In Romania’s Transylvania region, villagers don’t enter Hoia-Baciu Forest after dark. Because it’s filled with the Children of the Dark Forest.
One night, a group of young people entered the forest to test their courage. The full moon shone in the sky. The grass was dry and crackling. At first, everything was silent. Then a child’s laughter was heard among the trees. The voice came first very close, then very far. One of them shouted, “There’s someone there!” As the others watched in fear, a black-eyed child peeked out from behind a tree. He smiled. His teeth were broken.
Suddenly, other children their age appeared. Their faces were pale, and where their eyes should have been were black voids. The children started running toward them. One of the young men’s knees buckled, and he fell to the ground. The others left him and fled. Those who made it out hid until morning. But the one who stayed behind never returned.
The next day, villagers found the boy’s jacket at the edge of the forest. There were tiny black handprints on it. Since then, everyone who enters the forest claims to see the black-eyed children. Some never come back.
Even today, the villagers sprinkle salt at the forest’s edge every night. When they hear children’s voices, they close their doors. Because the black children are still looking for new victims.
