Beauty the Beast

The sky was darkening, the sun having plunged beneath the tree line. My heart thudded painfully against my ribs, clothes sticking with sweat. Eyes watched hungrily from the shadows. I shouldn’t have left town so close to nightfall.

  “I’d hoped you would come,” said a voice.

  I stumbled to a stop, frozen. “No,” I breathed. “I came to save you.” I could feel the others approaching silently, but all I could see was her, pale and beautiful.

  “How sweet.” She smiled with pointed teeth. “But I’m not the one who needs saving.”

  Hands grabbed me, pulling me into the darkness.