Runaway

VII

A/N: My app is weird and won't let me italicize things so sorry her conversations in her head aren't italicized!
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I sat at the long wooden table enjoying the smell that was lingering through the air. Whatever he was cooking smelled amazing; Nothing like I've ever smelled before. I'm hoping it tastes even more amazing than it smells.

The clock that was mounted on the wall endlessly ticked. My eyes slowly traced over it and I had noticed it read 7:24 p.m. I tried to keep my eyes trained on my hands or the table or anything in his house that wasn't the clock. After avoiding it for long enough, I decided to plan out the rest of my evening.

It was dangerously dark outside for 7:24. His curtains fell in just the right way so I was able to peek outside. Everything was silent outside. Not a calm, enjoyable type of silent, but a something's-not-right type of silent. I could hear nothing but Dakota messing around in the kitchen.

As soon as my eyes read the time and noticed how dark it was outside I felt a lump in my stomach. I had to think about how I was going to get home but instead I decided to put it in the back of my mind and push the feeling in my stomach aside. Right now, all I wanted to do is enjoy a normal, professionally prepared meal.

He had mentioned a few times on our walk back into town that his parents were chefs and he grew up learning about cooking. "Anything I make tastes astonishing," he'd say. Well, I am about to find out.

Something isn't right.

I kept telling myself that over and over and I just couldn't shake that feeling; The feeling that something bad is going to happen or that I'm going to get hurt. I kept trying to figure out what it could be. Is it them? No, it can't be.

Nothing's wrong. No. Something is wrong. Why is it so dark and quiet outside? This isn't right. Maybe everyone just decided to go to sleep early. That could be it, right? Maybe no one in this town has-

"Here we have a fresh cut of salmon, grilled to taste, topped with a refreshing mango salsa. On the side we have steamed asparagus, lightly salted and a bottle of perfectly aged red wine." He interrupted my deep thoughts.

I abruptly got up from the neatly set table and grabbed my bag from the ground. I gave him a half worried-half apologetic look and headed towards the door.

"I... I have to go..." I say quickly as I close the front door behind me.

I paused for a moment on his front porch, my back leaning against the door.

I need to get out of here. Now.

I started sprinting. I ran as fast as I could, dodging past the very few cars that were out lurking the streets. I tried my hardest to keep the hood over my head, just in case.

Crap. I guess he won't get his hoodie back...

After about 5 minutes or so I finally reached the edge of the woods. I stopped, staring into the deep, dark, dangerous woods. I took a deep breath, nodded to myself, and continued my sprint home.

I tried my hardest to block out everything and just focus on my breathing. That wasn't hard until about half way home.

*Crack*

I froze.

What was that? It was probably me or a bunny or even a lizard. There really isn't any need to worry, B.

Huh? Was that... was that a.. growl? An animal? Wait, what's rustling in the bushes? Maybe I should start running. Yeah, good id---