Torches and Spooks (sample)

The setting sun fell below the mountains, casting eerie shadows on the entire village. Little torches had been mounted on the door-frames by the villagers, glowing but also creating quite an amount of smoke. Mud caked the floor and puddles had collected on the curb and on the dirt-paved roads. The little girl sat huddled on the lone bench, shivering in her brown blanket. She watched the Officer's white horse shift its weight on its back legs repeatedly, flicking its ears and snorting. Apparently the animal was nervous. The Officer held the reins. He was busy speaking to a woman, who was explaining something about seeing the criminal escape to the mountains. The little girl sniffled, cupping her cold nose in her hands and exhaling. She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders tighter. The Officer scraped his pen across his notepad, thanked the woman, and led his uneasy horse back towards the girl. "Seems like he ran off."
The girl nodded, not looking up at him. A raindrop plopped on her head. The Officer looked to the heavens. A light drizzle began, and it was clear a storm would follow. Chilly wind started battering against the wooden huts of the villages. The white horse neighed and shook its head, trying to convince its master to flee before the weather got any worse.
The Officer only sent a sharp tug at the bit and sighed. "Doesn't look like there's much I can do. It's out of my hands now kid. Sorry."
The girl nodded again, her dark brown hair in a messy mop over her head. The Officer strapped on his hat and mounted his horse, who trotted immediately but stopped as the bit dug deep into its mouth. From the way the Officer handled the reins, it was clear he was just as nervous. "Y-you're staying here?"
It was then the girl looked up, an apathetic look on her face. She was about six or seven, with piercing brown eyes and a tear-streaked face. She was done crying over the murder of her family. She didn't say anything, only glared at the young officer, causing him to look away. The wind picked up and the sun's final glare completely disappeared. The torches were anything but warm, however. It wasn't uncommon - the senseless killing of the villagers. The Officer secretly wished for the people to move away and leave this village a ghost town. It was not safe to be out in the street so late, and the torches were meant to scare away any evil spirits. The little girl stood up solemnly, further startling the Officer's horse. "I will go sleep next to mom and dad's graves."
"God have mercy," The young man huffed under his breath, tipping the visor of his hat. This child was mad! "Be sure to get out of the rain, kid. You'd best get indoors quick. I have a long way to get back and much as I want to, I can't babysit you." He turned his horse around, about ready to spur it on. Usually hard, the animal was more than eager to leave today. Of course, it had to be the wind and the storm. The anxious neighbors peeking from behind their curtains. The empty village and the dull torches left the Officer shaky as well. He clucked his horse onward, just hoping that whatever was in the mountains wouldn't decide to come down tonight.
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The girl stood in the rain, shivering. A smirk spread across her tender lips as she watched the Officer gallop away. The villagers say they never saw her again. The Officer was found dead in the middle of the road, a-ways from the carcass of his steed. As for the horse, well, they found it cut up and skinned several miles from the village, with a horrific expression on its mostly deformed face. It was said lightning struck and spooked the animal, which bucked off and accidentally stepped on its rider before being attacked by a local wolf pack. That was the easy way to explain it, at least.