The Woodsmen

Samantha slept in Miss Brigham's cottage that night. The same nightmares of being trapped in the dark haunted her. Only this time, she emerged in the church and saw Prudence's arm hanging uselessly at her side and Helena's face covered in blood. "Savage!" they chanted as one. Along with the other children, they advanced upon her to take their revenge.

She awoke screaming and flailing her arms to fight off unseen attackers. Miss Brigham grabbed her, wrestling with her until she woke up. "It's only a dream, dear," Miss Brigham whispered over and over again. She cradled Samantha's head against her chest and stroked her hair as she said this.

"I'm sorry," Samantha said. "I wish I could make it stop."

"I know, dear. It's all right. I have some clean clothes right here and there's enough room in my bed."

"I don't want to wet your bed too," Samantha said. "I'll sleep on the floor."

"I wouldn't hear of it. You follow me this instant, young lady," Miss Brigham said. Samantha did as she was told, crawling out of bed and changing into a fresh nightgown and underwear. As she did, she worried about what would happen if this continued to happen every night. How long could someone go without sleep before going crazy?

Miss Brigham's bed was twice the size of hers and soft instead of rough like the straw pallets the girls slept on in the dormitories. "It was a gift from the reverend," Miss Brigham explained. "It's stuffed with goose feathers."