the rusted key

…Their limbs were too long, their bodies too thin, and their faces, if they had faces, were hidden in the darkness. the woman took a step forward her eyes locked on me i reached into my pocket and pulled out the key i don't know what you want i said my voice shaking but take it i threw the key toward her and the moment it hit the ground the singing stopped…

…Look, I don't know what this is about, but I don't need it, I said, keeping my voice firm. Her smile didn't falter. She tilted her head the other way, then placed the key on the ground between us. Without another word, she turned and walked away, heading back into the woods as silently as she'd appeared. I stood there for what felt like an eternity, staring…

…Finally, I bent down and picked it up. It was heavier than it looked, cold against my palm. A faint smell of rust clung to it, metallic and sharp. By the time I got back to our campsite, Emma was waiting for me.…