I recalled sneaking into the kitchen as a kid, slipping past the door my mom had barred. She used to tell me fasting would make me healthier, that it would keep me safe, unlike my sister. But I knew it was her paranoia mixed with the drugs she was on. Every morning she’d hand me pills, and every night, more of the same. Watching tutorials online, I learned to pick locks, got good at it too. That allowed me to enter the kitchen and swipe snacks, even swapping those pills with gum. Ten-year-old me was more rebellious and smart than I’d realised.

“Clear,” Suzan whispered, glancing through the cabin window. “There are… dogs. Multiple. All chained up.”

I tried the door and muttered a quiet curse. “Locked.”

“I could use a wind spell and blow it open,” she offered, casting a hopeful glance.

I considered it, then shook my head. “What if elves are nearby? We could be giving ourselves away.”

She huffed, pacing with her hand on her chin. “Then what do we do?”

“Wait a second.”

I crouched by the door, examining the lock closely, and took out my phone to shine a light into the keyhole. The flashlight helped reveal the inner mechanism—simple enough if I could get the right angle.

Suzan peered over my shoulder, eyes widening. “What is that?” she asked, more intrigued than alarmed.

Ignoring her question, I muttered, “Think I can work this one.”

She quickly handed me a small bundle of paper. “Here. Try these.”

I unwrapped it to find a few lockpicking tools and got to work, focusing on the lock while Suzan kept watch. Her eyes scanned the forest, her posture tense. The stress was getting to both of us…

Suddenly, we both jumped at the sound of rustling behind us, only to spot a rabbit staring back at us with wide, innocent eyes.

She groaned. “That freaked me out.”

I stayed silent, concentrating on the lock.

Suzan kept glancing over her shoulder. “Are you done yet?”

“Give me two minutes.”

She shifted her weight, eyes scanning the forest line. “Where did you even learn how to pick locks?”

“Natural talent,” I muttered, my tone dry.

“Uh-huh. So, dodging the truth then?”

“I’m not. Let me work in peace.”

“Fine, fine. Whatever you say, you're one boring man.”

“Hmm…”

I kept my focus, ignoring her prying. As I worked, I wiped the sweat off my brow, hiding any trace of nerves. My usual deadpan expression didn’t change, just the half-lidded eyes and blank face that seemed to bore people.

Finally, I heard a satisfying click, and my hand froze. Suzan noticed immediately, her face lighting up with relief.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“You close?” she whispered, her gaze darting back to the trees. “Is it unlocked? Please say yes.”

“Not yet, but almost there. Just a second.”

She clenched her jaw, muttering under her breath. “Stupid elves… damn it. I knew I shouldn’t have helped them.”

“What’s done is done,” I replied, glancing at her briefly.

“Yeah. That’s exactly what my mom said,” she murmured, a hint of regret in her voice.

“Maybe not all of them are like this?” I asked. “Maybe some of them are actually…”

“No,” She cut in. “They’re the same. Trust me.”

“Hmm…”

One final turn, and the lock clicked open. Suzan took a steadying breath, steeling herself as we prepared to enter.

Holding our breaths, we pushed the door open. Inside was a nightmare. Dog corpses littered the floor, torn flesh and scattered fur covering the dimly lit room. Some dogs were still chained to the walls by their legs, whimpering weakly, their eyes filled with terror. Bones pressed through their emaciated bodies, some missing limbs, others lying barely breathing.

In the centre stood a rectangular table, stained and sticky with dried blood. The walls and floor bore the same dark, gruesome stains. I recoiled, holding a hand over my mouth, the sickly stench assaulting me. The horror of the scene would haunt my dreams for years.

“Oh…” Suzan whispered, her face twisted with disgust. “This is revolting.”

“Yeah…” I muttered. “That’s Gentle Gerald. Is it even alive?”

“Shit.” She said, “My dog isn’t here. Fucking elves… fuck!”

“Disgusting.” I whispered to myself. “How could someone do such a thing?”

“Elves.” She replied, “Damned elves could do it. Who else?”

“Ssh,” I said with a dull tone. “Don’t yell. They might be close.”

“Sorry. Sorry---it’s just… fuck. What even is this cabin? They’re butchering them and… what, eat them?”

“Probably.” I replied.

I approached the dog chained by its neck. Gentle Gerald cowered, trying to pull back, but the chain yanked him down. I crouched beside him, gently patting his head to soothe his fear. Poor thing was missing a leg, and he trembled at my touch.

Suzan quietly shut the door and locked it, then sheathed her dagger. I shot her a curious look.

“In case the elves return,” she said, her voice low. “Let’s help these dogs and get out of this nightmare.”

“Alright,” I nodded. “I’ll take this side, you get the other.”

“Right. Be quick.”

“Hmm.”

“Poor things… gods. Poor things. Look at them.”

“Yeah. They’re just waiting for their turns to get chopped up.”

I followed Gentle Gerald’s chain to where it was bolted to the wall. Bracing one foot against the wooden panel, I pulled hard, but it didn’t budge. I needed a different approach. Examining the collar, I spotted a small keyhole. Unfortunately, Suzan’s lockpicking tools were too large to work here.

“These chains are locked too tight,” Suzan called, frustration in her voice. “Smart bastards.”

“Same here.” I sighed. “What now? What do we do?”

“Mm. Hey, come check this out. I found something.”

“Hmm?”

I turned to her, just in time to see her fist rushing toward my face. Pain exploded as my head smacked against the wall, and I crumpled to the ground. Blinking through the haze, I saw Suzan standing over me, a key in her hand and a chilling smile across her face.

She raised her foot, her smile twisting cruelly. “My, my, my. I caught a big one this time, huh? Just my luck.”

Her foot crashed down on my face, knocking the breath from my lungs. This wasn’t the first time I’d been betrayed—I could still remember my friend stealing my chocolate in kindergarten. But this? The stakes were a bit higher than some candy.

“No parents, no friends---no one’s going to miss you, look for you,” she sneered, crouching down with her voice dripping venom. “A shame, really. What a fucking shame.”

Then, with one last brutal kick to my face, darkness overtook me.

“Goodnight. Sleep tight.”