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Rated: ASR · Campfire Creative · Short Story · Horror/Scary · #1750757
short story about a person running away from ..... find out
[Introduction]
3,2,1...
It was on one fateful night
Just 2 people
3 choices
Surrender, Survive, Death....

The cool breeze circulated the abandoned forest. The superior towering trees stood over the earth and their branches hovering under the moonlight, with the cool breeze slightly quivering the branches. The leaves scraped and grazed the trunks. The firm braches casting shadows to form into the daunting forest. The incandescent moonlight beaming through the visible gaps and emitting some light down onto the damp earth. The rocks glimmering silver under the luminous light, the leaves reflecting glimmers of the radiance. It was a beautiful sight, even though there was danger concealing in it. The crickets chirped innocently. The owls hooted unknowingly. Animals can sense danger because of their quick senses but not tonight. Unaware nature.
I heard the bell toll three times, preparing me, warning me to run but my legs were defeated. My arms were conquered and my reflexes belated. The wind whistled through my hair. I tried to quicken my pace and, only hyper aware of when the bare soles of my flesh touched the dampened soil, the drenched leaves and moist twigs. The SNAP of the twigs as they broke under my feet, the CRUNCH of the leaves as my strides failed to become longer. The sounds seemed to be getting louder and echoing through the open space. Some branches stuck out and got caught on my dress, slitting, slashing, and splitting the golden silky material, slowing my tempo.
I could still here the thudding of the booted hurried footsteps and the angry snarls the follower made. It wasn’t only a brief amount of time before they came. The thump of my heart beating bongo drums sounded simultaneously with each step. I kept on running scanning the forests for any hidden signs of refuge but failing. I made my way deeper into the eerie shadows and silhouettes. The trees seemed to be growing taller, the shadows more frightening and bigger, the branches thicker and less light in the forest, my obstacle becoming even more twisted, my hope gradually dying and my pace slowing. I listened attentively to brace myself of the unwanted arrival. My thoughts were then disrupted with a piercing, forlorn and fatal cry and plead for help; even though they were feeble the screeches rang through my ears, awakening me. The DING of the bell continued to ring in my ears, screaming at my ear drums and the sound trembling my body. I almost surrendered to the burning and brutality of the pain and counted my breaths as I knew that they were numbered but the footsteps were too menacing.
I became aware of the gush of blood that spilled on the ground and tainted the leaves. I attempted to push my strength further than I ever have. I tried to discard the pain and try again. I was almost there, I felt safer for every inch I came closer. I wanted to grasp the security the cave offered me. I kept telling myself that it would all be okay and I had a chance of being safe. I was about to give up but my weakness was discontinue but I knew I had to keep on going. I was a fighter. My heart was beating rapidly. Thumping against my chest as if trying to escape from my torso. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. I visualized the beating of the bongo drums in tune with my heart. The hands slamming onto the base of the animal skin and the loud THUMP created. I wanted to appease it.
The pain, the fear, the anxiety, the panic, the worry, the uncertainty, the apprehension... All the emotions drowning me and engulfing any faith left in me. There was no adrenaline in me. This was too serious. I was the prey, he the predator. Part of me wanted to give up and be relieved my life had come to an end because then I’d be reunited with my mother but another part of me was petrified. I felt more alone, isolated in this sea of blackness and waves of obscurity. Every lunge pulling me further into the darkness, the black night overwhelming me and my senses became useless.
While trekking the forest, pushing the clinging branches and plants away from my face, swatting the cob webs away, I felt my toe meet the agonizing impact of an unsuspecting stone. The small rock was there at the wrong time and I at the wrong place. I lost my balance and found myself falling, plunging even further and deeper into the darkness. I didn’t know what my head would hit and I tried to put my hands out hoping it would help. I waited for my head to feel the excruciating blow on my skull as it collides with the rigid earth surface. I plummeted and watched as the branch shapes whirl around me. My palms held out to stop the pain doubting it would help. The pain was more unbearable than I thought, the THUD of my skull clashing on the CRISPY orange, red and yellow leaves and the sharp edged of the surrounding rocks and damp twigs clung to my face. There was a detectable scar slashed across my cheek from a jagged twig that had slit my forehead. The sap of conscience gushed down, waterfalls of scarlet streamed down the side of my face, blending with the salty tears of pain and anger. My head was throbbing and my palms were even worse. My wrists took and even worse, piercing pain that felt like it was burning my skin. My knees scraped against the rough blunt twigs and prickly leaves as I tried to get up. The pain invaded my every thought as I tried to push it away and to think around the stabbing torture. The thudding of the steps was now not escapable and they were gaining on me.
I tried to get on my knees, discarding the stinging throbs. I scuttled to a tall tree. The steps were still coming. Unstoppable, Unavoidable, Undefeatable. My nails were digging into the soft soil, my knuckles knocking on the surface. Blood gushed down my knee, tainting the leaves. I tried to wipe it away and my arms, palms were now smeared with a crimson fluid. I attempted to stand up, leaning my elbows on my thighs and hauling myself up. My dress was now smudged with the blood, tears filled my eyes, my coffee- brown hair was sticking out in places and loose strands clung to the wetness on my face. I swiped at the strands and continued taking shaky steps to the thick trunk that towered before me. I reached out to touch it as I came closer. I was 6 steps closer to the refuge it teased me with. I told myself I could do it, 5 steps. I chanted I could escape the grim reaper behind me, 4 steps. I convinced myself I would survive, 3 steps. I heard the thudding steps close in on me, 2 steps. Almost there, 1 step. I gripped the branch and pulled myself to the back of the trunk. I looked at it and sat down, wanting to rest my head on the base of the trunk but there was no surface. There was a big hole. This was even better. I scampered inside the opening gap and hoped, prayed silently. Clasping my rapidly thumping chest.
The steps came closer and halted to a sudden stop. They trailed slowly on the earth. I heard each THUD and CRUNCH as the follower scanned the space. I heard SNAPs of twigs as the follower continued to search the darkness for any beating hearts. My breath was jagged, sharp and let out in loud gasps. I tried to calm myself and slow my breathing. I fidgeted on the uneasy surface; there were more twigs and wood in the hollow base of the trunk. Outside I could still here the faint footsteps in the clearing. I feared he would see the blood I left behind and follow the trickle and the bloody handprint I left on the branch and find me. I listened harder; stretching my head and opening my senses, thump....Thump....Thump.... The footsteps then stopped. Eerie silence.. I sensed the presence around me but I could hear nothing. I heard a faint rustle of the leaves and listened for more. Maybe he was gone. Maybe I was free.
Then I heard the footsteps again but much, much closer. They moved in. I was closed in. I looked up, checking to see if I could climb. There was nothing. I pushed myself back till I felt my back reach the end on the trunk. I simply sat there like a taunting victim. I gave up and waited for the end. I sat there and peered through the opening. I saw two black, leather boots appear and a face slowly appear, a hostile grin, two black devilish eyes full with rage, a long scar slashed across the cheek, black floppy hair and was rugged and fell down to his face.
“I found you” his voice was gruff and sounded childish. He made it out it was a game. Hide and Seek. Well he found me. I looked the grim reaper figure in the eye and realised I had stopped breathing. I saw his hand reach in his jacket pocket and he pulled out the presumed object. A black revolver. I evaluated him as he loaded it with one bullet. He was sure of his target. I gazed as he held it in place. I peered as his finger looped through the gap. I wanted to close my eyes but I didn’t. I kept on scrutinizing him. He bent down and kept his gaze on me.
“You can’t always hide in this world, eventually you become visible and get caught” he laughed a hearty, pompous laugh and then became serious. His lips turned to a grim line and he held up my death. “3...” he started the countdown. People associate countdowns with celebrations and happiness.
“2...” his lips turned upward and his disgusting, yellow, teeth showed. His stench breath washed my face.
“1...” BANG! The sound echoed in the forest. Several things happened; my Eyesight slowly faded, my heart thumped its last beat, stomach churned, my limps loosened, my muscles relaxed, my body slumped to the ground. I have spilt a lot of blood on this forest. It was all over and I was ready. This man was giving me what I wanted. I waited for my death because that was the closest thing to freedom I could achieve....
3,2,1 Gone!

By Trizah Okingo

hope you enjoyed, look out for more of my writing :) xx

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