The Great Cull - The lady of the estate hunts vermin on her grounds and unearths something more ghastly than herself...

The Great Cull

The damnable little things live under the Oak at the back of my grounds. Filthy vermin, full of disease. Infect my livestock.

Always hated that Oak, since I was a girl. Twisted, ancient thing.

I had my man, Higgins, procure some gas to address the problem.

It’s illegal, but what rot. Send the little bastards to sleep. Peaceful, really.

Higgins throws it down the dark hole between the roots like I tell him. I can hear things moving under the earth.

Something’s coming up. Eyes flaming red, knowing, angry. Licks its lips, tongue lolling over huge incisors.

That’s no badger.