I originally wrote this story, as a flash fiction, back in 2007 and released it in the poetry book Unspeakable Truths, Volume 1: Damnation Begins. I revamped it, and the changes brought it into short story territory.
The Snatcher
I sprinted toward the kitchen as my cell vibrated across the countertop. “Hi mom.”
“Hi sweetie. We have another fog advisory.”
“Oh, no. Not another one. When is this going to end?”
“At this rate, never. I mean, they aren’t even trying to figure this out.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear as my mother’s yelling clashed with the beeping of the horn. “Dad?”
“Of course…impatient. I have an appointment. I’ll call you later.”
A little voice crept around the corner as I placed my cell on the counter.
“Mom, I’m going outside.”
“Jenny, no!” I ran to the back door, blocking the knob.
“But mom—”
“I know, honey. You’re too young to understand. Go play in the other room.”
“Ok,” Jenny said as she lowered her head and ambled to the living area.
“What was that about?” Paul set his suitcase on the table.
“My mom called.”
“Oh God! Here we go again. Let me guess...fog advisory.”
“Paul—”
“We talked about this, Sally. Why does this town keep living in the past?”
“You weren’t here. You don’t know what happened!”
“Twenty years! When are you going to stop this?” Paul placed his hands on his hips and glared at me. “You need to think about our daughter.”
“I am thinking about her, damn it!”
Paul moaned as he picked up his briefcase. “I’m headed to work. We’ll talk about this when I get home.”
My eyes followed him as he walked toward the door. Even though I knew he was right, I couldn’t stop thinking about Jimmy.
“Mommy, will you come and play with me?”
“Give me a couple minutes angel face and I’ll be right with you.”
I sat on the stool and placed my head in my hands. The memories flooded back as tears streamed down my cheeks.
It came out of the fog, but no one knew what it was. Everyone thought it was a hoax. Our parents accused us of lying. The news played it down until more children disappeared. Our local government offered no solution, so me and my friends did the only thing we could do. We named it—The Snatcher.
***
“Hurry Sally! You’re going to be late.”
“I’m coming, mom.” I grabbed my bookbag from the edge of the bed and ran down the steps. “Can I go to the park after school?”
“Yes, but be home by dinner.”
Lisa and I sprinted out of the building, darting past the buses and through an open field. We rounded the corner of our apartment complex, shuffling through our bags.
“I’ll give you my lunch money tomorrow if you do my homework,” Lisa said as she swung her backpack over her shoulder.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. I can’t stand science. Who wants to dissect frogs and shit? Anyway, I have to pass if I want to stay on my mom’s good side. She already threatened to ground me.”
We sprinted toward the swings as the park came into view. Our laughter echoed off of the clear blue sky as we chased each other around the playground.
“How long can you stay out?”
“My dad gets home a little after five. We always eat dinner together.”
“I’m glad someone’s mom cooks around here,” Brian said as he ran toward us. He tossed his duffel bag on the ground and glanced into the woods. “It’s getting foggy. I guess we better be careful. The Snatcher might be watching.”
“My mom says there’s no snatcher,” Lisa said. “Absentee parents took those kids.”
Brian threw his head back in laughter. “Obviously therapy isn’t helping her.”
“Let me tell you something,” Lisa growled as she lunged toward him. “My mom is—”
I placed my hand over Lisa’s mouth. “What was that?” A faint howl crept out of the forest as we huddled together.
Lisa removed my hand from her mouth and glanced at me. “Great! Is everyone around here scared? It was the wind. It howls, you know?”
“No, listen. It’s getting closer.”
“Look.” Brian stretched forth his finger, but we couldn’t see anything. “Someone’s coming.”
A shadowy figure crept within the mist. We stepped closer, trying to make out the image.
Lisa clutched onto my arm. “Maybe we should leave.”
Silence enveloped us. My heart crashed against my chest as a brisk wind swept through. We screamed as someone jumped out of the fog.
My eyebrows knitted as a chuckle inched closer.
“Oh Jimmy. I hate you!” Lisa said as she punched his shoulder.
“Yeah man,” Brian said. “That wasn’t cool.”
“Awww, you babies. Are you afraid of The Snatcher?” His head rocked back and forth as he pursed his lips. “There is no snatcher, you hear? And if there is, I’ll kill him, because I ain’t afraid of no—”
The fog thickened. Grayish blue arms jutted out of the mist and grabbed Jimmy.
Lisa and I screamed. Brian backed away before bolting through the park and toward the apartment complex.
The blue sky returned as the mist disappeared. Lisa collapsed to the ground as I stared into the forest. A part of me hoped it was a joke. Jimmy would walk out of the woods, laughing, pointing his finger in our direction. But he didn’t.
Parents sprinted across the field, gathering around and questioning us until the police showed up.
I told Officer Peterson what happened. His forehead knitted as he tried to make sense of everything.
Brian and Lisa corroborated my story, adding a few things I forgot.
We waited for weeks for answers, but none came and they never found Jimmy.
***
Twenty years had passed and I’m still traumatized. I wondered what happened to Jimmy and the others. Where are the children? Are they alive?
My husband never understood. He moved here years after the events stopped, but the locals remembered. I remembered.
Although not as widespread, kids still came up missing on foggy days. The Snatcher lingered in the wooded area surrounding town, waiting patiently for its next victim.
I glanced over at Jenny, playing on the floor in front of the couch. She was safe, unaware of the dangers lurking outside. And I’d do whatever it took to keep her away from the fog.
The Snatcher © 2025 Rena Aliston. All rights reserved.