The sun was beginning to cast red-rays across the sky as its final few hours crept near, making the sky turn into a huge, raging flame above the forest. There was a small cottage in the forest, surrounded by dust and failed crops. Inside the house was a poor, small family of four.

The family was originally only half of what it was now, but sadly the wife of Francis had died when giving birth to her son, Matthew. Francis had found another broken family- Arthur and his child, Alfred- and they moved in, hoping that the combined families would be able to work more efficiently and make money to feed the poor family, but sadly, that wasn't the case. The two children that lived there, Matthew and Alfred, were more playful than helpful, and instead of helping to make food, they made it disappear- either by trampling it in their play, or by eating it.

Arthur was beginning to despise the brats. His eye would twitch and his fists would ball-up every time he saw them play, even if they weren't being boisterous. Something always happened when they played. A broken milk glass they had to re-buy, loose chickens that took a day to catch, a hole in the wall they had to re-patch… It angered him to no end.

Francis was a bit angry as well, but he wasn't quite as desperate about them as Arthur was. He loved his Matthew, and he didn't want anything to happen to him. He knew as a fact that one day he would mature and the play and ruin would end. Alfred as well, though probably much later in life… He was a bit more loving to the children, and didn't mind it when they snuck extra morsels of food, as he wished them to live long and healthily.

The boys were chasing each other through the house one day. Matthew was being chased by Alfred, laughing maniacally. Francis was busy outside, feeding the chickens as sparingly as he dared. Arthur was baking dinner- nothing more than a loaf of bread. The brothers ran around the kitchen, throwing up dust from the floor. Arthur growled angrily as Alfred pushed him and made him drop the bag of flour, which he just bought from the marketplace for an expensive price. He grinded his teeth and turned to the boys, hands forming to fists. "Alfred! Matthew! Get back here!"

They stopped instantly, knowing the consequences of not doing as Arthur said. They stopped smiling and looked down at the mess their playing had caused, eyes huge.

"You are going to clean that up!" Arthur hissed, throwing them some towels and a water bucket."When you're done cleaning this up, I have something else for you to do!"

In their hurry to clean the mess before Arthur got too angry with them, the boys used the drinking water instead of running to get the water from the creek to mop up the flour. Then they hurried outside, nearly tripping over each other as they raced to stand in front of Arthur, who stood in front of the carriage, the mule that was hooked up to it stamping impatiently.

Arthur glared at the two as they shuffled nervously under is sharp, emerald gaze. "Now, get into the cart. I'm going to take you somewhere."

"Where to?" Alfred asked as he hulled himself into the back.

"You'll see." Arthur replied with a huff. He waited for Matthew to climb in as well. When everyone was settled, he shook the reigns in cue for the mule to move and the cart was pulled along a path, into the woods.

"Where do you think he's taking us?" Matthew whispered to Alfred.

His brother thought a moment, and then shrugged. "I don't know. I hope it's a picnic. I doubt he'll take us out for one so late, though."

"I hope so, too…" Matthew moaned.

The blue eyes of the two brothers wandered around the trees as the cart moved deeper and deeper into the woods. They watched squirrels play in the trees and birds swooping around the sky. They silently wished they could be one of these creatures, for if that had been the case, they would be able to act any way they'd want and never be punished.

Eventually, after what felt like an hour, the cart stopped as the mule whinnied with protest. Arthur shook the reigns a bit and shouted at it, but the mule ignored the commands as it began to graze on the green grass.

"Useless beast…" Arthur hissed with annoyance, climbing out of the wagon. He helped the boys out of the back and handed them some straw baskets. When the two gave him confused looks, he sighed and explained. "You two will help me gather berries for tomorrow's breakfast. Gather berries of any kind and bring them back here, but don't come back until both of those baskets are full, got it?"

The boys' eyes lit up and they nodded, mouths gaping as they lost control of their excitement.

Arthur smiled at this and shooed them off into the woods. "You must go deeper if you are to find anything!"

The brothers grinned and waved, but eagerly twisted around as they ran into the trees.

"I'm gonna find the berry-bushes first!" Alfred giggled as he nearly stumbled over his own, flying feet. Matthew accepted the challenge and the two peeked at every bush they moved past. Of course, Alfred was the first to spot one, and picked nearly every black-berry off the bush before Matthew could find one. Alfred's basket barely weighed any more than it did before, it defiantly wasn't enough for going back.

Soon the sun was below the horizon, and the last rays of light were fading away, and the first stars were visible.

Matthew looked at Alfred. "I suppose it's time to go. It's getting dark!"

Alfred looked at his half-full basket and frowned. "But Father said not to go back until they're full!"

Matthew sighed. "I'm sure he'd be worried sick if we stayed out any later. Sure, he's mean to us, but he has some heart!"

Alfred shook his head. "But our baskets don't have enough food! We won't be able to have breakfast until they do!"

Matthew looked around the trees. "But Alfred, monster's come out at night. Don't you remember our parents talking about the missing children out here? Monsters are taking them away!"

Alfred gasped, eyes huge as he scanned the area around them. "I-I suppose your right. It is gettingdark. And I'm awfully hungry. Maybe Father'll make us something special when we get back home?"

Matthew nodded and looked around confusedly. "Do you remember which way we came from?"

"Um… sure! It's that way, I think." Alfred began to lead his brother through the brush.

After a few minutes of wandering, Matthew shivered in fear. "I'm sure we would've walked past a dead oak by now!"

"Are you sure?" Alfred asked, a lump in his throat.

"I'm positive!" Matthew whimpered.

Welp. Here it is. Meh. I hate this story, but I love it. I am SO CONFUSED! And please, don't mention the title of the story this is based on in the reviews, because I get intense shivers, and not the good kind. They get so bad, sometimes I want to kill myself. Why do I hate it? I don't know. So why do I love it if I hate it? I don't know. So why am I writing about it? I don't know. My mind works in ways I don't really understand…

Yes, I made England evil. Please review!