Crimson

 Madison visited a deep forest with her family, to a meadow which splayed not too deep into the forest. Anymore further, and they knew animalistic danger would find them.

The four members of her family decided to camp out for the night, and Ivan, her brother, was the jolliest about the plan. His younger age than Madison disallowed him going into the forest. Since he was thirteen then, their parents agreed but on the promise of entailing their presence.

The forest amassed less trees than usual, but the number is enough to call it a forest. The coarse narrow trail taken by them was a bit moist from the rain the day before, where downpour amidst summer is unlikely for them. Mason, the father of the children held his son’s hand, disallowing him to slip from the branches than cascaded upon or the upended roots which showed itself from the earthly brown. Iris, their mother knew Madison was capable of hiking, so her worry was directed to Ivan.

They could infer upon a good place to stow their tent, which Madison and Mason built before the four ate the food from home, the invigorating greens and sizzling protein appeasing the famished stomachs.

The Herculean pine trees surrounded them as the evening neared, casting one last shadow before midnight blue painted the airspace. It caused Iris and Mason to decide to get a few wooden logs to make a bonfire.

Madison and Ivan waited as an hour went by, then another, then another. Ivan started to become worried which Madison tried to ease by patting his head and hugging him sideways, sketching circles on his back.

Another half an hour later, Madison and Ivan saw a gruesome scene; both were unready to gaze upon, one that would change the course of their lives.

A wild boar tread towards them, the stench of blood permeating the expanse, as it gulps on the remnant of what would be Iris.

Ivan bellowed in a toe-curling tonality, before breaking into hysterical crying-

Madison wakes up, viewing her surroundings, which are pitch dark. Ivan delves into slumber as he murmurs along the line of saying ‘mom’ before the older child comprehends her absence. Even their father’s. The two sleeping bags supposedly brimming with their warmth are vacant.

She swipes on her eyes before the stench of blood hammers her senses, and she nearly expresses abhorrence before she exits her sanctuary.

The nocturnal dream which wafted to her subconscious views itself front of her before she allows a shrill scream to escape her lips before she cries. Ivan’s incoherence nears her in his half-asleep state before his voice resounds through the atmosphere at the horrendousness.