Death by locket

The Chase

I was running as fast as my legs would go. It didn't matter that the gnarled branches of the forest were hitting me with their furious whips nor did it matter that my feet were weeping crimson tears from the vicious thorns on the path because the despair clenching my heart was choking me worse; making it hard for me to breathe. Panting I turned back to see if they were gaining speed and sure enough I saw their menacing silhouettes a few feet away. I saw that this wasn't the time to rest so sobbing wretchedly I spun around continued running through the thicket away from my former friends.

The afternoon I had been trying to forget came rushing back at me causing a searing pain to burn in my head. Gasping I stopped and grabbed my chest, a scream of anguish escaping my lips as I collapsed in a fetal position shuddering uncontrollably.

The images came in flashes. I remember getting ready to play with the local kids who I deemed my friends only to find a note telling me that the game they had decided to play would be by the Rushmere forest. Seeing nothing of it I excitedly ran to the forest in anticipation of this new game only to find Jon-the oldest boy- leaning on a tree a grin forming on his face along with a light twinkle of his eyes.

I thought this meant pleasure to see me so I grinned back. I never thought they liked me so much before and as he explained the rules of the game - a tag where everyone was it and I was to be caught- the grin never went nor the twinkle.

They thought I was stupid as I barely spoke yet I saw the club he had in his hand. I saw a few shadows in the trees with a large objects in their hands and didn't like the unpleasant sensation I could feel in my stomach. I asked if we could play something else but was given an affirmative no. This did nothing to ease my discomfort and so when they told me to run with a 10 seconds head start I took it.

As I ran I heard them in hysterics and I heard them......heard them call me such horrid names which I hadn't been subjected to in a while that made me realise the immense hatred they had for me.

Now I can hear the footsteps getting closer so I pick myself up, tears streaming down my face and try to quieten the hysterical hiccups making me jump. Shakily I change my path to one containing more bushes and thorns as I know it'll buy me some time. I have no idea what they want to do to me yet with a sickly feeling swirling in my stomach I can sense that If they catch up to me then I'm surely going to end up dead.

Being the way I am I know that my legs will fail me at some point and I will be a goner yet for now though aching with stitches and literally jelly my legs will endure the run because otherwise I'm done for.

I use the aid of the trees to push myself forward. My mind has become numb, on automatic and I feel nothing other than my heavy body as I venture on deeper into the midnight forest. Gulping nervously I cautiously enter a clearing in the middle of which is a house.