It wasn’t just any scream. It was the most ear piercing, bloodcurdling scream Andrew Branson had ever heard. His whole body clenched in fear. Just ignore it, he told himself. It was just after midnight. He willed himself to the window and spotted it in the center of the garden maze. It snapped its gaze to him, as if it could sense his glance. Its eyes glowed yellow in the dark and he jumped back, tripping onto his bed. This was the boldest attempt yet. Every night, at midnight, it was outside his house, trying to lure him into the maze. They both knew it would be the last thing he did, if he ever gave into its screams and howls. He clenched his eyes shut and tried to block out the noises. The next morning, Andrew called his sister, unable to think clearly enough to decide what to do at this point. He had bought this property to use as a hobby ranch just a few months ago. He was convinced seclusion and a variety of farm animals would cure his disillusionment with life in the city and his corporate job. The ranch seemed like a steal of a deal. All the pieces fell into place. What a fool he had been. He was told the last owner died of old age, and that he was estranged from his family and that’s why no one wanted to inherit it. Andrew didn’t know who lied - the family or the realtor. Maybe it was both. It didn’t much matter now. “Andrew, it’s been weeks since you got a decent night’s sleep.” Emma said gently. “I told you, I’ve tried.” He rubbed his temples. “It screams every night at midnight.” “I think this thing you’ve got in your mind, it’s - have you tried talking to someone? Maybe they can give you something for the nightmares.” “Em, it’s not a nightmare.” He grew exasperated. “It’s real. This is really happening to me.” “Okay, look, you need a good night’s sleep to think clearly either way, right? So why don’t I come down and I’ll stay up tonight so you can sleep?” Emma cajoled. “It’s too dangerous.” He said sharply. “Andrew, I can take care of myself. I’ll be fine.” “Just - just promise me you’ll be here before it gets dark.” He relented. He was too tired to keep fighting it. “Promise.” Emma lived a few hours away, so Andrew knew this promise would mean a rough start to the day as she rushed out the door. The phone clicked and Andrew logged onto work for another day of fumbling through his duties and hoping he wouldn’t be fired. He downed a pot of coffee and tried to fight the jittery, jarring feeling of too little sleep and too much caffeine and adrenaline. It made him queasy. He logged off early to focus on the ranch chores. Far better to spend the afternoon mucking the stalls and feeding the goats and horses than repeatedly checking the horizon for any sign of Emma’s approach. Still, Andrew found his eyes wandering towards the road every chance he got. He locked the animals in the barn after their day of grazing. No need to leave bait out. That evening, he sat by the front door, waiting. He called Emma and asked where she was. The sunlight was fading and it was nearing 9pm. It stayed light so late in the summer here, Andrew thought, yet Emma still managed to be tardy. “My phone is dying thanks to the GPS and there were several detours. I’ll be there by eleven.” “No, just find a hotel, lock the doors, and don’t go outside for anything. You’re too close and it could be anywhere.” The static on the line shut down the connection and the call dropped. Andrew swore under his breath. He kept peeking through the curtains, certain he was seeing shadows until he blinked them away. Blurry exhaustion was taking over. Every light from the highway made him pace, wondering if the next headlights would be the ones turning toward his house. Andrew sat down on the couch to catch his breath. He slumped involuntarily into sleep before he jolted awake to the sound of Emma yelling for him to let her in. He stumbled across the living room in a fog and opened the door. He jogged down the gravel driveway and heard a scream from the garden. A bloodcurdling scream. He checked the driveway and saw the trunk of Emma’s car peeking from the side of the house. This was real - it was really Emma. I can’t let it get her, he thought. He grabbed a pitchfork from the side of the house and bounded into the maze without a second thought. It didn’t really want her, he assured himself, it wanted him. He would trade himself for her. The nearly moonless night made it almost impossible to see where he was going except by touch. The branches kept scraping his arms as he felt his way quickly along the path to the center of the maze. As he drew closer, his cell phone rang. Andrew started at the noise and glanced at the caller - Emma Branson. He stopped in his tracks. His blood chilled and he answered it timidly. “H-hello?” “I’ve been texting you. I’m here but I heard a noise and I didn’t want to get out of the car until you told me it’s safe. What was that?” A cold sweat came over him and he stopped breathing. “Drive.” Panic rose in Andrew’s throat. “Drive far and fast and don’t stop no matter what you hear.” He hung up the phone. It was now or never. He turned the corner and it met him with a wide, razor-sharp toothy grin. It stood seven feet tall, thin and bony, with large hungry eyes. Hungry for flesh. Hungry for him. It radiated a smug pride for finally luring Andrew right where it wanted him, where there was no escape. He had underestimated it. Andrew braced himself and lunged with the pitchfork. The final bloodcurdling scream was his own, just after midnight.