Nothing waits for you to live

Chapter 2.

Panting I couldn't see where I was going tree limbs occasionally hitting my face. It was dark, perfect to run, to hide. I ran as if I couldn't get away fast enough, as if I lingered too long something I wouldn't want to find would find me. My chest pounded and my lungs fought for quick spurts of air. Stopping abruptly I skidded to a stop. Leaves skirted as I paused. The rain was pouring down angrily. I looked up, something felt dangerously off. As if the sky would come crashing down at any second. A white light filled the sky filling the woods with an odd white color. It seemed like the world had turned black and white. For just a second, it was silent but then it was gone. And a deafening boom arrived. It felt as if It was in close proximity and my fear kicked in. I had nowhere to go and I was in the worst place to be during a thunderstorm. My went blank and all I could think about was running. So that's what I did I ran. I ran frantically, my footing becoming unsure and unsteady. For a moment my foot caught in something and my body went flying, I managed to throw my hands out before I hit the ground. Groaning I twisted and got up, my hair and hoodie soaked from the rain. Looking back at what I had tripped over, all I saw was a mass of leaves. Bending down I started throwing the leaves aside, minutes later my fingertips scraped something metallic. Scoping around I felt a thin latch and pulled. Nothing. Applying all my body force against the latch it creaked and rose ever so slightly. Straining to pull it all the way back I grabbed my phone and quickly turned on the flashlight. Pointing it towards the mass, I saw it resembled a sewer. Pointing down the hole I couldn't see anything but an enveloping blackness. Another crash caused m thoughts to skirt. If I wanted to survive I had to go in. Without warning the tree in front of me was blasted by a thin electric line. And before I could blink bits and chunks of bark were flying at me with brute force. I barely ducked my head before I felt hard pieces of wood hit my body. I felt a piece barely scrape by my ear. Not stopping to think I started down the steps and closed the sewer lid behind me. Descending ever so slowly, the only light source being emitted from my phone I held my breath unconsciously. Flashing the light everywhere I let out a sigh of relief, the wasn't a trace of rats, dead or alive for that matter. There were only a couple of crumbling bricks and dead leaves. Stepping down I shone the light ahead. I could tell that It continued but how long it went I wasn't sure. Checking my phone I saw that I had one bar of reception surprised I looked at my notifications and saw a single message. Taking a deep breath I recognized the sender. Frowning I went to my home screen and clicked on Spotify. I really didn't think I could deal with Amy right now. Scrolling through my downloaded playlists I clicked "Red" and hit play. The sound of Bruno was enough to push down my feelings and venture forward. Clutching my phone I shined it in front of me. The sewer sort of reminded me of a tunnel. Walking forward I could hear a faint clink as I walked. Looking up I saw tiny holes letting in some sort of light. To the right, there was another ladder but the first 5 steps were eroded. Turning off the flashlight I thrust my phone into my pocket and stretched my leg to step on the ladder. Gripping the steps with my hands I climbed up until I was face to face with the lid. Huffing I pushed heaving the lid up, slowly I pushed it aside and I was able to breathe in the fresh air. The wind was calm as it kissed my face. It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the low light of the moon but as I climbed up I was able to see better. Shimming around the lid I looked up. The sky was dark but the clouds haven't taken over yet. Farther away I saw a crescent, it sort of looked like a very thin fingernail. Looking back at the sewer I pushed the lid back on. I breathed in, waiting for some sort of sound, nothing, silence. Reaching for my phone I glanced at the reception signal. Great. Just amazing. I had no bars left. Looking at my battery I saw that my phone was going to die. Ugh. Powering it off, I put it back in my pocket. Turning around I started walking in the direction I hoped home was. Weirdly enough, it felt good. Peaceful even. The air felt friendly and warm. Leaves crunched as I walked, birds silently crowed, and trees limbs swayed to the music of the wind. I started swaying a bit as I walked. A smile plastered on my face. It was kinda ridiculous how much I was enjoying this, but who cares? It felt beautiful and somewhat mysterious. Laughing silently I couldn't remember the last time I enjoyed walking. A loud crunch behind me interrupted my thoughts. Pausing, I waited. Another crunch- footsteps. Recalling the time on my phone it was 9:00 p.m. Who wanders the woods at night? Me, Murders, Me, Serial killers, Me. Slowly turning around I saw a faint outline of a figure walking towards me. My brain screamed RUN  but my legs were frozen I was paralyzed with indecision. I stilled my breath stupidly pleading I wouldn't be spotted. I didn't have enough time to react before the figure wrapped its arms around me. I was enveloped in a darkness I've never known. Without warning it pulled back from me grasped my chin and kissed me. It couldn't have lasted more than a millisecond but it was enough. I've never felt this way before, my lips were on fire and the emotion that came with that single kiss were overwhelming. My instincts kicked in at that second, pulling back I shoved the figure backwards . Surprised it landed on its arse with a grunt. I wanted to get away. I wanted to leave, to forget this every happened. I wanted to run away , to get as far away from this figure as I could but nothing happened. I didn't run, I didn't panic. I'm done, I'm tired of running. I'm tired of having to continuously take shit from someone and be ok. No, I'm not going to runaway for once in my life I'm going to stay. My body vibrated, my nails dug into my palm, I was shaking. It felt as if all the anger inside me were clawing, trying to escape. But for once I didn't hide. I just let go. My world went red as I stepped towards the figure. Almost as if anticipating my move it stood quickly. Without thinking I started throwing Punch's as hard and as fast I possibly could. My thought jumbled onto one another until the only thing I cared about was where to hit next. The figure must have known the woods well because it didn't trip once as it slipped backwards. Most of the time the figure was able the get away before I hit it, but a couple times I made contact and my fist made a satisfying thud. It seemed as if we were doing a complicated dance one where it was always able to dance out of my way as I tired to hit it, it was infuriating. My arms were quaking but I pushed myself even harder, not even notice we were in a clearing. I knew I couldn't keep this up any longer, but I had to, just one, more, punch. It seemed as if we were both tired as the figure wasn't as quick to get away, barely missing my jabs by mere inches. I gathered what little energy I had, anything and everything all my emotions, happiness, anger, sadness, and converted it into one ,last ,hit. It wasn't quick enough as my fist collided with it's stomach. It groaned as it landed on the grass. Falling onto my knees I closed my eyes. I'm so tired. God, I wanna puke. Breathing in shakily, the air was silent, still. I didn't care about anything , nothing at all. Right now all I could bring myself to do was breathe. " Are you ok?" My head snapped up at the voice .  Looking at the figure, actually looking at him. I realized it was a guy, no older than me. What I saw confused me his eyes displayed actual concern and I couldn't help it. I laughed, I clutched my sides and roared. What the actual fudge cakes ?  Pretty soon he joined me and the gap of space between us closed. He must've sensed it too because he quickly scooted 5ft away from me. I sighed. He watched me, watched to see what I'd do. I blinked. Settling on the grass I opened my legs and glanced at his direction. He was no longer looking at me but gazed at his surroundings with a calamity. I couldn't help but think it was as if the world has created a space just for him. As if he could feel me staring at him he turned towards me his eyes brightly lit in the low light. " What's your name?" his voice still startled me, it had a rich yet low quality and he spoke with a silent confidence. I searched his eyes, the color of them a piercing emerald green. It was as if the colors gray and black blended into them, and yet hints of light blue speckled from them. It was overwhelming. " Cassie." He turned away as if trying to find it's meaning. " Cassie", he repeated. My breathed pitched at the way he pronounced it, as if it meant something important, wondrous even. I breathed in, trying to shake away that feeling. " What's your name?" He glanced at the sky before turning to face me. " Nathaniel." This felt weird. He looked away. "Why do you look at me like that?", he said. I froze. I felt my face heat. "Why?" He nodded. I squinted , is he serious? I racked my head for a reason other than he Fricking kissed me even though idfk who he is. I wanted to say something smart, something rational but I just shrugged. Pulling my knees close I hugged them to my chest and closed my eyes. Even with my eyes closed I could feel him studying me, observing, trying to see something he couldn't. "Sorry." I snapped my eyes open. He whispered it so faintly I almost thought I imagined it. Without a sound he had moved opposite me and had mimicked my pose. The air between us felt so distant yet so close. My heart beat against my rib cage, beating so fast it almost hurt to breathe. I fought the urge to ask him a question as he briefly closed his eyes. "I'm sorry for all of  it, I'm sorry for everything that happened. " I struggled to bite my tongue to keep from finishing his sentence out loud. Sorry for meeting me, sorry for kissing me, sorry for making this mistake. With a calmness I didn't know I could posses I asked him the only thing I could. "Why?"