This is a true life story.
• Year: 1978
• Country: France
• State/Region: Lyon
• Place: The old woods near the Rhône River in Lyon
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When I wake up, everywhere is so dark and my head throbs painfully where it got it at.
Groaning, I move to raise my hand and touch my head, but then realise that I can't.
My wrists are tied behind me with something cold and wet pressing against my skin.
I blink, trying to adjust to the dim orange light I'm suddenly noticing which is coming from a nearby lantern.
And as my vision adjusts, I see...
Clara, Hugo, and Max.
I almost scream for joy, but the pause when I see that they are all bound and gagged, sitting in a corner.
Their eyes were wide with terror and tears are streaming down their now dirty faces.
"Oh my god," I gasp, trying to move to crawl toward them, but the ropes bit into my wrists.
Still I try to reassure them, "It's okay! I'll get you guys out-----"
"Shhh…" a voice whispers, causing me to freeze instantly and turn to see the figure that attacked me in the woods.
However with the steady, non flickering glow from the lantern, I can see that this figure isn't a monster but a human.
And he is standing upright, watching the four of us.
His ribs are jutted out through his yellowish skin and his stomach is swollen and...
... twitching?
His tongue darts across his cracked lips, and he steps closer, the rotting stench from his body making me gag.
"Please," I beg in spite of the smell.
"Let them go. They're just children-----"
He tilts his head, almost like he's curious, then he grins, showing his jagged broken teeth and entirely black gums.
He doesn't say a word and just moves toward Hugo.
"Hugo! No!!" I scream, watching in horror while the boy whimpers, thrashing as He crouched beside him.
In one move, HE grabs Hugo by his head and before I can even process what is happening, he bites down on Hugo's head with sickening crunch.
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Poor Hugo doesn't even get to scream before his brains spill out, dripping blood down HE's chin.
I scream until my voice cracks, Clara shrieks behind her gag and Max faints while blood sprays across the dirty floor.
Tears stream down my cheek as I watch Hugo's body convulsed… then go still.
And the monster that ate him keeps chewing, moving his head from side to side, his eyes rolling as if he's enjoying what... who he's eating.
"Stop!" I sob, choking on my own tears.
"Stop it, please! I'll do anything! Please!"
But he just keeps chewing, using his hands to crack open the remaining part of Hugo's head.
"Hungry, hungry," he says again and again, reaching down to Hugo's bloody half head and dragging out his two eyes.
Then he pops them into his mouth like candy.
"Ouuuuuhhh, mmmh, hmmm, rummnghummm," he grunts, moaning as he keeps feasting right there in front of the kids.
"Close your eyes Clara," I tell her, and she to me, heaving and crying.
"Close your eyes," I repeat, more tears slipping down my eyes when she complies.
Suddenly the monster stops eating and gets up, causing Clara and I to flinch as he drags Hugo's body away into a dark part of this place the lantern's light can't reach.
And seconds later, the sound of tearing flesh echoes around.
Clara cried silently, as she listens to the sound of the monster eating her brother.
I want to tell her to close her ears, but that's not possible since her hands are tied.
So instead, I begin tugging at my bindings.
The rope's material is rough and raw, and as I keep struggling it cuts into my skin, causing warm blood to run down my wrists.
However I don't care, I have to get us out of here.
But then, I began hearing footsteps coming towards us.
He was coming back.
Instantly I pretended to be unconscious, letting my head slump forward.
Soon I could feel smell him near me, and could hear him breathing over me.
Something cold brushed against my cheeks then, and I had to ball my fists to keep myself from flinching.
I soon realised it was his fingers that were touching me, then he sniffed me and hummed.
And left again.
Once I was sure he was gone, I raised my head up.
I knew this was the only chance I had left.
It seems he had chosen me as his next meal, so if I don't get us out now...
I shook my head, refusing to think about it ending that way.
Instead I twisted my wrists until one of them came free, my skin tearing against the rope.
Grunting, I ignored the pain and staggered over to Clara and the unconscious Max, then unknotted the ropes that tied them.
"Stay quiet Okay," I whispered.
"We're getting out of here."
Clara nodded, clutching my left hand while i carried Max with my other hand.
We crept toward what I thought must be the exit, which was a narrow tunnel like opening that pointed upward.
Bit by bit we climbed up until we were at the very edge, then----
"Hungry…"
Clara screamed before I could tell her not to, and He immediately chased after us.
Quickly, I shoved Clara ahead. "Run! Don't look back!"
But she did, and she tripped.
With her falling I ended up passing her due to the speed I'd been using to run.
So I stop, place max down and run back for her.
However before I can reach her, he lunges from the dark, dragging her back by her hair.
"NO!" I scream, reaching out and grabbing her hand.
"Please don't let go aunty," She pleads, her eyes crystalline with tears and fear whelming within.
"I won't. Hold on Clara, hold on------"
However she slips from my grasp as he pulls her into the shadows and I hear her screams echoing along with the sound of bones cracking before she's quiet.
More tears slip down my eyes as I keep staring at were Clara had been just seconds ago.
My legs wouldn't move from that spot.
But then I hear Max crying behind me, "Where's Clara?"
I couldn't answer him; HE's smell was coming stronger and closer, and I could hear his footsteps again.
If I stayed any longer he would eat us, so I picked Max up and ran.
I didn't care which direction I was going to, so long as it was far away from that monster.
For the second time that day, branches tore at my face as we burst out of the woods.
And I didn't stop running until I saw lights of the Rousseau's house ahead.
I stumbled to the door, pounding on it. "Help! Please!! Help!!!"
Mrs. Rousseau opened it, her eyes wide as she took in our appearance.
"What----- what happened?"
"Where were you? We've been looking for you since we came back," Mr Rousseau added, coming up behind her.
Sobbing hysterically, I handed a crying Max to his mum.
"Where are Clara and Hugo?" she demanded.
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It's been weeks now since that day I can never forget.
The police searched the woods, and they found blood and torn clothing, but no bodies.
No one believed my story, about the man monster and what he did, and it didn't help that Max couldn't help testify on my behalf.
He's been mute since that day.
Mrs Rousseau lost her mind on hearing that her kids were dead, and Mr Rousseau had me locked in here----- in Jail----- for ruining his family.
My life and my dreams of going to the university is ruined and...
There's nothing I can do about it, not even with some locals in the area testifying that it must have been a man named Tarrare; a man they say was known for his insatiable hunger and cannibalistic tendencies 50 years ago.
Maybe that's the problem, he's supposed to be dead and a mere legend now.
... But I know what I saw.
It wasn't me that killed those children.
Every night I hear that haunting voice through my dreams.
"Hungry…"
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The legend of Tarrare comes from the real life history of an 18th- century Frenchman whose insatiable hunger led him to consume live animals, corpses, and, as some reports claim, children.
His condition remains unexplained to this day, and many believe that his restless spirit still roams the woods near Lyon, forever feeding on the living;
... Forever hungry.