After-Life

Chapter 21. A Race for Life

Pan's head leered closer to Mabel's with a Cheshire-cat grin spread widely across his face. Mabel could feel his hot breath blowing out of his mouth over her skin and she recoiled at it.
"Please, Pan! Not in front of the children!" She heard herself feebly whisper, as a final desperate plea.
"MISS WEAVER, NO!" Helga's cry echoed around Mabel's head as with a flurry, Pan leapt up with a triumphant cry and, grabbing Mabel's leg, flung her across the room.

Mabel landed heavily, but it was not on a plush carpet. Standing up shakily, she was surprised to discover that she was stood on a dusty path. She shivered as the cool moonlit air softly caressed her skin. She was outdoors, yet none of the environment she was in, was recognisable! One thing was certain however, Pan had disappeared. The only sound Mabel could hear was that of her heart pounding in her head, as she hastily she tried to steady her breathing, all the while straining her ears for the slightest sound. Where on earth had Pan taken her?

"How's this for privacy?" Pan's voice echoed all around her, menacingly close and distant all at once.
Mabel jumped up and looked around; "where are you? Coward!" She could hear the ill-hidden fear in her voice and hated herself for being so weak.
"That would spoil the fun, don't you think?" Pan's voice cackled, wickedly. "I've always enjoyed spectating a good hunt. Maybe it's time I partook in one, myself."
Mabel was relieved to feel a sense of frustration touch her inner core, "are you a cat, Pan? Toying with your game, before finishing it off? I'm not biting. You either address me now or return us both to the hotel room. My friends will find you regardless! There's nothing you can do to me that they won't do to you, tenfold!"
Pan laughed, heartily; "this one has spirit!" He cooed, his voice rippled on the leaves and through the trees; "however, I have a little bargain for you."

"MISS WEAVER!" The gut-wrenching scream of a young girl shattered the serenity of the woodland.
Mabel's stomach somersaulted, "HELGA?!" She called out.
Pan's laughter was manic, "Here's a deal for you Miss Weaver, come find the young Mayor's daughter; and I will return you both to the waking world."
Mabel looked around her. There was nothing to indicate in what direction Helga or Pan were based, "I'll need some clues as to where you are!" She called out into the glade.
Pan's chuckle sounded almost like a sinister growl, "not a problem. I will take you to her, myself – you will just have to outrun me, Weaver!"

Mabel barely had time to register his words when the thunderous sound of hooves gathered to her left. Spinning in the opposite direction, instinctively; Mabel burst into a fast sprint. As she gained ground away from the galloping hooves, she felt her attire change around her. Looking down, she gasped as her pyjama trousers and vest changed into a chiffon gown, tied with a rope around her waist. As she continued to race forwards, she felt the dirt, stones, and twigs stab at her feet, and swiftly realised she was now running bare foot through the woods. Pan's laughter sounded to her right, and hastily, Mabel swirled immediately to her left, darting off the path and between the trees, her mind a blur of sheer panic.

"MISS WEAVER! HEAD TO THE RIVER!" Helga's voice rang out in the distance, but Mabel couldn't see a river! She could barely see a thing before her. The world Pan had taken her to was indescribably dark. Even the moonlight struggled to break through the thick canopy of tree branches in full bloom. Bracken and brambles lashed out at her ankles and legs, snatching, and tearing at the chiffon robe.
Mabel's chest was burning from the exertion, and she could feel herself tiring. Just as she thought she could go on no more, the rumbling of hooves gathered speed behind her and Mabel's adrenaline coursed through her blood, pumping as much energy into her legs. Pan's demonic cry rang out almost directly to her left and Mabel cried out in terror as she dodged a vicious swipe from a muscular arm, as it reached out from behind a tree.

"HELGA!" Mabel cried out desperately, "I SEE NO RIVER!" She called, as she burst out into an open expanse, and looked around her.
There was a small, abandoned church that had seen better days, standing dilapidated and pitiful ahead of her to the right. Gathering her composure and gulping greedily at the citrusy air around her, she tried to think straight. Pan was a deity from an ancient religion, she reasoned, why would there be a church here? As she crept cautiously toward it, the bright light of something shining on the ground to her left, caused her to stop in her tracks. Hardly daring to believe her eyes, she hurried toward it and despite everything, she grinned. It was a small trickle of water, reflecting the weak moonlight, leading back into the forest to the left, away from the church.