A Love Like Ours || m.f.

14

Subtle breathing. Shallow breaths. Rapid Panting. Running. My legs move so quickly underneath me that I can't stop. Something is telling me that I can't stop. It was a reflex. An instinct.

I was back in Omaha, in the backyard of my childhood home.

My foot slipped from under me and I toppled onto the ground, but I didn't dare hesitate there. I clawed at the ground and picked myself up just as fast as I had fallen down. Faster. I was sprinting out of the backyard and towards the creek behind it. The branches tore through my clothes and skin as I rushed through them.

You can't outrun me.

My brain scattered at the unknown voice inside of it. My legs continued to move as fast as they could, as fast as I could run. I stopped for a moment in front of the creek to size it up. Could I jump it? My arm and left calf burned in pain from the scratches. I frantically whipped my head back and forth debating my circumstances. There was no other way, so I took a step backward and flung myself forward. My foot made contact with the mud on the other side and slipped, sending me plummeting into the frigid water. I knocked my head on large rock and limply floated down the river, hoping that whatever was after me would look past me.

You're hurt.

The voice resounded in my head again. I turned onto my back and shivered as the water seeped into the folds of my clothing.

I- I smell blood.

The voice in my head sounded out of control, but mostly it didn't sound like me. It wasn't me.

Where are you?

This time the voice was a low growl.

C'mon. I know you're conscious. Answer me.

It was an angry order, a bark. I used whatever strength I had left to grab onto the bank and pull myself up. My head was pounding and I couldn't see straight, but I still ran. I darted, swerving this way and that trying to avoid trees when I came into a clearing. My vision was blurred by the blood pouring from above my temple.

Ah there you are.

I turned and saw a figure emerge from the trees, but I didn't look long enough to take in the features. I ran in the other direction through grass that went up to my belly button.

Stop running.

I frowned as I continued in the direction I was going.

Is this all it is? A game to you? You'll just keep on running, and I'll still be here, chasing you. It. won't. end. So why don't you make it easy on me and just stop?

My pace slowed and I turned back in the direction. The figure wasn't tall per say, but it wasn't short.

Do you even know why you're running? Do you even remember?

The person moved closer, their voice still just a sound in my head. I blinked and when I opened my eyes again, it was Mark. His breath hot on my face. I cringed and backed up a step or two.

Scared?

I squeezed my eyes shut and told myself multiple times to wake up from whatever dream that I was having.

No. Don't leave. Not yet.

Once I realized I was dreaming, I was able to control it. Mark stepped closer as I started to fade out of this world.

Didn't you hear me?

His voice was enraged as he pushed his hands against my shoulder, sending me flying back three feet and landing on my side. I pinched my arm, but nothing happened. I wouldn't wake up. I couldn't.
Mark hovered over me, his eyes the color of the mud at the creek. It seemed as if his eyes were trying to apologize, but his body wouldn't listen.

Listen.

I pushed myself up with my elbows and wiped at the blood from my forehead.

Look at me.

His lips hadn't moved, the world oddly silent other than my corrupted thoughts. When I fixed my attention on the scratch of my leg he got angry, snatching my chin in his dirty hands. His eye color immediately went from the brown I knew to an opaque black. They were so shiny and dark I could see my reflection in them. My hair was clumped in knots half muddy, half streaked with blood, and totally drenched from the creek. The gash above my eyebrow was deep.

Why?

"Why what? Why don't you just talk to me? I'm right here." I snapped

He tightly gripped my neck and pulled me up into a standing position. I gasped for air and clawed at his hands, but he wouldn't let go.

"Mar-k" I struggled to process words as my throat closed tighter.

His eyes continued to turn darker and darker until even the whites of his eyes turned pitch black. I flailed my arms in an attempt to free myself, but I couldn't do it. My vision started to fade to grey when I placed my hand on his chest. He moved in disgust like my touch was painful. The color from his eyes were starting to drain once again to the color I was familiar with. He released my neck and I fell to the ground with a reassuring thud.

"Why are you different from everyone else!? I don't get it!" he turned and ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

I used this time to scramble backwards and rise from the ground. His back was still turned to me, so I made a run for it once again. My sopping clothes made it hard to progress through the grass. I didn't know where I was going, but anywhere was better than where I was. My body was still trying to regain from what just happened as I heaved in large gulps of air.

What? Where!?

I mentally cursed at myself. I can't keep this up. I could barely even see straight.

Then just give up.

I saw a drop off about twenty feet ahead of me so I ran towards it.

You're so persistent.

I reached the cliff with the sound of heavy footsteps behind me. I peered down the cliff and was met with the ocean. It was so dark and blue. It moved in irregular patterns, twirling in circles here, and crashing into rocks there.

Don't do it.

But it was so far down. I peeked behind me and saw Mark's figure. He was about three feet away, walking at a leisurely pace.

You can't do it. I knew you wouldn't be able to.

I stood facing him at the very edge of the cliff. Our gazes stuck to each other. I could hear the faint crashing of the waves below as he approached closer.

His grin was malicious, his eyes a piercing black. His grubby hand reached out for my arm, but before he could touch me, I sucked in a deep breath and jumped.

I felt weightless, floating through the free air, waiting for the water to close in around me. I plummeted farther. The sweet feeling of free falling finally ended when the water reached my feet and then quickly the rest of my body. This action and the feeling of the icy water in my skin cause me to wake.

I was in the same place I had fallen asleep, nestled against Mark's chest. His head was buried close to mine. I was sweating like mad, my brow practically drenched. I took a deep breath and refilled my lungs, careful not to wake the sleeping Mark. It took everything inside of me not to wake him, to make sure his eyes were the color I remembered.