Aedrian Carlos E.

Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

Der Schreckliche Wichtel

(The Horrid Imp)

In the olden days of Germany, there were superstitions of unnatural beings so horrid that

their hunger was satiated by feeding on innocent children and virgins.

“There was once a boy ever so lively and obedient with heeding his mother’s errands and

advice but, despite the mother’s teachings, curiosity gets the best of the boy. One day, the boy

had asked his mother if he could play with his toy in the forest, the mother agreed under one

condition, be back before dusk and do not talk to anyone he does not know. The boy nodded and

took off in the forest. The boy spent hours upon hours playing and the sun was setting soon, the

boy followed his mother’s orders about heading home before dusk and did so. Along the way

back, he saw an enticing light that seems like its calling for him, the boy was curious and

approached the light. The boy was in the area of the forest with the light and nothing was there

and the light was replaced by darkness, the boy was led deeper into the forest and nothing can be

seen. The boy was shouting for help yet, his efforts were futile and never did he know that

danger was creeping up on him. The boy was frantic with worry and kept running yet, he was

going nowhere. He felt a stinging pain in his leg and tried to feel it in the dark, it was scratch

marks inflicted deep into his flesh! He heard a sinister cackle drawing near him and he could not

believe what he saw with his own eyes. There it was, The Imp! With protruding fangs and

swelling eyes! Alas! The boy was in agony as

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

he screams for help while being eaten from head to foot. Legend says that until now, the boy’s

skeleton can be found within the Imp’s lair. The End.”

“Mein Großvater once told me my dearest kinder, to never wander around or enter the

forest when dusk has fallen!” the father told his children

The youngest was trembling with fear as their father have told them the story of the

infamous Imp.

“Mein Vater! Will the Imp come for us?” asks the youngest child,

“Oh Sofia, you never grow up! Of course, unser Vater is only trying to scare us so that

we don’t play outside until dawn.” Replied Mila, the oldest,

“Mila! What unser Vater is saying is real! I have seen one amidst the middle of the

night!” added Stefan, their second child.

Their father chuckled as he saw his children get all hysterical but, was also anxious for

them as well.

“Ah, my loveliest kinder, may it be an Imp or a hundred of them! I will protect you all

and dein Vater promises that from my heart.” Says their father.

The night has fallen and Mila, Stefan, and Sofia were tucked in their beds. Hoewever,

their father was ill at ease. He is walking in circles and, scouring their house in search of a viable

weapon.

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

“Ach, I pray to God that may He protect my beloved treasures! I do not want any harm to

come to them.”

In the end, the father could not find anything of use to protect the house and, tried to

catch his breathe first. Meanwhile in the bedroom, the oldest, Mila was awake and spotted by

Sofia gathering her purse and all dressed up. Sofia watched for a while, curious as to what her

sister is up to but, eventually confront Mila.

“Mila! What are you doing? Do you want unser Vater to be furious?” yelled Sofia,

“Hush Sofia! Do not wake Vater or Stefan up and in return I’ll give you this bag full of your

treasured sweets!”

“Ja! Sweets for me! Ha ha! —Alright then Mila, I promise I will not tell Vater or Stefan.” Sofia

exclaims,

Mila sneakily left the house and off with her group of friends towards the forest to have a

chat around a bonfire. As they were walking, the atmosphere they were walking on was far from

usual nights in Munich. The night was dark and was illuminated by the bright full moon. Cold

winds can be felt piercing against one’s cheeks and a fear-inducing howl was heard from a wolf

in the distant. The group of friends paid no attention as they were engrossed in gossips. Mila and

her friends were close by the forest to finally sit down and attend what they were there for.

“Mila, how did you manage to get past dein Vater? Was he not austere?” asked Lena.

“I heard from meine Mutter that he was so strict with the three of you!” added Monika,

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

“Mein Vater was happier than usual and decided to let me off the hook about joining

meine Freunde.” replied Mila.

The group of friends chitter-chattered as the bonfire gave warmth to fight the stinging cold

air. Hours have gone by as they talk. Monika supposed that the night’s cold and eerie atmosphere

was well-suited for a scary story.

“Hey meine Damen, have I told you that mein Onkel from Scotland had a terrifying

encounter with a Kelpie?” Monika asked,

“This should be a good story Monika, as far as I have lived, your stories were soulless as

ever, I would choose to die than hear another one of your tedious stories!” teased Lena,

“Ah, es ist in Ordnung! I promise this story might be the greatest you will ever hear in

your lifetime!” Monika said bullishly,

“This story was from mein Onkel. One day, mein Onkel was living with his family in

Scotland deep in the valleys where rivers would flow in between. Rumors have spread around

their town about a horse that shifts into a figure of an enchanting woman gifted with the beauty

of a goddess but, her intentions were sinister, she would take form of either a horse or any person

and have you swim with it only to drag you down to depths of the seas and ocean, only to be

devoured alive. Mein Onkel was out fishing alone one day to the riverbank full of luscious

fishes, hopefully to catch a handful for dinner. All was accustomed to his way until a lady crept

up on him from behind, mein Onkel was bewildered of the lady’s beauty, it was unlike any

other! Mein Onkel did not know what to do nor know the intentions of the mysterious woman

but, she sat with him and mein

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

Onkel went back on his way to fishing. The lady sprung up from her seat and invited mein

Onkel to a swim in the river, mein Onkel was confused as to why but, he could not resist as if

something was preventing him from resisting. The lady then sat down mein Onkel on the stream

bed and so did she, mein Onkel was confused as the riverbed was so deep that his neck pokes out

of the water. Mein Onkel was more anxious as he feels the streambed sinking away from his foot

and, before things could get any worse, he cropped up from the water and onto the surface. Mein

Onkel could not believe what he saw, a woman shifting into the form of a horse, a kelpie! He

was more than surprised as he looked at death in the eyes. Mein Onkel then ran as fast as the

wind and back to his home and never returned to the riverbed again. The End.”

“Ach, you have yet bored me again with deine Geschichte!” teased Mila,

“Wie? I figure it was the greatest I have heard!” Monika replied,

While the two girls were having a laugh, Lena had a mischievous grin and seemed that an

idea had crossed her mind yet, that idea would be awful to those with awareness. Lena called the

attention of the two,

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

“Meine Freunde! Did you know that the forest of the Imp is around here? Do you wish to

take a look at it?”

“Have you gone verrückt Lena? That part of the forest is better left untouched! Those

creatures have been feared by unsere Großeltern!” yelled Monika,

“Why? Are you terrified Monika? Do you believe in fairy tales like Weihnachtsmann or

Krampus?” teased Mila,

Though Mila sounds carefree, the story of ihr Vater came to mind. She felt queasy just by

hearing the word, she prays nothing awful comes her way.

“Let us go! Those Imp are nothing but a legend only!” Lena said invitingly,

The friends ventured off deeper in the forest as the night envelops it. The oil lamp that

Lena was holding only gave off so little light that they can only see each other. The wind grew

colder and felt it climb up their spine as they drew closer to the lair of the Imp. They were

greeted with a bright light in the “Lair of the Imp.”

“Here it is! It is said that if there was a bright light in the forest, that was the Lair of the

Imp!” Lena explained,

“Lena, I figure we should do what we need to do briskly and leave.” Monika suggested,

“Ach komm schon! We have only visited here, Monika! If you wish to go home take my

lamp and hop to it, Mila and I have our light here.” Lena said angrily,

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

“Gut! I will be taking my leave then!” Monika replied furiously,

Monika took the oil lamp and went out to find her way back to the town out in the forest

enveloped in darkness. Lena gave Monika an irritated look as she left, feeling as if Monika

ruined their night. Lena then took Mila’s hand and went deeper into the light emanated from the

mysterious forest. Everything about that light at the forest seemed so innocent and safe.

Suddenly, the glorious bright light faded out and was replaced by a blood red color, corpses were

in places that never was there before, and a cauldron filled to the brim with severed arms and

limbs all being boiled and brewed to a stinking concoction. Lena and Mila are frozen in place not

having the slightest clue on what to do.

“Lena, meine Freund, I suppose it is for the best that we leave.” Mila nervously told

Lena.

“Du auch? Must you be the same as Monika?! Oh so cowardly?” Lena said furiously,

“Lieber Freunde! Something is not right with you! Why must you act this way?” Mila

asked worryingly,

Lena was furious, she was so furious that she let out a distorted yell, a yell Mila would

not consider humanlike. Her face grew black as charcoal, fangs protruded from her mouth, her

figure shrunk and wings and a tail grew out of her flesh. Her womanlike and fair figure warped

into a horrid one. Mila could not believe what she had seen, that a person she knows has turned

out to be what she had become, the infamous Imp!

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

“Lena? Meine Freund? Is that you?” Mila stammers,

“Ach what a shame, I would have like to continue further with my tomfoolery.” The Imp

spoke,

Mila was immobile but, tried to flee in spite of her being within the Imp’s Lair. Mila

managed to escape from its territory but, her efforts were pointless, she was swept from her feet

and brought up high into the sky.

“Mila, tell me, are you afraid of dying?” The Imp asks with intent,

Mila could not speak and only nodded in response to the Imp’s question.

“Sehr gut, look at your fear in the eyes and, fall!” The Imp exclaimed,

Mila was falling and her screams echoed the forest and as quick as she was dropped, she

died. Her limbs were split into two, her neck was almost severed off from her torso, and blood

was oozing out of her. The Imp’s marveled at its horrendous deed and took off to hunt for

Monika.

Monika was getting nowhere as the night seems like it lasted longer in the forest than

outside of it. She heard an ear-jarring screech approach her and when she turned around to see

what it is, it was already too late. The Imp’s fangs rammed into her neck and, tugged out her

head with one swift motion. Mila and Monika were dead.

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

The hour of cockcrow came and Mila’s father was frantic, searching all over for her.

“Mila! Mila! Mila mein Lieber! Where are you, tochter?” her father shouts

“Mein Vater, where has Mila gone to? I am worried sick for meine Schwester.” Stefano

asks,

“Vater, Mila had left the house last night to stroll with her group of friends, she told me

not to tell you or Stefan or she will knock me!” Sofia replies,

“Ach, lieber Gott, help me find meine Tochter.” Their father said in vain

“Pack your things, my dearest kinder. The Imp has captured dein Mila and we will find

her and bring her home.” Their father says,

The family had packed their things and waited for nightfall as it was favored of the Imp,

with no weapons and only their wits and lanterns. The father spent the hours waiting for dusk on

praying. He went to the locals around Munich in hopes they know Mila’s weherabouts before she

vanished and never returned home. The father knocked the whole village, asked strangers on the

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

streets, and did everything to know what happened to his daughter but, his efforts resulted to no

purpose. He went to one of Mila’s friends, Monika, in hopes to get clues to where could she be.

“Mr. and Mrs. Meyer, I truly apologize for the intrusion but, I need to know if dein

Tochter had met up with mine.” The father asks,

“We are awfully sorry Mr. Wagner but, unser Kind have also been missing, we fear she

had been the victim of the Imp plaguing this city.” Mr. Meyer replied,

“Please help find mein Tochter, please I beg God that He protects you whilst your search

for dein Tochter and mine.” Mrs. Meyer whimpered,

Even if his emotions were disorderly, he lives on to be strong for his two children. He

went back to their home to fetch his children and set off for the forest. Dusk has fallen and the

atmosphere was yet again, filled with cold air but, stinging than the last and, the moon shaded in

red. The father was anxious as him and his children walk towards the forest. He could not leave

his two children at home for he fears that the Imp goes after them. As they venture deeper, Sofia

asks her father

“Mein Vater, will we not get eaten by the Imp? Will it not desire our flesh?” Asks Sofia,

“Sofia, dein Vater has already told you, may it be an Imp or hundreds of them, I will

protect all of you.” The father replied,

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

“But why did you let Mila get captured by the Imp, Vater?” Stefan retorted,

“I am truly sorry Stefan, I should have looked after you all more cautiously but, I promise

you, dein Schwester is safe and sound.” The father replied,

The family stopped in the middle of the dark and gloomy forest and sat around a bonfire.

The father was nervous but, he had the courage and he knows that he made a promise to his

children. A few moments had gone by and his children are sound asleep, however, he was

waiting for that damned light in hopes he catches the Imp and make it pay for what it has done.

“That wretched Imp! It will pay for what it has done to meine Mila!” the father yells,

Minutes have past and lo and behold, the cursed light has appeared before his eyes.

Without hesistation, he bolter towards it with his knife in hand and courage in mind. The Imp

showed up.

“Ach, who is this leckeres Fleisch? Ha ha! Dinner for nothing!” The Imp said tauntingly,

“Where have you kept my dear Mila! Tell me! You damned Imp!” The father yells,

“Ah ah ah! Careful now Mr. Meyers, you would not want the same fate of your treasured

Mila to your Stefan and Sofia, ja?” The Imp said teasingly,

The father’s eyes widended with rage knowing that Mila was murdered by it. He took a

swing with his knife to wound the Imp but, it ducked under and scratched him on his back.

Wincing from

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

the pain, he felt as if his whole back is torn and shredded to pieces. He tried to get back up and

stopped to listen to the Imp.

“Ha ha! Arsch mit ohren, you look like a complete idiot, fighting me thinking you would

win?” The Imp taunted,

“I suggest you should hop to it, Mr. Meyers, your last 2 children may be the next meal!”

The Imp added,

The Imp vanished and left a trail of black ash. The father ran for the hills despite the

stinging wound he got. As he made it back to Stefan and Sofia, he was thankful that no harm had

come to them yet, or so he thought. The Imp lured him into a trap and striked him when he was

vulnerable. Its claws clasped onto his leg and tugged it with full force causing it to sever from his

thigh. The pain he felt was unbearable and in a last attempt he called for Stefan,

“Stefan! Wake up! Take your sister and leave the forest! Mein Sohn! Please run!” The

father shouted,

Stefan was awoken and baffled but, listened to his father’s command and, he took off

along with Sofia. The Imp was most certainly not happy, it flew fast and tried to catch up with

Stefan and Sofia. The father could not do anything, he was only forced to watch what was

happening. He only hoped that his two children made it to the town in one piece.

The Imp caught on to the two and let out an ear-pearcing screech causing Stefan and his

sister, Sofia to fall. The Imp grabbed the two and flew fast to a tree trunk. It slammed the head of

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

the two into the tree forcefully, it did it repeatedly that their heads would bust open, spilling their

brains

and, their necks were snapped from their torso and, the sickening Imp savored every second of

their agony and blood spilt by it.

The father witnessed the fate his two children got and covered his mouth with his hand in

grief. The father was begging the Imp to stop but, it never listened. His vision was getting foggy

but, he could make out the image of the Imp devouring his children. He tried to stand up and

charged at it to stab it. The Imp saw it from a mile away and, flew towards the father with its

mouth wide open, heading for his chest. The father stumbled as the Imp sunk its fangs deep into

his chest and felt it piercing his heart. With his dying breath, he whisphered to Stefan and Sofia

from afar,

“I will meet you all, in His gates, wait for me, mein Kinder and I am very sorry.” The

father said as a drop of tear flowed through his eyes.

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Aedrian Carlos E. Santos
Writing Course Grade 10
Short Story
Darwin International School – Pulong Buhangin

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