“Did you know that whenever a child says that they don't believe in fairies, a fairy dies?”

Ivy leaned forwards with interest. “Really?” The branch she was sitting on shifted slightly, and a flutter of leaves drifted down to the ground. “D'you think that's true?”

Evelyn smiled maliciously. “I'm sure it's true. My brother said it once, and I found a fairy lying dead in our garden the next day.” A bird chirped happily, the tune a stark contrast to their conversation, before darting away.

There was silence for a few moments before Ivy whispered, “Should we… you know… try it?” Her eyes were bright with excitement.

Above her, the leaves rustled. If she had looked up, she would have seen four little eyes peering down indignantly.

“Unbelievable,” Nicasia scoffed. “Children are such monsters.” Her skin was usually a pale blue, but now her face flushed a deep turquoise.

Elida shook her head disapprovingly. “They're just as horrible as adults.”

She was about to go on a tangent about the violence of humans in general when the whispers below her interrupted their conversation. The tiny creatures listened intently.

Suddenly, the children stopped talking. Evelyn looked up and said, “I don't believe in fairies.”

There was a faint tremble in her voice.

Elida squeaked and grabbed Nicasia's arm, checking that her friend was still alive. All the colour had rushed out of the water sprite's face, but was that from shock or death? She got her answer when Nicasia promptly slapped her hand away. Elida wanted to say something, yet she didn't. Maybe it was because of the look on Nicasia's face.

She was smiling. Like she had just won a prize. But that didn't make sense, why would she be smiling if a fairy was dead-

“I don't believe in children.”

And just like that, Ivy fell to the ground, landing softly above a bed of rotten flowers and mulch.

Evelyn screamed.
Elida put her hand to her lips.
Nicasia laughed.
She laughed and laughed and laughed.

- - -

“Did you know there's something called Sudden Youth Death Syndrome? It's where a child just dies. For no reason.”

Ava widened her eyes in interest. “Really?” The branch she was sitting on shifted slightly, and a flutter of leaves drifted down to the ground. “Is that true?”

Laura frowned slightly. “I think it's true, ‘cause my mom says she had a friend called Ivy who died from that. It’s so weird, right?” A bird chirped happily, the tune a stark contrast to their conversation, before darting away.

Above her, the leaves rustled. If she had looked up, she would have seen a little face peering down at her, holding in a laugh.

“If only they knew,” Lyra said to no one in particular. Then she leaned forwards in anticipation and whispered, “I don't believe in children.”

- - -

A/N: I guess I'm continuing my tradition of writing short horror stories with nothing really happening in them. In all seriousness, this took me ages, like wayyyy longer than it should have, but I'm quite proud of it

Thanks to @whiteandblackcat, @chromesthesia and @CJ_llama for critiquing! Thanks to @sunshine_the_rainbow and @-alocasia for both suggesting I throw in some medieval speech

*clap* congrats on best plot hehehe ^^ but in all seriousness - this is very cool aaa

Ooh nice! It’s such a cool idea!

Stariqe wrote:

*clap* congrats on best plot hehehe ^^ but in all seriousness - this is very cool aaa

THANKS STARR CONGRATS ON FIRSTTTT

wow freaky i really like it