The Judas Lantern

From publisher blurb: “She will stand for us. Die for us. In the woods her body will serve as sacrifice so that we may rid the Thornwood of that hated beast, once and for all.” The Judas Lantern is the sacrificial lamb. The bait. The meat hanging from a foodbag in a forest trap. She is Thornwood’s detritus. She serves no purpose to the village other than to draw out the Thornwood Beast, so the people can destroy it. If the Judas Lantern ever serves another purpose, it would be a surprise indeed. None consider her more than fodder for the machine.