The pounding of drums wasn't surpassed by the sound of my beating heart as I ran through the forest, trying to escape the shadow that was always chasing me. It smelled like an old rotting corpse and I knew that if I slowed down enough, I would be able to feel it's horrid breath on my neck. I was aware that if I stopped completely, I would feel like I was dying as the being sunk his poisonous claws into my shoulders, tearing at my body, ravenous, as he devoured my essence piece by piece. I had learned that one the hard way. My little brother shaking me awake, telling me to be quiet as the dream lingered around me. There was no slaying a shadow. There was only the hope that he would not find you. The drums pounded faster and faster, until suddenly. Everything stopped.
