"Promise you won't freak out?"
"Promise."
"Pinky promise," the boy insisted, holding out his pinky finger.
Rose held out her own, curiosity overcoming her. "Pinky promise."
"And may your pinky break if you tell anyone," Jack said solemnly.
"Yeah, yeah, so what do y
(more)ou want to show me?" Rose insisted.
"It's in the woods. Follow me." Jack turned and ran into the dark of the woods near their development. Rose followed him. They had spent many days after school exploring the woods. She didn't think there could be anything they hadn't already discovered. And there was nothing that could freak her out. She wasn't some silly girl.
They walked along in silence, nothing but the rustle of woods around them. They were experienced enough in exploring the woods to know that stealth would be rewarded, often by seeing an animal.
It was starting to get dark. Rose wasn't afraid, but she knew her mother would scold her if she wasn't home before sunset.
"Is it much further?"
"Nah, just up ahead." Jack walked up to big tree, three trunk emerging from one base. He disappeared behind the tree. Rose followed him with only the slightest hesitation.
"Oh, wow," she whispered. The dead deer was on its side, already partially decomposed. It must have been there awhile. The skin was mostly gone and she could see the dear's insides. Bugs crawled over and in the carcass.
"Cool, huh?" Jack asked. "I find it yesterday."
"How long's it been here?"
"Dunno, a week maybe? I don't know how long it takes for it to get like that."
Rose crouched down to examine it. She picked up a stick and prodded the deer gently. "How do you think it died?"
Jack shrugged. "There's nothing to kill a deer around here."(less)