Creature of Maple Hills

By Robert Pruneda

There is something lurking in Maple Hills Forest. And it’s hungry…

Cayden and Brayden are twelve-year-old twins who couldn’t be more different. Brayden is gentle and bookish. Cayden is selfish and callous. The only thing they have in common is their shared desire to make their October 31st birthday party a frighteningly awesome event. There will be trick-or-treating, snacks, a sleepover, and a daring game of flashlight tag in the woods behind their home. 

But there’s something out there. Something with a growing appetite for human flesh… 

Halloween approaches. The game has begun. For the Miller twins, it may very well be their last…

Tag. You’re dead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jagged Tooth Publishing
• Release date: Oct 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781386577775

Robert Pruneda

Robert “Sharky” Pruneda is a native Texan, video game “enthusiast” [addict], and fan of all things horror. He left a career in the newspaper industry in 2011 to pursue the life of a nocturnal author, brainstorming new and creative ways to creep out his readers. He doesn’t only write horror though. He also pens the occasional family-oriented tale just to keep from going completely nuts with all those creatures of the night whispering in his ears. When he’s not pulling ideas out of his twisted brain, you’ll likely find him on social media or fighting alongside his fellow gaming buddies where their enemies shoot them up into Swiss cheese… or Sharky turns them into little bite-sized chunks because of his obsession with explosives. Medic!

Book preview

1

Maple Hills was nestled in the middle of a dense forest on the outskirts of southwest Austin, Texas. It wasn’t quite the country atmosphere twelve-year-old Brayden Miller had hoped for, but moving to the suburbs brought him closer to wildlife. He loved watching Wild America every weekend on PBS and anything narrated by his idols, David Attenborough and Jacques Cousteau. The closest thing to exciting wildlife he’d ever encountered in Austin were possums, squirrels, lizards, and the occasional grass snake.

Now he had an entire forest full of wild creatures right at the edge of his backyard. The first time he saw a family of deer stepping out of Maple Hills Forest to graze on a patch of tall grass near the firewood pile, his heart pounded with nervous excitement. He’d balance his father’s JVC VHS camcorder on his shoulder and narrate the activities in a less than perfect British accent.

Dude, you sound like a dork with that accent, teased Brayden’s identical twin brother, Cayden.

As twins, their similarities ended with their physical identity. They shared the same hazel eye color and brown hair; although their hairstyles differed in taste. Cayden wore the more popular mullet—short on the sides, long and wavy in the back—while Brayden’s choice of style was a bit bolder. He liked his hair short all around but with a long tail of hair hanging down the back of his neck. His mother—and some of the girls at school—thought the rat tail made him look cute. Cayden thought it just made his brother look like a dork. On the other hand, he rather enjoyed pulling on that strand of hair when he felt like picking on him.

Cayden was technically the older of the two brothers, separated by four minutes. He also made it a point to remind his little brother of his four-minute seniority by the way he treated him. Even their twenty-four-year-old half-brother, Dylan, didn’t pick on him near as much. Brayden was a bit of a bookworm—a nerd if you will—and wasn’t as athletic as Cayden. Aside from their different hair styles, one distinguishing trait was their physical stature. They were both lean, but Cayden was about ten pounds heavier. Brayden also had a slightly narrow face compared to his brother’s chiseled look. If you asked Brayden, he’d tell you his brother had a blockhead.

Cayden was athletic and involved in every sport he could participate in. He was also a bit of a jerk. He was lacking in the brains department as well. Brayden wouldn’t go as far as labeling his brother as stupid, but he wasn’t about to win any academic awards anytime soon. If education were a sport, Cayden would likely earn one of those yellow participation ribbons.

Social skills were another area he was hurting in, demonstrated by the first time he and Brayden met the little neighbor kid next door. They were playing catch out in the back yard when Brayden noticed the kid step out of his two-story brick home. The youngster held a yellow plastic bucket in his hand which swung back and forth with each step, the contents rattling inside.

I guess someone finally moved in, Cayden said while tossing the baseball to his brother. I didn’t see a moving truck. Did you?

No, I didn’t, Brayden said while catching the ball in his glove. He watched the neighbor kid drop to his knees in a sandbox. I guess they moved in while we were at school.

The kid dumped some toys onto the sand and started digging with a red plastic shovel. Cars maybe? Brayden couldn’t tell from where he stood. He pulled off his baseball glove and headed to the neighbor’s back yard.

What are you doing? his brother said in almost a hush.

"Welcoming him to the neighborhood. Duh."

Seriously, bro?

Jeesh! What’s wrong with that? Brayden said over his shoulder and continued towards the sandbox. I swear, Cayden, you can be a real jerk.

Yeah, and you’re a pansy.

The boy in the sandbox stopped digging when he noticed Brayden heading his way.

Hey there, neighbor, Brayden greeted, his voice full of energy. You just move in?

The boy nodded and continued digging.

Brayden glanced at a pile of die cast cars in the sand. So, whatcha’ doing?

Digging a tunnel, he said in a soft, petite voice.

Cayden grabbed his brother’s arm. Come on, dude. You’ve made your little intro. Let’s go back to playing catch.

In a minute, Brayden said, pulling away from his brother’s grip. Don’t be rude.

The sandbox kid shifted his eyes between the two brothers and smiled. You guys look the same.

Cayden laughed. Well, yeah, duh. We’re twins.

The boy’s smile lowered to a frown. He then drooped his head and refocused his attention on his tunnel construction.

Brayden shot his brother an angry glare and knelt beside the little kid. Ignore him. He can be a total jerk sometimes. He gave Cayden another glare which only resulted in suppressed laughter. I’m Brayden. And that’s Cayden. He held his hand out.

The youngster stared at Brayden’s outstretched hand for a moment, then squeezed it. His green eyes lit up as the corners of his mouth stretched outward. Alexander Rosenberg. He had trouble enunciating his R’s—his name sounded more like Alexand-aw Wosen-bawg—which triggered a snort from Cayden.

Nice to meet you, Alex, Brayden said while giving his brother a quick stare down.

Wanna play? Alex asked. "My daddy gave me these cahs foh my bohthday. Cayden laughed again at the lisp but it didn’t seem to faze Alex. He held up five fingers from his left hand and two from his right. I tohned seven on Sunday, the Lohd’s day."

Oh, brother, Cayden said, looking away. "He’s one of those."

One of what? Alex asked.

Nothing, Brayden said and flicked his thumb between himself and his brother. We’re celebrating our birthday next weekend, on the thirty-first.

Alex’s eyes widened. On Halloween?

Yeah. Cool, huh?

Um . . .

Brayden sat on the edge of the sandbox. Hey, we’re going to have a really cool party. And if you—

Cayden kicked him in the shin.

Ow! What the heck!

It’s not for little kids, Cayden stated.

"Says who?"

"It’ll be too scaywy for him," Cayden mocked Alex’s speech impediment.

That’s not funny, Cayden.

Yeah, whatever, dude.

Since the twins were born on Halloween, it had always been a family tradition for them to watch horror movies and do other scary things for their birthday parties. This year they planned to play laser tag in the woods or something else frightening in the dark. One idea involved the birthday duo pretending to be crazed psychotic killers while their friends hid in the woods and tried to make it back to the house without getting "killed by the madmen. Last one alive" would win a prize.

I’m serious, Brayden, it’s just not for little kids. You know how we like to make the party spooky, he recounted. And then there’s the whole monster in the woods thing.

Brayden cocked his head back. "The what?"

The color drained from Alex’s face. "Muh . . . Monstah?"

Don’t listen to him, Brayden said, trying to soothe the kid’s fear. He’s just teasing you.

The heck I am, Cayden said. It’s real. I’ve seen it.

No, you haven’t.

Yeah, I have. Cayden lifted his chin revealing a scar, which was another way to tell the twins apart. He ran his index finger over the raised skin. How do you think I got this?

Brayden rolled his eyes. Dude, you got that playing—

I got it when that monster attacked me.

Nuh-huh, Alex said. "You just twying to scay-oh me."

Better make sure you don’t play outside when you’re all alone at night. Cayden stepped up to the edge of the sandbox and leaned downward. "Or else the Creature of Maple Hills will get you! And eat you!"

Brayden pushed his brother back. Cut it out, man. You’re scaring him. He insisted that Cayden was just teasing and there really wasn’t a monster in the woods. Don’t listen to him. It’s totally bogus. There’s nothing in the woods but deer, rabbits, and—

A big, ugly monster. Cayden showed the frightened boy his scar again. Mwahahahaha!

Brayden shot up and grabbed his brother’s arm. Would you cut it out? We both know you’re full of you know what. He pulled his brother away and once again reassured Alex that there wasn’t anything to be afraid of.

Cayden laughed.

Alex frowned. "It’s not funny. And I’m not scay-ohed eith-oh."

Sure you’re not. Cayden snickered again. Better hope my brother is right, because I heard on the news that the monster—

Brayden shoved his brother aside. Dude! Will you shut the heck up? He’s just a little kid.

Whatever, man. Cayden turned around and headed back home. As he walked away he looked over his shoulder and yelled, Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Brayden shook his head and apologized to Alex. Just ignore him. There’s no monster in the woods.

I know. Alex stared out into the woods and swallowed. "I wasn’t scay-ohed anyway."

The kid’s constricted voice told another story. Brayden could tell he was scared. Did he really believe Cayden’s story about monsters in the woods? Maybe not, but it was clear that he’d given Alex something to think about. It would probably give him nightmares too. Brayden glanced back at his brother. What a jerk.

Hey, Alex, he said, scratching his nose. Um . . . You want to come to my birthday party?

He shook his head. "I don’t like yoh bwuthoh. He’s a poop head."

Brayden laughed. Yeah, he is, isn’t he? But I’d still like you to come.

Why?

Why not? We’re neighbors now. We should be friends, right?

Brayden ruffled Alex’s hair. The younger boy giggled and swatted his hand away.

"Come on, it’ll be fun . . . and scary. I mean it is Halloween. Brayden noticed the apprehension on Alex’s face after that statement. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as my brother makes it out to be. Just fun."

Alex stared at the ground. We don’t do Halloween.

Really? Why not?

My mommy and daddy say it’s the devil.

Brayden raised his eyebrows. Oh. Um . . . okay. Well, it’s technically not a Halloween party. It’s a birthday party, so—

Alex! a woman’s voice came from the back of the house. Dinner’s ready.

Okay, coming! Alex got up from the sandbox and dusted himself off. I’ll ask my mommy, he said to Brayden.

Cool. Brayden held out his hand and smiled. I hope you can come so you can help me pick on my brother.

Alex grinned and squeezed Brayden’s hand. He gave it a playful, animated shake. "Thank you, Bwayden."

One corner of Brayden’s mouth twisted upward as Alex disappeared inside his home. Unlike his insensitive brother, he thought Alex’s lisp was kind of cute, not some defect to tease him about. That was one key difference between the two of them—another trait that set them apart. Brayden was kind and selfless, while Cayden was rude and self-centered.

Before heading back home, Brayden surveyed the tree line of Maple Hills Forest. Creature of Maple Hills, he said, chuckling and shaking his head. Cayden, you are such a dipstick.

2

Alex helped his mother clear the dinner table while his father nestled into his recliner in the family room. While his mother wasn’t looking, Alex intentionally dropped a dinner roll on the floor. His two-year-old German Shepherd, Bruno, gobbled it down within a couple of seconds. Wagging his tail, he showed Alex a cheerful doggy grin with his long, pink tongue hanging out.

No more, Alex said in a hushed voice and waved Bruno off.

Out of the kitchen, Alex’s mother shouted at the dog—shooing him off. She then pointed at Alex. You’d better not be feeding him scraps. How many times have I told you?

I wasn’t, Alex said. It was a lie, of course. He gave Bruno table scraps almost every night when his mother wasn’t looking. His father caught him doing it just the other day but didn’t say anything. His mother was the one that was strict about it. He didn’t know what the big deal was. Alex set a pile of plates on the kitchen counter next to the sink.

Did you bring your toys in? his mother asked while grabbing one of the plates and rinsing it in the sink. Your cars are going to get rusted if you leave them outside.

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