the bird sat preening its ugly, black feathers. it lifted its head and froze, jolting it occasionally, it could hear the cries and smell the bitter odor of vomit and blood. it gave a caw and launched  into flight, a single feather trailing behind it and floating down to the ground below.

the crow landed in the low branch of a nearby tree, folding its wings neatly on its back. Stan sat up, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, his body shaking and stomach weak. he didnt want to turn around, he didnt want to look at the sight that sat inches behind him. his beautiful angel, his child, lying dead in a pool of his own blood, his eyes gorged out and his arms covered entirely with deep, jagged cuts. who would do such a thing? how could they do such a thing?

he shuddered and ran his hands through his hair, soiling it with blood, dirt and the remnants of what had just been emptied from his stomach. fresh tears played at his eyes, and he wiped them away with the back of his clean hand. he heard the rustling in the trees around him and the long, shallow growl of the crow.

he hugged his shoulders like a small child lost as the winter night began to sink in. He turned, peering up at the dark trees and caught a glimpse of the shine of the birds beady black eyes. its sharp, broken beak. It sent a chill down his spin and the wind blew sharp and bitter cold.

He shuddered and turned back to his boy, muttering and reaching into his pocket to pull out his phone and dial the police. The crow gave a low, rumbling growl, the kind that was so significant to the crows and... so familiar to horror films.  Stan held his phone in his quivering hand, no service. He looked back up at the tree, searching for the bird, but it wasn't where he thought it was, and it's growl seemed to come from all angles, he couldn't pinpoint its location. He frowned and looked down at his phone, it's blue light illuminating his face.

Stan waved the phone in the air but still there was no service, which was strange as the area, despite its tired appearance, looked less abandoned than it actually was, and it came as a surprise stan's phone couldn't reach a signal here. He rolled his eyes, glancing back nervously at the dead child lying sticky and red, then stepping back into the brush, retracing his steps as best he could.

The trees rustled above him, and the crows soft noises followed him all the way until finally he stumbled out into a clearing, above him a bridge arched over the footpath, a cracked pavement leading into what could be considered a "bush walk", a path paved out in the undergrowth by millions of people passing through on an evening stroll with an adventurous air where the path dead ended.

The echoes of cars flying past on the bridge washed relief over Stan, he looked down at his phone, two bars, enough to make a phone call. He punched in the number for home, waiting eagerly as the phone began to ring. A recording came on, and Debra's voice chirped "hello! Pratt residence, Debra speaking. I can't come to the phone right now, but leave a message and I'll get back to you soon!".

Stan waited for the beep, then spoke in a shaky tone, " hi Debra, its.. Stanley. Sorry I walked out on you before, i.. found our son." He hesitated "When you get this message call the police, They'll want to speak to you.. your not going to like it. I'll be home soon-" he paused, and if there were something else on his mind he wanted to say, but instead he hung up the phone and dialled the police.

Before he could press call the bird with the tattered feathers landed on a sign post before him and cried out. Stan looked up in alarm and gasped "Jesus you scared me.." he muttered, waving a hand at the bird "shoo! Get lost!" The bird clipped its beak and gave an angry screech before it fluttered away. Stan looked back down at his phone, but he had lost service again. He cursed and looked around, not sure what he was searching for, perhaps someone who could help him? "How??" He shook his phone, trying to will the bars to light up.

Writers edit: hey guys, still working on this chapter but I've decided to publish it early because I haven't updated any of my books in a while! Enjoy this chapter preview ^^