Death Birds

Death Birds

By Whitman Rogers

Dawn has just fallen.  I can hear them crowing.  They’re coming.  I can see them now. The crows of doom have come for me.  Some of them are peeling off;  there must be a house nearby. I just ran out of the forest, they are not far behind.  Looking in front of me, I see a cliff. But it is too late.  I cannot stop. “AHHHHHH!”

“Come on, Arthur! We’re almost there, I can see the house!” John said, out of breath. “Where’s Jim?” Arthur asked, as they continued running. “I thought he was with you!” John replied.  “He must have gotten caught!” Said Arthur as they dashed into the house. Guinevere was waiting for them. With a worried look on her face, she asked, “Where’s Jim? Where’s my husband!”  Arthur looked up, wearing a sad expression. “They got him.” Gwen burst into tears. Out of the back room of the house, Uncle Joe hobbled out with his cane.  He said, “Who, what, what’s going on out here?” Arthur looked at John, saying “Your turn.” John said, “They got him.” “Who, the cowboys?” Uncle Joe asked goofily. “No, the crows, you dumbfounded old man!” Gwen shouted angrily. Uncle Joe said, “I’m going back to bed!” Arthur walked over to the window.  Looking out, he said, “It’s still dusk. They could be here!” John said, “Did you here that?” Arthur, still peering out the window, said, “I think I saw something!” Guinevere, still sobbing, ran over to the door and bolted it shut.  Arthur shut the windows.  John went to the back door to lock it.  Right as John walked back into the living room, there was a knock on the door. A child’s voice said desperately, “Please, let me in! They’re coming!” John shouted back angrily, “Oh yeah, they’re right at the doorstep!”  The door started to shake.   John ran over into the kitchen and grabbed a spoon, screws, and a screwdriver.  He tossed them to Arthur and Gwen, then ran into the back room.  John emerged from the back room with a metal bar, a tin can smashed flat, the blade of a knife.  He then ran over to the flower vase and picked a petal off of a rose.  He ran over to the door with Arthur and Gwen and started  bolting his gathered objects to the door.  When he was done, he said “Haha! Try and get through that!” He ran around the room saying “I beat them!” Uncle Joe came out of the back room and said grouchily, “Stop all that racket, I’m trying to sleep!” But then all of the sudden, the house began to shake.  The rose petal split into two pieces. The door swung open. John, Arthur, Gwen, and Uncle Joe had their flesh pecked off.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

The end!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Inspired by a nightmare