Best Display: The House in the Vanishing Woods by The Gourd Lord

Best Display: The House in the Vanishing Woods by The Gourd Lord

Here’s their story:

This build is a claustrophobic nightmare, inspired by some of my favorite horror movies, and a classic Halloween monster.  Enjoy!

- Sundown, one night in Autumn:

Jason led her deep into the Vanishing Woods - a torch in his hand, lighting the old dirt trail.  Ellen followed close behind, listening intently to every snapping twig as if they each signaled an attack.  Jason looked over his shoulder and gave her a reassuring grin.  "Don't worry, hon.  I grew up in these woods.  If something was gonna jump out at you, I'd know."  Just then, as if on queue, he tripped and stumbled over a loose root.  After catching himself, he let out an embarrassed chuckle.

Ellen smiled and let out a playful snicker.  "We've been out here for hours!"  She said with a sigh, throwing her arms up in frustration.  "I thought you said it was just a short hike.  At this rate, it'll be morning by the time we get back to town!"  As her arms fell limp at her sides, she heard a groaning sound ahead - like old wood settling in place.  Her eyes narrowed.  "Is that it, there?" she asked, pointing towards a burnt-out cabin at the end of the trail.  The house - what was left of it - was completely engulfed in vines, moss, and ivy.  All around it, overgrown trees slithered up the walls, as if to strangle them.

Jason's eyes lit up with a complex whirlwind of emotions.  "Yes...  That's it, alright.  My childhood home..."  As Jason stepped into the house, Ellen followed pensively behind him.  It was clear now that this house used to be much larger.  The walls, roof, and even the foundation were scorched black by a terrible fire, and most of the remnants had been swallowed up by the woods, leaving only half of a shattered shack behind.  Jason began to ramble as he lit the rusty lantern on the wall.  "My mom and dad lived here all their lives.  Dad was a hunter, you know.  I spent most of my childhood running around the woods in search of fairies and other magical things..."  Jason trailed off, and his expression became grim and filled with regret.  "I was such a stupid boy, thinking I was safe in these woods."

Ellen took a step back and slipped off the edge of the broken floor.  She fell back and landed on something coarse and jagged.  She let out a horrified gasp as she looked down to see what had broken her fall, and found a huge pile of old, broken bones.  Human Bones.  Jason grabbed at his head and buckled over.  He bellowed out a pained groan as the torch fell to the ground, dousing itself in a stray puddle.  Ellen let out a whimper as she stood to her feet.  "Jason?  What's happening?  Jason - where did you take me!?"

Now, Jason began to cry.  He slammed his palms against his head in frustration as he rambled even more deliriously now.  "I'm sorry, Ellen...  I'm so sorry..."  Jason reached into his pocket and pulled out a burnt picture of an old woman - his mother.  "It's all my fault...  I ran home bleeding from the arm - begging my mother to make it stop.  Then I felt extremely hungry.  She screamed.  Then suddenly, she seemed so small.  And I was so... angry.  Everything caught on fire when Dad came home."  Jason's voice began to deepen drastically.  Suddenly, he sounded hoarse and gravelly.  "I ate him slowly.  Ripped his little head off.  Then it was small again.  I took Mom to the hospital.  Promised never to hurt her again.  Then I ran."

Ellen was taking steps back now.  Slow at first, then very, very fast.  Jason's voice was like a snarling monster now.  "Now we're here...  Now YOU'RE here!  I'm always hungry for things that I love.  Out here, with YOU...  I'll never get near mamma - not 'til the sun comes up."  Tears of fear ran down Ellen's face as she began to run.  She ran as fast as she could.  "ELLEN!  COME HERE, ELLEN!  LET ME TASTE YOU!"  Jason grew larger - much larger.  Wild hairs sprang out from his skin as his shirt peeled itself apart.  In the light of the full moon, his yellow eyes and huge, white teeth almost seemed to glow.  Then, like a wild animal, he began to sprint - bounding on all fours.  There was a scream, a gravelly howl, and the sounds of crows in the trees.  The screams continued for hours.  So many screams.  Finally, the sun came up, and Jason came out from the Vanishing Woods - bloody and haggard.  Ellen was never seen again.