The Taker

…Best leave now, don't stop till you're clear of these woods. before i could ask another question he turned and vanished into the thick brush footsteps unnervingly quiet fading quickly into nothingness my pulse hammered against my temples i was alone again more vulnerable than ever my heart sinking at his words it marked you night fell quickly in these mount…

…He glanced upward briefly, then met my eyes with an intensity that rattled me. It stalks you from above, takes what it wants, and leaves the rest behind like trash in a tree. He pointed upward. I forced myself not to follow his finger, terrified I might see movement among the branches. You saw it smile, means it marked you. He shook his head gravely.…

…What is it? What did I see? He hesitated, eyes shifting nervously toward the trees, then spoke quietly, almost reluctantly. We call it the Taker. Folks around Darby, Hamilton, even down toward Elk City, they all got stories. Old-timers talked about it more, before the disappearances started getting too frequent. It don't leave tracks, it don't bleed, and it…