The wind is howling in the cold night air. I wrap my bare arms around myself as I walk from the back porch toward the woods behind my decadent house. The fall leaves crack and crumble under my bare feet. I stand in the opening of the dark, shadowy woods as my nightgown whips around in the chilling wind. A rustling noise snaps my attention over to the right side of the woods. I take a couple steps toward the frightening, pitch-black trees looking and waiting for the noise to occur again.

I squint my eyes hoping to find whatever has made the random rustling sound. I gasp as two piercing crystal blue eyes suddenly appear from the darkness of the shadowy woods. I am just about to take a step forward when two hands grab my arms to yank me back from the trees.

"What are you doing out here? You know you're not allowed to go near the woods. You are too young to be out here alone."

I look up at my mother's concerned face. "I'm sorry mama. I just heard a noise come from the woods and wanted to see what it was."

She frowns, "I'm just glad you are okay. You are never to go near the woods again, okay?"

'Never? I was just curious about what made that strange noise earlier. Why can I not come out here?'

"Why mama? It's just the trees here in the woods."

"The woods are a dangerous place. I do not want you to get hurt, my sweet girl. I am only looking out for you. Do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good, now let's get you inside and to bed."

She pulls me along with her back toward the house trying to keep my attention away from the woods. I reluctantly go along with her and depart to my room. I take one last look out at the woods before closing the window.

A piercing howl breaks the midnight silence as I lay down for bed. From then on I have not gone into the mystical woods because my mother has never allowed it. Eventually my mother builds a huge ten foot fence around the house to keep me away from the mysterious secrets of the dark forbidden woods. I can't help but wonder what it was that those piercing eyes belonged to.

I was never able to go back and see what made that howling noise that night. Even as I get older I will have completely forgotten about the woods and all of its mystery it holds.