Once upon a story

Chaper Three

The forest felt darker this time, but more alive. The light from my torch lit a path through the gloom. I walked along the uneven path that had been worn through the forest, even in full light it was hard to navigate my way through the forest so I relied heavily on the torch beam that stretched out in front of me. Soon I wrapped my coat tighter around me in order to get warmer, the temperature drops at night and when in the forest which was a pain because I always seem to forget this fact, due to that pain that is fashion.

I made a steady pace on my walk, being out in the forest gives me time to think, my thoughts wondered to strange topics like food or the beach or school or music but they all seemed to circle back to that pair of vibrant green eyes that I saw in the forest last time. Slowly I begin to realise I am searching through the sides of the path, it takes me a while to realise I’m not just looking for anything. I’m looking for the eyes. What I remember is that they were quite high in comparison to normal animals so the creature must be quite tall and what really bugs me was how they looked at me. You would expect huge animals to look hungry or angry but I’m sure those eyes looked confused which is such a human emotion. Again I start to wonder what on earth this animal could really be, all I know is large, green eyes and human like but that doesn’t give me much to go on. I start to think back at what my parents would say what they did while researching a story, they would interview the character and visit the places mentioned in the story, in those terms I’m doing the best I can.

The torch beam begins to flicker before going out completely; in the sudden darkness my other senses feel heightened. I hear the sounds of the waterfall as if I was standing directly next to it and I would swear I heard a branch break as if it had been stepped on. I fumble for my spare battery and feel relieved when the familiar view of the forest path is visible once more; due to my pause I take the time to check my phone for the time. 22.15. It’s getting late but I don’t want to turn back yet, I still feel as if this journey was for nothing.

Suddenly the hairs on my neck stand on end. I spin around but see nothing, my eyes scan the forest around where I am standing and I remember the branch snapping sound I somehow heard when the light went out. I shrug the feeling as weird nerves or the fact I am over excited about being out so late. I turned once more and take a step. I shiver. I stop. A new sound had started from all around me, a slow pacing, there is a beat, one two, three, four, over and over again. Like footsteps but not of a two legged creature. I shiver. I began to walk again, my pace speeding up but so did the steps. I swiftly turned so that I was heading in the direction of home, surly I couldn’t have come too far. Slowly more sounds joined in, in time, practiced, like one being. A growl erupted from somewhere behind me. If there was an animal, the animal, I knew I couldn't out run it but I tired any way. I'm not a clumsy person and I even spent last summer building up stamina by jogging around the town but right when I was beginning to run for my life, right when I didn't need it. I tripped. I fell over my own feet or a root coming out of the ground.

My torch was lost on my fall but I didn't care I just needed to get out. In seconds I was up again and running. I felt my lungs burning where I had forgotten to breath. What type of person forgets to breath? Soon enough my leg muscles feel tight and strained but I even dare to slow down, the adrenalin pushing me forward. I was so buzzed on fear that the pain of my ankle and palms where I had fallen became non-existent.  When I finally saw the fence I let out an audible gasp which caused me to trip once more. I fall and begin crawl across the forest ground, unable to pull myself back into a standing position. The streetlights call for me from the other side of the fence and I longed to be out of the gloom of the forest, still on my hands I pushed myself under the fence and I feel my fingertips brush the concrete pavement when I was suddenly pulled back into the trees. I let out a scream as I felt whatever was pulling me dig its claws into my left leg; it was pulling me further and further back. I continued to scream out, I didn’t want to die by some animal in a dark forest and there is so much I still want to do with my life. I want to see my family again, my friends, my weird little house, there is so much I need to live for. Screaming out in pain I kicked back and made contact with something soft. It whimpered and let go of my leg quickly but I heard it hiss before reaching once more for me but I didn’t give it the chance. The creature barely missed me as I threw my body back under the fence and scrabbled to my feet.  Ignoring the pain that seemed to cover my body like a permanent chill I attempted to run back. I searing pain in my leg, that caused me to curse the world many a time in that journey, was the worst thing to overcome.  Somehow I managed to reach my house without falling over; quickly I was through the gate and inside. It was only when I was doubled over behind the front door did I notice the blood soaking through my trouser leg.

I felt dizzy with the sudden stench of blood and the pain in my leg:

"Jack?! Mum?! Dad?!" I called out to my bother and to my parents as I felt my head become heavy. I heard a muffled reply as darkness covered me. I didn't feel myself hit the floor.