The house was still, the kind of stillness that only came deep into the night when even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Aaron stirred in his bed, his throat dry and scratchy, pulling him out of a restless sleep. The faint glow of moonlight seeped through the small gaps in the wooden shutters, casting soft, pale light across his modest room.

  He sighed, rubbing his eyes as he swung his legs off the bed. The cool floorboards creaked under his weight as he reached for the pitcher on the small table by the window. It was empty. Of course it was empty. With a quiet groan, Aaron decided he’d have to go to the well for water.

  Wrapping a thin cloak around his shoulders to stave off the night chill, Aaron tiptoed toward the door. His brother Kyler was snoring softly in the corner, undisturbed. Aaron cracked open the door just enough to slip into the hallway, careful not to wake anyone.

  As he passed the window near the front of the house, something caught his eye—a flicker of movement outside. His heart skipped. He froze, squinting through the small crack in the shutters.

  At first, it was nothing but shadows stretching across the yard, the faint silver of moonlight playing tricks on his tired mind. But then he saw it. Figures—three of them—lurking near the chicken coop. The sound of frantic clucking followed, muffled but urgent, as if the chickens sensed something unnatural.

  Aaron’s pulse quickened as he ducked away from the window. His first instinct was to wake Kyler, but no—Kyler was brash, and this wasn’t the time for noise. Instead, he crept toward his parents’ room.

  He gently shook his father’s shoulder. “Pa,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

  Teran Whitlock stirred, grumbling in half-sleep. “What is it, boy?”

  “There’s something outside,” Aaron said, his voice trembling slightly. “By the chicken coop. I saw shadows—three of them. They’re... not right.”

  Teran sat up quickly, the grogginess fading from his face. His expression grew sharp, and he reached for the pitchfork he always kept propped against the wall. “Stay here,” he ordered firmly, his voice low but commanding.

  “Teran?” Aaron’s mother, Lilly, whispered, sitting up as well. Her eyes darted between her husband and son, a mother’s worry already setting in.

  Teran turned to her. “Keep the boys inside. Lock the doors. I’ll handle this.”

  Before Aaron could protest, Teran stepped into his boots, grabbed the pitchfork, and slipped out the front door, leaving Aaron and Lilly to stare after him. The door shut with a soft click, but the weight of what lay beyond made the silence inside feel unbearable.

  Aaron glanced at his mother, who had already reached for the kitchen knife she kept near the hearth. “What did you see?” she asked quietly.

  “Figures,” Aaron said, his throat tight. “By the coop. I don’t know what they were, but... they didn’t look human.”

  Outside, the night remained unnervingly quiet, except for the occasional cry of a startled chicken. And then, just as the tension seemed unbearable, came the first sound: a low but high-pitched growl, guttural and inhuman.

  Aaron’s stomach knotted. Whatever was out there, it wasn’t just after the chickens.

  The house was a cocoon of silence, the night pressing in heavily from all sides. Aaron’s heart raced as he stood in the dimly lit hallway, his mother Lilly clutching the kitchen knife tightly beside him. Outside, the faint sounds of their father, Teran, preparing to confront the intruders carried back through the thick wooden door.

  A sudden thumping of hurried footsteps broke the tension, and Kyler came bounding down the stairs, his blonde hair disheveled from sleep, his broad frame shadowed in the flickering light of the hearth. “What’s going on?” he demanded, his voice rough but laced with concern.

  Aaron turned to him, his tone strained but steady. “There’s something outside, near the chicken coop. I saw shadows. Three of them. Dad went out to check.”

  Kyler’s brows furrowed. “Shadows? What kind of—”

  Their father’s muffled shout cut him off. It was followed by the sharp sound of a struggle: a guttural growl, the clatter of chickens scattering, and then a pained, monstrous screech that set their teeth on edge.

  Outside, Teran moved with precision, his pitchfork steady in his hands. The moonlight illuminated the yard, casting eerie shadows across the dirt and coop. The figures weren’t human—short, hunched, with twisted features. Goblins.

  One creature’s glowing yellow eye’s flicked toward him, but Teran was quicker. He lunged, driving the pitchfork into the goblin’s leg. The creature let out a shriek, collapsing to the ground, clawing at the weapon.

  The second goblin snarled, leaping at Teran with filthy claws. He swung a boot into its chest, sending it sprawling. “Leave my farm! Leave my family alone!” he bellowed, swinging wildly to keep them at bay.

  But he didn’t see the third goblin creeping from the shadows until it was too late. A sharp pain tore through his side as the creature’s rusty dagger stabbed into him. Teran grunted, staggering, his strength faltering.

  He turned toward the house, shouting with all he had. “Lock the doors! Arm yourselves—they’re goblins, and one’s heading your way!”

  Lilly’s face went pale as Teran’s warning reached them. “Goblins,” she whispered, gripping her knife tighter.

  Kyler didn’t wait for more instructions. He grabbed the wood-splitting axe from its spot by the door. Aaron looked around frantically before seizing the iron fire poker from the hearth. “We need to barricade the door,” Aaron said, his voice shaking.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Just then, a heavy thud hit the front door, followed by the sound of claws scratching and a faint, guttural snarl. Kyler pressed his shoulder against the door, bracing it with his weight. “It’s trying to get in!”

  The goblin stabbed its dagger through the wooden door, the blade slicing across Kyler’s shoulder. He let out a sharp yelp but didn’t move. “Kyler, let’s barricade it!” Aaron shouted.

  Kyler nodded, grimacing through the pain as they shoved the heavy dining table against the door. The scratching stopped suddenly, as the goblin fell silent.

  “Do you think it’s gone?” Lilly whispered, her voice barely audible.

  Aaron crept toward the window to check on Teran, but before he could reach it, glass shattered across the room. The goblin crashed through the window, rolling to its feet in a burst of motion. Its yellowed teeth gleamed as it lunged for Lilly, dagger raised.

  “Mom, no!” Aaron shouted, rushing forward. He swung the fire poker with all his strength, knocking the blade from the goblin’s hand. The creature snarled, stumbling back as Aaron positioned himself in front of his mother, his heart pounding but his resolve firm.

  Kyler, blood trickling down his shoulder, gritted his teeth and charged at the goblin with the axe. “You’re dead!” he growled, swinging wildly. The goblin leaped back, narrowly dodging the blow as the axe splintered the floorboards.

  “Kyler, don’t be reckless!” Aaron yelled, but his brother’s frustration showed in every movement.

  The goblin snarled and pushed off a nearby bookshelf, launching itself at Kyler with its jaws open, ready to bite. Kyler smirked, ducking at the last second as the goblin flew past him and smashed into the wooden support beam behind him.

  Kyler steadied his aim, his breath slowing. He raised the axe and swung with precision, the blade sinking deep into the goblin’s stomach. Blood sprayed across the wall as the creature let out a final, choking snarl before collapsing to the floor in a lifeless heap.

  “You did it! You got it!” Aaron exclaimed.

  “Yeah… yeah I guess I did…” Kyler said in a low tone.

  The room fell silent except for their labored breathing. Outside, they heard Teran’s voice shouting one last time, followed by the sound of steel meeting flesh. Then silence, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves as the last goblin retreated into the woods with a low, guttural snarl.

  Aaron turned to Kyler and Lilly, his grip on the fire poker tightening. “This isn’t over,” he said, his voice low but steady.

  Outside, the moonlight illuminated the bloodied yard, the faint silhouette of Teran leaning against the chicken coop, his figure steady but visibly wounded.

  The room was eerily quiet after the chaos, the goblin’s lifeless body sprawled on the floor in a pool of dark blood.

  Kyler wiped at his bloodied shoulder, the cut shallow but stinging.

  Lilly stood by the shattered window, peering out into the dark. “We need to check on your father,” she said firmly, though her voice wavered. “Both of you, come with me.”

  Kyler grabbed a lantern, its faint glow illuminating the shattered remains of the window and the scattered debris. Aaron held his breath, gripping the fire poker again as they stepped outside into the night.

  The chicken coop lay in shambles, feathers and overturned feed scattered everywhere. Nearby, a goblin corpse lay crumpled in the dirt, its grotesque features froze in a grimace of pain.

  Teran leaned heavily against the coop, his hand pressed to his side. His shirt was soaked with blood, and his face was pale and strained, but his eyes remained sharp as he turned to them.

  “Dad!” Aaron and Kyler rushed forward, each taking an arm to support him.

  “I’m all right,” Teran said, though his voice was weak. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

  Lilly’s brow furrowed as she inspected him. “Let’s get you inside. The wound needs tending.” She glanced at the goblin corpse, her lips pressed into a thin line. “And we can’t stay out here in case they come back.”

  The boys helped their father toward the house, careful to avoid jostling him. As they passed the dead goblin, Kyler couldn’t help but glance at its twisted features. “Why would they come here?” he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.

  Aaron tightened his grip on Teran’s arm, his jaw clenched. “Whatever the reason, I hope they won’t come back,” he said, though the conviction in his voice felt hollow.

  Once they were back inside, Lilly immediately took charge. “Aaron, bring water and clean rags. Kyler, fetch the needle and thread from the cupboard.”

  Kyler nodded, his larger frame moving quickly despite the strain of his own injury. Aaron set the fire poker aside and hurried to the kitchen, filling a basin with water and grabbing a stack of clean rags.

  Teran winced as he eased into a chair, his breathing shallow. “Just a scratch,” he muttered, though the blood seeping through his fingers told a different story.

  Lilly knelt beside him, her hands steady as she peeled back the torn fabric of his shirt to reveal the wound. The rusty dagger had left a jagged gash along his side. It wasn’t deep enough to be fatal, but it was dirty and needed immediate care.

  “Kyler,” Lilly said, her voice calm but firm, “grab the bottle of spirits from the pantry. We need to clean this wound thoroughly.”

  Kyler returned moments later, carrying the spirits and a roll of bandages. He set them on the table and hovered nearby, his face etched with worry.

  “This will sting,” Lilly warned, pouring the clear liquid over the wound.

  Teran gritted his teeth, a low groan escaping as the spirits cleaned the injury. Aaron handed her a clean rag, which she used to dab away the excess blood.

  As Lilly worked, she glanced up at her sons. “Aaron, hold the lantern steady. Kyler, keep pressure on his wound and move when I tell you to while I sew this up.”

  “I’ll deal with your shoulder wound later,” Lilly said sharply. “Your father’s wound is severe & we have to stop the bleeding first.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Kyler said.

  Aaron swallowed hard and held the lantern, the warm glow casting long shadows across the room. Kyler pressed a clean rag to Teran’s side as Lilly worked quickly, threading the needle and stitching the wound with practiced precision.

  “You’ve done this before,” Aaron murmured, more a statement than a question.

  Lilly didn’t look up. “Not the first time we’ve dealt with danger.”

  The boys exchanged a glance but didn’t press her further.

  Once the wound was bandaged, Lilly sat back, her hands shaking slightly now that the immediate danger had passed. Teran leaned against the chair, his breathing more even.

  “We need to talk about this,” Kyler said, breaking the silence. “Goblins… they don’t just show up at random. What were they after?”

  Aaron glanced toward the shattered window, his stomach tightening. “Whatever it was, we don’t know if they’re done.”

  Lilly stood, her expression resolute. “We’ll worry about that if it comes to it.

  Lilly turned her attention to Kyler, motioning for him to sit. “Your turn. Shirt off.”

  “It’s barely a scratch,” Kyler protested, though he complied.

  “It’s still a wound, and you’re not getting an infection under my roof,” Lila said firmly. She inspected the cut, dabbing away dried blood with a cloth.

  Aaron handed her the spirits without being asked. Lila poured a small amount onto Kyler’s shoulder, causing him to flinch slightly.

  “See? Not so bad,” Lila teased lightly, though her hands remained efficient as she cleaned and bandaged the wound.

  “Guess we got lucky,” Kyler said, glancing at Aaron. “Could’ve been worse.”

  Aaron didn’t reply, his eyes lingering on the bloodstains now scattered across the room.

  “For now, we need rest and to keep watch in shifts. Aaron, Kyler, one of you take the first shift,” Lilly said as she went to clean up.

  Aaron nodded, his grip tightening on the fire poker. “I’ll take watch first.”

  Lilly glanced toward him briefly. “We’ll get through this,” she said, though her tone carried a weight of uncertainty.

  As the family settled into an uneasy calm, the faint sounds of the forest crept back into the night. But to Aaron, every rustle of leaves and distant howl felt like a warning: something far worse was yet to come.

  “Get some rest while you can,” Teran said, his voice steady but weary. “We’ll need our strength come morning.”

  Aaron glanced at Kyler as they stood, both gripping their weapons tightly.

  “Let’s make sure they don’t come back,” Aaron said softly.

  “Not without a fight,” Kyler replied, his tone dark with determination.

  The brothers moved toward the door, ready to face whatever lurked in the night, as the uneasy quiet of the woods seemed to close in around them.

  The room settled into an uneasy calm. Kyler, still weary but insistent on being close, grabbed a blanket and stretched out in the middle of the room. His axe remained within reach as his chest rose and fell steadily, the strain of the night finally catching up to him.

  Aaron sat in a chair by the broken window, his eyes scanning the shadowy woods outside. The cool night air slipped through the jagged glass, brushing against his face. He shivered slightly and pulled a fur blanket tighter around himself, its warmth a small comfort against the chill.

  He glanced at the door now barricaded with the heavy table, his mind replaying the night’s events. The image of the goblin lunging toward his mother, the sound of Kyler’s axe splitting wood—and flesh—lingered in his thoughts.

  The hours stretched on, each creak of the house and rustle of leaves outside keeping him alert.

  Finally, as the stars began to fade and a faint glow touched the horizon, Aaron leaned over, and nudged Kyler awake.

  “Your turn,” he said quietly.

  Kyler groaned softly, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He glanced at Aaron, who looked pale but resolute, and nodded.

  “You get some sleep,” Kyler muttered. “I’ve got this.”

  Aaron didn’t argue. He shuffled to a spot by the wall, still wrapped in the fur blanket, and closed his eyes.

  The morning came slowly, the warmth of the sun spilling into the room. The family had all slept longer than usual, their exhaustion finally catching up with them.

  Lilly woke first, moving quietly through the house to check on everyone. She found Aaron slumped against the wall, his blanket slipping off his shoulder, and Kyler sitting near the window, nodding off but still clutching his axe.

  She smiled faintly, her heart heavy with both pride and worry.

  “Go get some sleep,” she muttered to Kyler as she began tidying up, her mind already turning to what the day might bring.

  “yes ma’am,” he said drifting off into a deep slumber…