In dappled sunlight she walked, the crunching of gravel underfoot mixing with birdsong and wind sighing in the trees, but she heard only the beast. The warmth of the day did not penetrate the frost of fear within her. She'd been trying to tell herself that everything would be okay, but the words were brittle and crumbled as the path stretched out endlessly before her. "You're okay. You're fine." She whispered in case it was listening. A rumble in the distance made her glance over her shoulder, but there was nothing to see but the path disappearing into the trees.
If it comes I'll hide in the woods, she thought, but then the sides of the trail slipped away into steep slopes and she knew that she'd never reach the safety of the trees in time. Her breath came ragged as she increased her pace, heart flopping in her chest like a fish on the dock. Why had she come here? Why had she tempted the roaring creature who owned this path? A hint, a promise, a hope? All withered to nothing now. No, not nothing, a trap.
Another echo of something large and menacing chased her down the path, and she ran, startling a deer down in the valley below. I am hunted and alone, and no one will know where to look for my bones. Too frightened for even tears, the stones blurred by under her feet. But then the distance shimmered and a crossroad appeared. She'd known it was there, but still it seemed a miracle. I'm so close!
Phantom shadows and low vibrations bore down on her, but she didn't dare look behind her this time. Terrified that she'd trip or that her legs would give out, she kept her eyes to the ground. No stray stone would be her downfall. Please oh please!
Then suddenly she was free. Turning away from the path once so enticing, she didn't look back. There was only one way forward now, and if she stared behind her into the monster's eye it might pull her back again, its massive form a gravity of horror calling her like a tossed stone to the ground. Hidden now, she slowed, but her mind would not be stilled by any distance. Her feet had touched its path, and the beast had her scent now. The memory of fear was fresh and alive in her mind and much harder to kill. She would never escape.
If it comes I'll hide in the woods, she thought, but then the sides of the trail slipped away into steep slopes and she knew that she'd never reach the safety of the trees in time. Her breath came ragged as she increased her pace, heart flopping in her chest like a fish on the dock. Why had she come here? Why had she tempted the roaring creature who owned this path? A hint, a promise, a hope? All withered to nothing now. No, not nothing, a trap.
Another echo of something large and menacing chased her down the path, and she ran, startling a deer down in the valley below. I am hunted and alone, and no one will know where to look for my bones. Too frightened for even tears, the stones blurred by under her feet. But then the distance shimmered and a crossroad appeared. She'd known it was there, but still it seemed a miracle. I'm so close!
Phantom shadows and low vibrations bore down on her, but she didn't dare look behind her this time. Terrified that she'd trip or that her legs would give out, she kept her eyes to the ground. No stray stone would be her downfall. Please oh please!
Then suddenly she was free. Turning away from the path once so enticing, she didn't look back. There was only one way forward now, and if she stared behind her into the monster's eye it might pull her back again, its massive form a gravity of horror calling her like a tossed stone to the ground. Hidden now, she slowed, but her mind would not be stilled by any distance. Her feet had touched its path, and the beast had her scent now. The memory of fear was fresh and alive in her mind and much harder to kill. She would never escape.
Keep Writing and Edit On.
I Write, I Edit, I Write Again. Witness!
We're Making Better Words, All of Them, Better Words.
I Write to Burn Off the Crazy.
A Good Day Writing is a Day Writing.
It Puts the Words on the Page or it Gets the Hose Again.
Just Keep Writing, Just Keep Writing; Writing, Writing, Writing...
I Write, I Edit, I Write Again. Witness!
We're Making Better Words, All of Them, Better Words.
I Write to Burn Off the Crazy.
A Good Day Writing is a Day Writing.
It Puts the Words on the Page or it Gets the Hose Again.
Just Keep Writing, Just Keep Writing; Writing, Writing, Writing...
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