The Dane hills of Leicestershire were home to many creatures, but none so terrifying as Black Annis. She lived in a cave, carving it out herself with her clawed hands. At night she stalked the woods, looking for children to prey on,and her howls and screeches could be heard for miles around. She had black mangled hair, pale blue skin and wore the skin and skulls of dead innocents she had feasted upon. This terrified the local innhabitants of the area, who, when night fell, locked doors, bolted windows and huddled around fires, listening to the screams in the distance.
But, the threat of Black Annis did not stop one angry stepmother on one evening sending her children out in to the woods to collect fire wood. Shutting her three children out, she told them to not return until they had enough firewood, and she locked the door. The two youngest children were terrified, and began screaming and crying. But the oldest consoled them, saying if they started to collect firewood now they could be back before nightfall, that Black Annis only hunted in the deepest parts of the woods and they were only going to the edges. But, as chance would have it, there was no firewood at the edges, and the children found themselves going ever deeper into the woods. Soon night fell, and the children became terrified. The oldest continued to comfort his brothers, but he himself now became aware that it was getting darker.
Just before he was about to suggest turning back, the boys heard a distant scream echoing around the woods. The two youngest began to cry, but the oldest once again took intiative. He said that the screams sounded distant, and that if they were to run now, they could have a chance at escaping her. It was then the youngest piped up, saying that maybe his witch-stone might be of help. The oldest brother quickly took it, and looking through the hole, saw a horrible blue hag far off in the distance. He said to the others that she was indeed far away, and that she couldnt possibly notice them there. But, no sooner than they had relaxed, the oldest saw her lift up her greasy hair, and begin sniffing the air. She then began to run towards them at a incredible pace, leaping over rocks and trees, contuinly sniffing the air. The oldest shouted to run, and they began to sprint towards their home, desperate to escape from the witch.
When they neared home, their father ran out the door, relieved to see them alive, armed with an axe. But to his horror he also saw, very close behind them the terrible figure of Black Annis loomed, grasping at the edges of their clothes. The father wasted no time waiting; he burst forward, and threw his axe straight into the hags head. She gave a wail, and green blood sputed forth from her temple. She turned and fled back to her cave, to recover from her wounds. The father was outraged at his wife, and ordered her to leave the house, indifferent to the fact that Black Annis was about.
Nowadays the dane hills have been built upon, and her cave has been filled in. But some still report seeing a dark figure haunting the streets at night, and hearing her wails and grinding teeth.
