet with white baseboards and oak wood floors, the smell of cookies filled his nostrils as he walked in and sat down at the table “thank you... Whoever you are for saving me “Charles said looking around the room.

“no problem dear “the voice said. His savoir rounded the corner with a tray of chocolate peanut butter cookies, he looked the person over cocking his eyebrow, the figure stood about 5,10 and slim fit, his eyes were mixed colors, its face was covered by a black and red mask, it was dressed in proper attire a vest suit blue dress shirt underneath followed by a black tie. The figure sat they tray down in front of him and cleared his throat.

“what are you doing here. This place is dangerous for children you know”

“I’m not a child. I’m 17. And I was dared to come to this place by my friends, if I didn’t I was going to be labeled a chicken. Then i was chased here by some weird wolf thing and now I’m here” Charles said with a scoff

“good thing that wolf left you alone huh?”

Charles ears perked up when he heard those words. He looked over at his host and began examining what he could see of it. “would you like some milk with those cookie “it asked, “yes please” Charles asked politely. The figure rose up from the table and went to the kitchen to fetch him the glass of milk, Charles got up from the chair and began looking at all the things that lay littered around the room, the room was littered with beakers and all the typical sciency things that would normally cluster a lab “ how are things going in there “ it asked from the kitchen

“it’s going great “he answered back quickly returning to his curious looking. He stepped back from the shelves and felt an ominous presence in the room, before the presence could reach him he went to the door but was greeted by a black tentacle smacking him back onto the floor “leaving so soon… i don't think so “. Charles turned and looked at the creature and looked in horror as four tentacles like arms where sprouting from his back, he got up on his feet and stepped back words away from the creature, but he felt another tendril wrap around midsection and lift him up pulling back to the chair.

“oh no no no, we can't have you leaving just yet now can we “Charles struggled in its grasp trying to break free “i let you get away once…. I'm not again, a must say you are a slippery devil, deer can't escape me like you could “Charles eyes shot open as he looked down at the mask and suddenly remembered the mixed matched colored eyes “what do you mean escape you”. The creature chuckled quietly before letting his face morph to his original one, Charles looked at him horrified and struggled more only causing the creatures grip to get tighter.

“listen. I'll let you go… but you got solve one of my riddles… deal” the creature said as he lowered him to eye level, Charles looked him dead in the eyes and nodded “good. Now the rules are simple, I ask a riddle, you answer. If you get three wrong I inject some venom into you and maybe take a few limbs. Sound good. “Charles nodded in agreement.

Before he could answer even one the creature already had one of his tentacles plugged into the back of his neck causing a mind damping venom to be pumped into his brain “Ahh. I do love it when prey thinks it has a chance of freedom” he carried Charles now limp body with him disappearing into the darkness. The next day the police found nothing about Charles whereabouts except his video camera which had been wiped clean.