More Fractured Tales stories!
She ran without stopping... not fast enough to become exhausted... but fast enough to elude her unseen company.
She didn't know who was behind her... but she felt certain it was not for any good purpose.
And she was also sure that it was someone she didn't know... because if it was, he or she would simply call out to her... would they not?
It wasn't possible to stop running and look behind... because that would enable whoever it was to get closer.
Nor could she take a chance on looking back as she ran... for she might trip and fall... and that might give her pursuer a chance to catch up with her.
She could not stop until she was safely inside her own home... with the door locked and bolted behind her.
She had taken an unamiliar short cut through a patch of woods... instead of her usual long way around... hoping to get home a little quicker.
If she just kept going straight... she should come to a strip of open, uncultivated ground... behind the new tiny house sub-division where she lived.
But it was darker than she had expected... the huge tree trunks were covered with moss... and their top branches were woven tightly together... blocking all but sporadic patches of faint light overhead.
It was foggy and damp when she started... but she hoped to be home before her clothing was soaked through.
And yet... as she progressed... the fog seemed to have become denser... heavier... and wetter.
This must be what her grandfather... who often told ghost stories related to the sea... had once described as... "Fog thick enough to cut with a knife."
A single drop of cold moisture ran down her neck... and she imagined an icy finger... or the tip of a knife... trailing slowly down her spine.
She shuddered violently... and quickened her pace as much as she dared.
There had been no one in sight when she entered the woods... unless he was concealed behind one of the large old trees.
Or perhaps he was watching when she left work... and then followed her into the woods.
But that wasn't important now... getting home was her first priority.
What mattered was that someone unknown... was following her... in a very spooky place... which probably meant he was a threat to her.
Her breathing was laboured... her legs were starting to feel a little unsteady... she feared she would stumble... but she pushed the thought from her mind.
If she fell before reaching home... her only chance would be if she could hide... but these woods were unfamiliar and... there was no time to look for a hiding place.
Also, if she stopped running... he would know... by the absence of footsteps ahead of him.
The woods appeared to be thicker than she'd first thought... and she was regretting her decision... as she pushed herself harder than ever... wondering if she had the strength to make it.
Her feet were cold and wet... her shoes were probably ruined... and maybe her new dress pants as well.... as they dragged in the dirt,
Her long wet hair was plastered to her head... cold moisture gathered on her skin... trickling slowly over her face... and down her neck... she felt like she would never be warm again.
All at once, she was out of the woods... her house was in sight... and she struggled on... falling to her knees as she reached the back steps.
She crawled up the steps... and across the porch... on her hands and knees... hardly believing she was actually home.
Using the door handle for leverage... she drew a deep breath, and carefully pulled herself up to her knees.
With a sigh of relief, she reached into her right pocket... and her eyes grew wide... she tried the other pocket... and her throat tightened.
She began to shiver... from the cold... a sense of futility... and bone-chilling fear... to have got this far... and all for nothing.
The pounding footsteps drew closer... and she cringed... drawing up close to the door... trying to make herself look smaller... as if the door could somehow protect her.
It was too late now... but she wished she had never taken that short cut.
Her pursuer broke out of the woods... one hand held out towards her as he drew closer... with a big grin on his face.
When he was close to her... he reached down... pulled her to her feet... opened the door... led her inside... and pushed her gently down onto a chair.
Then he carefully placed her key on the table... signed 'good night'... and left.
Her heart rate slowly returned to normal.
Of course he hadn't called out to her... because he couldn't... he could only follow... she shook her head and began to laugh hysterically...
