I ran. I ran like I'd never run before.
Branches scratched my arms. My feet thudded against the cold dirt, stinging with every step. My legs were screaming, but my heart was louder. It beat so fast it sounded like a drum in my ears.
People were shouting behind me. Angry voices. Stomping feet.
Crack—branches snapped.
Crack—my breath caught in my throat.
Why were they so mad?
Why were they chasing me?
I didn't understand.
One second, I was home, laughing with Mama. Papa was humming in the kitchen. My big brother gave me the last cookie even though I know he wanted it. We were happy. We were good.
So why...?
Why are they gone?
"Mama!" I screamed as I ran. "Papa! Brother!"
But no one answered. Only the wind. Only the shouting behind me.
Traitor.
Witch.
Demon child.
You'll burn just like the rest.
The words chased me harder than the people did.
I tripped. My foot caught on a rock, and I fell hard—knees-first.
Pain flared up my leg. My ankle twisted funny. I tried to stand, but it wouldn't listen. I was stuck.
"No, no, no, not now..." I whimpered. My hands clawed at the ground, but my legs... they were so tired.
Then I heard them.
The crowd.
The stomps.
The voices, getting closer.
They circled around me like monsters in a storybook. Their faces weren't faces anymore. Just twisted, angry masks.
Someone grabbed my arm. Another kicked dirt in my face.
"You little cursed thing."
"Your whole family's gone and now it's your turn."
"Rot in the hell you came from!"
And then—I saw him.
In the back of the crowd. Calm. Smiling.
The cookie man.
He always used to bring me sweets. He always patted my head and said I was special.
He was supposed to be nice. Safe.
So why was he laughing?
He leaned down just enough for me to hear him over the crowd.
His eyes were cold.
His words colder.
"Go join your family in the fire I sent them to."
I froze.
Everything went quiet.
No shouting.
No crying.
Just that voice. That smile. That man.
He did this.
He killed them.
He lied to us. He tricked us.
And I was too small to stop him.
Someone hit me. Another grabbed my hair. I curled up, but it didn't help.
Then the fire came.
It was a small flame at first. On a stick. But when they threw it, it felt like the whole world exploded.
Pain.
Heat.
Smoke in my throat.
My hand was burning.
My dress caught next.
I screamed until I couldn't anymore.
And they just laughed.
I didn't even cry by the end.
I was too tired.
And just before everything went black, I looked up—one last time.
He was still smiling.
The cookie man.
The monster in disguise.
I was seven when I died.
But death was only the beginning.