The Beast Beneath the Cross - Chapter One: The Beast Arises

Rumors had spread like wildfire in the cold autumn wind, igniting a desperate fear in the hearts of the people. A creature—a cursed beast, some said—roamed the forests around Bedburg, hunting their children beneath the pale light of the full moon. Others whispered of darker things: of Satan’s influence, of an unholy pact made by one among them. For how could a mere wolf inflict such horror?

Tonight, the search parties were out again, torches flickering in the shadowy woods. Men armed with swords, spears, and muskets swept through the underbrush, their breath misting in the crisp air. In the village, only a handful of homes dared to show even a sliver of candlelight through shuttered windows, as if the faint glow might draw the monster closer.