Monster

chapter one - run

"we all want to run away from the things we can't hide from."

Scarlett's POV

Tripping over the twigs in the forest, I still ran into the dark, crepuscular wilderness, wanting forlornly to escape from the nightmarish creatures that were chasing me. From them, most significantly. It was all because of them, that it appeared in my head, unable to stop tormenting my thoughts. Something dismal, obstreperous, that could barely be restrained, was the bane of my thoughts, and it was a curse that could never be taken away.

Dirt and sweat formed a blanket on my skin, as well as the many scratches and bruises from past memories that I never wanted to remember ever again. If I'd gone through that again, I would never survive.

There was almost nothing I could see in the pitch black darkness that was being a hindrance to my sight. The smell of fresh rain filled my nostrils, as I swiftly ran through the forest. Not once had I dared to look back, afraid of what would be behind me.

They wouldn't catch me. This time, I wouldn't let them. They couldn't catch me. This was my only chance to finally escape from their tight clutches that were constantly pulling me under their control, like chains tying me down to a helpless rock.

I was aware that the territory belonged to someone else, but I still stumbled into the muddy area, fresh from the recent rain. I had no choice but to run. I didn't care whether I would be murdered as I sped through the wild.

It's just better to be killed by someone who you don't even know rather than the people that were supposed to love you.

The branches almost seemed to be reaching out to me, as if they were bony hands that were competing to catch me. In the dimly lit forest, I could barely see anything, even with my werewolf sight. The forest was eerily silent, and the only thing I could hear were the raspy breaths coming out of my mouth.

The specific scent I had grown to hate filled the air, and I knew that they were close. Close enough to catch up with me. The mere thought sent a shiver of fear down my spine, a feeling of sheer panic. I had to move faster.

Tripping blindly across the ground, I moved as fast as I could. No. I'm not going to let that happen. The memories of the scars, the bruises were just too much to take, overwhelming me. For a second, I stumbled over my clumsy footsteps, before regaining my balance once again.

With a final rush of energy pulsing through my veins, I sped forward, only to be pushed back by what seemed like an invisible force. Turns out, it was only my hesitation that stopped me, that prevented me from going forward.

Did I really want to do this? Did I really want to sign a death warrant?

Gulping in fear, I sped forward. This was my chance to escape from them; this was my chance for freedom, though it may not last long.

'You always have a choice', my parents had told me. I was only a little girl back then, gullible and vulnerable. Never had I expected for the world to be such a cruel place.

Taking a deep breath, I ran through the border, knowing they wouldn't dare go through another's territory. It would start a war that wasn't even supposed to happen.

The voice in my head spoke up, ever so softly, whispering words that I never wanted to hear again. It would always torment me, no matter where I go, whether I was with the pack or not.

I ran forward, not even daring to take a glance at what was behind me. Exhausted, I laid down, a sense of relief flooding my senses, though I knew that I had a low chance of surviving. Never have I ever dreamed about the day I would escape. Every day, my hope was gradually being diminished, with every word they spat, with every hit they delivered, with the voices in my head creating a cacophony of noise that affected me in a way that I never expected.