Beneath The Old Oak Tree

Beneath the Old Oak Tree, the wind howled like a banshee, whipping through the gnarled branches of the ancient oak. Its roots, twisted and gnarled, seemed to grip the earth with a death-like tenacity. Beneath its canopy, a shallow grave marked the resting place of Melvin Pierce, a man once obsessed with gold. Melvin had been a prospector during the gold rush, a man blessed with an uncanny ability to find the precious metal. Instead of cashing in, he'd buried his fortune beneath the oak, his obsession growing with each nugget he unearthed. He'd never shared his secret, fearing that others might covet his wealth. As the years passed, so too did his health. His hearing faded, and his eyesight grew dim. Finally, he decided to dig his own grave beside his buried treasure.

On a dark, stormy night, Melvin had made a pact with the Devil. In exchange for eternal protection of his gold, he had agreed to a terrible curse. Anyone who stumbled upon the oak tree would face dire consequences.

Decades later, a young man named Thomas stumbled upon the oak tree. He was lost, his car having broken down in the remote wilderness. The storm raged around him, and the ancient tree offered a momentary respite from the elements. As he leaned against its trunk, he felt a strange chill, as if a cold draft were blowing from the grave beneath his feet. Ignoring the feeling, Thomas sat down and pulled out his phone to call for help. But as he reached for it, a strange, guttural sound echoed through the night. It was a sound he couldn't quite place, a mix of laughter and something else, something sinister.

A sudden gust of wind rattled the branches above him, sending a shower of leaves cascading down. One of them landed on Thomas's phone, short-circuiting it. He tried to shake it off, but it was no use. His phone was dead. Panic began to set in. He was alone, in the middle of nowhere, with a raging storm and no way to call for help. As he stood up to leave, he felt a strange sensation in his chest. It was as if something was pulling at his heart. He tried to ignore it, but the feeling grew stronger. Then, he heard it again: the chilling laughter, followed by a low growl.

A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness beneath the oak tree. It was tall and gaunt, with glowing red eyes. As it approached, Thomas could see that its skin was pale and sickly, and its hands were long and claw-like.

"You have disturbed my master's peace," the creature hissed, its voice like a cold wind.