text: You scampered outside and past the flower garden. Looking up, the sun turned orange while the clouds turned pink, so you thought you had enough daylight to hide closer to the woods. There were big trees and small trees. Some trees were old enough to have a spirit, but none of these did. You already tried talking to them all. Deciding a big acorn tree looked the best, you squatted down on the ground but didn't kneel. Mum didn't like it when you got your dress dirty.
  
  You picked at the tree bark because you felt bored from the waiting. An ant tried to crawl on your foot so you squished it. The wind blew through the leaves. Something was wrong
  
  Where were the birdy songs?
  
  Whippoorwills always tweeted at night, and the fire finches cackled, but only the leaves made a sound. Something was wrong. The forest seemed scared. You wanted to run back to Mum, but you couldn't move. Every creaking tree could be a monster coming. Your pounding heart could mask a sneaky beast. Why did you choose to come outside?!
  
  "Ready or not, here I come!" Mum called out. She opened the door and narrated, "Now, where is my little girl?" Rubbing her chin, she looked at a bush. "Is she... here!" She pounced but didn't find you. All you wanted was Mum to find you. Why did you have to be so good at hide and seek? Why couldn't you scream for Mum to come over, hug you, and make everything better?
  
  Warm, humid air tickled the back of your neck. You heard a low grumble, then felt the same air again. Crying silent tears, you knew a monster stood behind you. A bony hand covered your mouth. You couldn't even breathe.
  
  A deep, rough voice whispered just beside your ear, sounding like a man who sang or screamed too much. "Your ma can't see me," the creature spoke. "If ya make a sound, Imma eat 'r too." Something long and wet pushed down the back of your dress and onto your back. It slithered back up. You felt sticky and gross. "You's a tasty one."
  
  > be Silent
  You nodded. The monster picked you up and flung you over its back like a sack of potatoes. As it ran back into the forest, you took one last look at Mum. She looked so happy trying to find you. She loved you so much and you loved her so much, but now she'll never find you. She will soon cry, and that thought made you cry.
  
  The monster didn't care about that. You bumped up and down on his shoulder, which hurt your stomach. It moved fast through the forest, faster than a horse. You looked down, since you couldn't look up, and noticed he wasn't wearing any pants. His butt looked boney. No wonder he wanted to eat you. He must be super hungry, not that you wanted him to eat you. You wondered why he didn't ask for a meal. Mum didn't have a lot of food. Many times, she skipped dinner so you could have some. Even then, she would've fed someone so skinny.
  
  You felt confused. You were pretty sure he licked you, which was weird, with a super long tongue; however, his back and legs look like a man's. Well, he looks sorta misty, like your reflection in the water after you threw in a pebble. Was he a man or a monster?
  
  You reached up and felt his spit on your back. Shivering, you realized he was a monster even if he was a man.
  
  The forest became more and more dark. The trees seemed less green and more brown. The skies turned black. It must be coming home, because he was evil. Evil things lived in scary places. You hoped he'd kill you first, then eat you. It would hurt more to be eaten alive.
  
  It stopped and tossed you on the ground. Falling on your arm, you grunted, but it didn't feel broken. You sat up and looked around. The monster was behind you, but the entrance to a cave sat on your right. On your left, a big campfire burned, probably to cook you. Mum said to never eat raw meat.
  
  All around you, there were bones of other people.
  
  "I hope ya don't mind," the creature growled behind you, "But I made ya so ya isn't 'fraid."
  
  "How?" you asked as you rubbed your stomach. It felt bruised from all the bumping.
  
  It stated, "Me magic. Can do more 'ere than away."
  
  Your eyes widened in surprise. "Really!" you exclaimed. "We got two wizards back home, though they're both old and grouchy. Oh, and Mum can heal a little with the goldie magic."
  
  "Goldie magic?" You heard it mumbling to itself before he spoke louder to you again. "I prolly won't eat 'er then. That kinda stuff gives me cramps."
  
  You nodded. "Thanks! I don't want Mum eaten too."
  
  It walked past you, and you realized it definitely was a he. Mum said only boys had those thingies, though his looked small. Looking up, you saw that most of him was a man, but his head looked different. Where most men had man heads, he had a skull from a deer or a moose. You couldn't tell which one, but he was pointy antlers. Also, instead of eyes, he had just darkness.
  
  No wonder he lived all by himself. He probably got tired of people making fun of his head.
  
  "Stay 'ehe, 'kay?" He pointed to where you sat.
  
  "Okay!" You sat there while he walked into his cave. With nothing better to do, you used your fingers to untangle some of the knots in your hair. Your hair got messy during your journey to the monster man's home. You felt bad for a moment because you forgot to ask his name. That was rude of you.
  
  Within a minute, he came back out carrying a wicker basket full of apples and carrots. Why didn't he keep them in separate baskets? That was what Mum did.
  
  "Do little girls taste better with fruits and veggies?" you asked, curious on how to prepare humans. Pork always tasted good with apples, but turkey tasted best with carrots or potatoes.
  
  "Naw." He shook his bone head while he sat the basket down. "Skinnin' ya then slatherin' yer body with buttu's best, but Imma all outa buttu'. Gotta make do with what ya got, ya know?"
  
  "Uh-huh! Mum and I have the same problem. I don't like brussel spouts, but we eat them every week because our town grows so many of them."
  
  "Ick." The monster shuddered. "Them sprouts is the worst."
  
  You nodded but had nothing more to add to your talk, so you sat there and waited. The monster shuffled from the fire back to the cave only to change his mind and come back to the fire. He seemed confused.
  
  "You need help?" you asked worried about your new friend.
  
  "I never used these kinda things when eatin' little girls 'efore, so Imma decidin' how to cook ya." He gestured to the fire. "I could just roast ya like a pig. Put an apple in yer mouth, shove a stick through ya, and rotate 'till you're all crispy." He gestured to the cave. "I also got this big pot, so I could turn ya into an apple and carrot stew. Watcha thinkin'."
  
  Barbecue would probably take less time, but the stew would use apples and carrots. Mum always said to eat your vegetables.
  
  > suggest Barbecue
  "Maybe just do barbecue? I always liked it when my village had a party and roasted a pig."
  
  "Really?" He looked at the fire. "If ya say so. Mind if ya lift yer arms up?"
  
  "Sure." You raised your arms over your head. He walked over and gently grabbed the bottom of your dress before lifting it over your head. The air felt chilly. Mum never said to take off your clothes around strangers, but it didn't seem to bother you right now.
  
  "Mind takin' off yer underthings too? It don't do good to cook clothes with people."
  
  "Okay." You pulled off your last clothes and felt really chilly. You hoped that he'd kill you soon since you didn't like being cold.
  
  "Well, Imma kill ya now. It was nice talkin' to you." He placed his bony hands on you. One on your head, the other on your neck.
  
  "It was nice talking to you too, monster man." And that was the truth. He was much nicer than all the poopy head children back in the village.
  
  "My friends call me Ched." He patted you on the head.
  
  "Goodbye, Ched."
  
  You felt a moment of a sharp pain in your neck and heard a snap, like a branch breaking. Darkness layered over your mind until there was nothing left.
  
  Death then gave you a hug.
  
  Roses are red
  Violets are blue
  You failed so now
  You're barbecue