[Metal Tsubasa]: 95.Contest Entries.A dark and stormy night

1. The challenge is to write a short piece (2000 maximum, 1000 words minumum).
2. Your first sentence will be "It was a dark and stormy night..."
3. Preferably, your piece will be either mystery or horror.
4. This story must contain a candle stick!

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It was a dark and stormy night as he trudged through the forest. Blood trailed after him, leaving dark pools in the grass, which reflected the moon light as though they were melted pieces of it.
He panted heavly, still moving as fast as he could through the forest, holding tightly to his side though the blood still seeped through his fingertips. As he ran through the trees, the trees grabbed at him, cutting small gashes in his arms and face.
A little farther...! he thought. Just a little farther...! But no matter how close he was, he would never make it out of the forest.
A dark figure, looking almost like a moving piece of the black night sky, appeared out of nowhere. It lept about the trees, comming up quickly behind him, moving as fast as the night wind. Still he rushed onward, trying to out run his attacker. He was almost there, almost there... He could see the city right beyond the trees, but something now stood between him and the edge of the forest. The dark figure had moved out in front of him... no, it was another one, for one still came up from behind. There was no where to go, he stopped suddenly, just as the other creature came up behind him.
Everything stopped, as if time itself had disconntinued it's motion. Crimson red eyes glared down at him from both sides as he stood panting for breath.
"Leave the child and we'll let you go," said the creature behind him, sounding as though there were three different toned voices coming from one figure. "This is your last warning! Hand the child over."
He clutched his side even tighter, a small pale figure lay wrapped in a worn blacket between his chest and forearm. Of course they would know, it was their job to know. Nonetheless, he wasn't about to give up without a fight. He was almost there, then he would be safe. With all the determination he had left, he drew his sword with his free hand and rushed the creature ahead of him.
The creature ahead of him didn't move, for the one behind him lunged forward, pinning him to the ground underhis sharp talons. Nothing more was said, but that night screams could be heard through out the city and no one was alowed outside.
There was nothing left in the forest, not even the man's body... or the pale child he had been carrying.