Winter had just begun, but the snow already covered everything outside.

Small, soft snowflakes fell on top of trees and animals.

The thick layer of white snow that was spread on the floor made it very difficult to walk.

In the heart of the forest was a small wooden house, inside it lived a mother a father and a son.

You could see the gray smoke from the chimney if you stood all the way at the other side of the forest.

The freezing winter air slipped through the cracks of the house, finding its way underneath the warm blankets and touching uncovered skin with its icy feel.

Everyone was asleep, except Elliot. He tried to close his eyes and let his mind wander but it was very hard.

The scratches under his bed kept getting louder and louder, so he finally decided to look.

He crouched to have a better look at what was underneath his bed.

E

L

L

i

O

T

. . .

A deep, raspy voice that sent shivers up his spine called his name. From underneath his bed twigs started to spread, leaving brown leafs everywhere.

Some branches got closer to his hands, they tangled all the way up to his shoulders and pulled him towards them. Elliot was frightened, he closed his eyes, hoping it would all go away.

He could hear the twigs creak and the leafs crunching under the weight of his body.