Hidden Motives

Stalked

I was now extremely angry with Max. This had happened to me so many times before. I let him hurt me time and time again. It was a repetitive cycle. Now I had nowhere to go and no one to talk to. It was also dark and this probably wasn't in my best interest. I felt like I had put myself in danger.
"I'm so stupid" I thought to myself. "What was I thinking storming out of there like that? Now I'm out in the cold." I shivered before continuing to walk down the dark street lit by one single street lamp. As I walked without a destination I noticed a car. At first, it didn't concern me, but it was getting closer and picking up speed a bit. No one was around and this car had been tailing me for a while. I started to panic and began walking faster. As I did this the car slowed down. "Good. Maybe they'll leave me alone" I thought. "Maybe I'm overthinking this!"

I quickly turned the corner, but not long after the car followed. I was being followed. I was certain of it. My head started to pound as I took off into a jog. Then a fast-paced run."I need to get somewhere where there are people." I thought as my mind got hazy. What was I thinking? No one would be around at this hour. It was too early.

As I ran I noticed the car still tailing after me. When I turned so did the car. My endurance wasn't the best. It had been forever since my last decent workout and my recent hospital visit didn't help. I still wasn't 100% back to normal so running in the dark wasn't really a good idea.

Eventually, I got to a point where the houses had ended. There was a path for bikes that went up a hill. "Great" I whispered to myself. "A late-night hike. Just what I need after running away from a creepy car following me."

This was really my only choice though. I either went up to the path or let the car catch up to me. I had no choice. Running away had allowed me to put some space between us, but not much. I could barely breathe and was extremely tired. I took a large breath before walking up the path. As I carefully navigated my way up I was able to see the headlights of the same car that was following me in the distance. The car was stopped right before the path. "Please turn around" I hoped in my mind. I really wasn't up to running away anymore. Why couldn't whoever this was just leave me alone? I'm literally on a random hill in the middle of the night because I decided to argue with Max. Technically stand up for myself. And this is what I get? A crazy stalker! Amazing just amazing.

I kneeled down behind a large log once I had reached a decent height on the hill. The path was beginning to get narrow and the darkness was making it very hard for me to travel through the tremendously thick dirt and grass mixture. It had also previously rained so it was all muddy. I was covered in disgusting mud. At this point, all I really wanted to do was be in Max's arms. Or at least in the comforts of his home. He made me feel safe. "Safe" I whispered. That was probably the farthest from what I was feeling now. I felt like at any moment I would reach my end. A cold and brutal end. Especially with the passengers of that car after me.

I peeked through the thick bushes in front of the log and saw the car still standing below at the bottom of the hill with the headlights still on. I was terrified. Why was the car still there?

Suddenly I heard a large explosion towards the base of the hill. A fire erupted. The car then sped off into the street. The air filled with smoke as the thick bright orange flames began to crawl slowly up the hill. The fire was getting closer to me. Whoever was in that car tried to kill me. They lit the hill on fire knowing I was somewhere on it. They knew I went up the path. I had no other option.

Smoke filled my lungs. I began to cough. I was already extremely tired and fatigued, but this made it ten times worse. I stumbled before getting up. I started walking up the hill to the top. I needed to get away from the smoke and that was the only way. I needed to go higher. I climbed until my legs gave out. I heard fire alarms in the distance. Smoke filled my lungs. My vision blurred. And then I fell hard against the muddy floor as the fire got closer.

The sounds of the firetrucks filled my ears. Sound. That was my only sense left. And even that soon gave out. Everything faded to nothing as I laid on the cold floor.