EGG HUNT
ASHLEY GRAVES
The Spring breeze blew through the open field, turning the green and yellow grass into a rustling ocean full of hidden treasures. Nine-year-old Scarlet’s pastel pink Easter dress tickled the white stockings on her leg as the breeze took possession of the fabric.
Her stomach rumbled and her mouth watered as she thought of all the candy she would gather and consume during the Easter egg hunt. She hoped the church didn’t get stingy with the chocolates like they did last year. The previous egg hunt had too many twizzlers and old lady candy like butterscotches and the icky strawberry ones with the gooey center. Scarlet wanted Kit-Kats, Reeses, and Cadbury Eggs. The good stuff.
She’d waited all morning for the hunt with the church service dragging on for eternity on purpose. Scarlet always wondered if the saying “good things come to those who wait” invoked the slowing of time to make the “wait” longer. Last year’s egg hunt was a failure. The overtly competitive Scarlet lost to the booger picker Michael–her archnemesis. Maybe all that nose picking made his fingers extra sticky. But Scarlet was prepared this year. She would demolish Michael and win the giant bunny prize.
Her fingers gripped the wicker basket tighter as she surveyed the rest of the competition. No one else took this as seriously as she did–well besides Michael of course. The smaller kids felt like gold star winners if they got three eggs. The older kids would rather be playing on their cell phones.
Scarlet had a few tricks up her sleeve. She knew the deacons liked to hide a few eggs under the piney underbrush of the forest line. And while the forest itself was off limits, she knew the eggs along that line could make or break her victory.
“Ready to lose, Gingy?” A nasally, boyish voice asked Scarlet.
Michael sidled up to Scarlet’s left side. His brown hair was gelled back from his forehead. His blue polo was tucked into his khakis, which already had grass stains on the knees.
“Not in a million years, Booger Fingers.” She scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“I can grab more eggs with my sticky fingers.” He proceeded to demonstrate his ability by shoving a finger up his nose and pulling out a disgustingly green blob.
“You’re so gross,” Scarlet replied, scrunching her nose in disgust.
The whistle blew, saving her from dealing with Michael further.
“Girls and boys,” a booming voice echoes throughout the open area, “may I have your attention please. It’s time to kick off Cornerstone’s annual Easter Egg Hunt! A reminder of the rules. No hitting or kicking. Once a hand is on an egg there will be no fighting over it. Whoever picks it up claims it. The woods are out of bounds. No eating the candy until times up. And whoever collects the most eggs in ten minutes is this year's winner.”
Scarlet planted her feet and readied herself to run.
“Time will start once I blow the whistle. Don’t forget, some eggs are hidden. Look closely under rocks and bushes.”
The high pitched shrill sounded and Scarlet bolted forward. She barely stopped moving long enough to pick up the purple, plastic egg, throwing grass and the egg both in the basket. In rapid succession she snagged three more eggs. One of the eggs she reached for was snatched before her fingers could touch it by Michael. She narrowed her eyes at him but kept moving.
She did her best not to knock down the small kid while still keeping a good momentum. Each egg added made the basket heavier. After a few minutes, she ventured toward the edge of the woods. There she found the eggs hidden under the brown pine needles.
She looked toward the woods and to her shock, saw a yellow egg sitting a few feet in. Maybe one had fallen and rolled into the woods. Shrugging, she took a few steps in and picked it up. Another egg sat past a fallen log.
Had one of the egg placers messed up? No egg should be out this far. And it couldn’t have rolled past a fallen log. Picking the egg up, she saw another. And another. Until finally the trail stopped under a tree.
She hadn’t heard the finishing whistle yet, but her basket was nearly overflowing. A few eggs were stuffed in her pockets. There was no way Michael could top that. Taking a quick glance around, Scarlet saw no one nearby. She could hear the laughter and chatter from the field, but the forest was silent.
She shrugged and sat for a moment. No one was around to see her open one of the eggs and sneak a piece of candy. The plastic popped as she applied pressure on both sides. Lo and behold a Reese’s Cup sat inside. Scarlet smiled wide and ripped the plastic open, peeling the outer wrapper off before throwing the entire piece of chocolate in her mouth. A sharp, stabbing pain hit the roof of her mouth the second she bit down.
Her eyes watered as warm liquid filled her mouth and ran past her lips. The taste of iron coated her tongue. There was something solid and sharp stuck to the roof of her mouth. Spitting blood on dirt and grass below her, she brought a trembling hand to her mouth and opened wide. Her fingertips brushed against something hard. Through blurred vision, she ripped the object out of her mouth. A warm gush rushed from the freshly vacated wound.
She spit again and used her arms to wipe her eyes. With her vision focusing slightly, she saw a steel razor blade coated in chocolate and specks of her blood sitting in her hand. A hard swallow sent her warm blood down her throat and made her stomach churn. She’s going to be sick.
Vomit rushed up and stung the wound on the roof of her mouth. There’s pain from one of her teeth as well. Taking her tongue, she probed one of her bottom molars and found it cracked and loose.
Scarlet snatched another egg from the basket and forced it open. A scream rushed past her lips as she dropped the egg and stumbled back, tripping over a tree root. She knocked over her egg basket and more eggs popped open. But she’s still staring at the second egg. The one that has a human, bloody eyeball in it. The stalk and all.
She glanced around, she saw a severed finger, a tongue, and teeth scattered about the forest floor.
Her heart threatened to break through her rib cage. She can barely catch her breath as she attempted to fight off the black encroaching on her vision.
A figure stepped out from behind a tree, into her field of vision. Relief flooded Scarlet veins. Help was here. She didn’t care how much trouble she would be in for sneaking a bite of candy. She was saved.
When the figure came into view, her heart fell. They were dressed head to toe in a giant gray Easter Bunny costume. The fur was dirty, with mud, grass, and a rustic color stained on it. The face haunted Scarlet. Black, beady eyes peered at her. The rabbit’s once happy smile now felt twisted and threatening. The more her vision cleared, the more menacing the rabbit appeared. A chunk of skin hung from the corner of the rabbit’s mouth.
The figure took a step closer to her and cocked it’s head. Warmth soaked Scarlet’s thighs and she realized she’d urinated on herself.
She had to get out of here. And fast. Her eyes darted around the forest. Which way had she come? She tried to focus on the sounds of laughter.
“Go away!” She sputtered, spewing blood a few inches in front of her. Taking one of the eggs, she chucked it at the bunny and sprung to her feet.
As if she was once again racing for Easter eggs, she took off running in the direction she hoped was her salvation.
Heavy footsteps pursued behind her. The bunny was fast.
She dared a glance back and saw the figure only feet behind her.
“Leave me alone!” She screamed.
The rabbit said nothing, just stretched out his hands as if to grab her.
She turned her head back forward but it was too late. She tripped over something hard and went face first into the mossy ground. Her head ached. SHe reached a hand to her temple and it came away bloody. Her vision swam and she tried to stand but the world spun and she fell straight back down. As her sight produced triples of everything in front of her, she slowly began to make out what she stumbled over.
It was Michael. His lifeless, bloody body lay slumped on the floorbed. A few of his fingers were missing. Black, bloody sockets sat where eyes once had been.
The eggs she picked up in the forest must’ve been from the bunny, containing bits of Michael…
The footsteps sounded once more, and Scarlet’s scream timed perfectly with the finishing whistle.
