15 minutes to midnight

The old tiger sat in his rocking chair knitting a scarf for his granddaughter's seventh birthday, when he heard the shriek. Startled he dropped his knitting and struggled to his feet. Grabbing his cane, that he always kept nearby, he rushed to the front door while mummering curses. Reaching the front door he panted from the strain of going as fast as possible in his old age. "If only I was young," he thought to himself, "I would have been able to save whoever did that dreadfull shriek. Fumbling to open the door he managed to open it. "Who ever it is, they are probabbly dead by now." he muttered. Suddenly he saw a young African Side-Neck Turtle running toward him. The young turtle tripped on her feet and slid forward until he head was touching the old tiger's feet. Looking up at him, she sobbed as he helped her get back up. "Hel-" She started to plead when suddenly, her head was cut clean off her body. As he stood there stunned with a streak of blood on his face her head fell and rolled to his feet. (Once again) Looking up he saw the body fall backward. A hooded figure stood behind her. All the old tiger could make of the figure was his chesire cat smile. "Good lord!" the tiger gasped falling onto his but. Laughing like a manian the stranger leaned over the old tiger exclaiming, "You know, she used to be my plaything, he gestured to the decapitated turtle, but she had to run it by running away." He whined "At least she made the chase worthwhile by leading me to a new plaything!" he squelled with delight. Shaking his head vigorouslly he reached for his cane, but the stranger got there first. "You won't be needing this, anymore." He said in a sing-songgy voice as he hit him in the back of the head with it. Groaning in pain the last thing the tiger saw was the stranger's enormous grin as he whispered to him, "Nighty-night."