Salem (ON HOLD)

Chapter 3

{Editing Status: Unedited}

The next morning, I decided to go for a run in the woods, as I needed to clear my head before I went to work. I checked my watch before I left the house; it was six o'clock. Nobody was awake. The house was eerily silent, like it always was. Not even Aurelia was awake, and she usually awoke early. As I sat on the front porch, I slipped my sneakers on. I used to be on the track team at school, and I hadn't gone running in a long time, meaning I was probably horrifyingly unfit. I stretched my calves before hopping off the porch, and I started off jogging at a slow and steady pace. The air was thin this morning, and cold. I saw my breaths as I ran. I turned out of the garden, and onto the road, which was desolate.

I pushed my legs out in front of me, gaining pace, and my breathing became harder and more shallow. I really was unfit. I climbed over the gate that lead into the wood. It was the same wood that Liana and I were racing each other in the other day. The same one that Aurelia had warned me to not go in. The sun was slowly rising over the black trees. It filled the sky with mighty colors of red and splashed the clouds with endless rays of pink. The red light softly caressed the land. It was beautiful.

I entered a break in the trees and willed my legs to go even faster, so that the trees around me were a dark, blurry haze. My heart pumped fast in my chest. The icy wind bit my cheeks, and my eyes streamed as I sprinted. When I was deep into the wood, I slowed down to a jog, and then a walk. I rested my hands on my knees and breathed deeply and quickly, my chest tight from the frigid air. When my heart beat had slowed down considerably, I sat on the soft soil underneath my feet, and leaned against a tree, closing my eyes so I could listen to the faint sounds of birds singing in the distance.

I could smell the vague scent of rain from last night that still lingered in the air; it was tangible on my tongue. I sighed deeply.

Then I heard the loud, distinctive sound of a twig cracking. I sat up, my eyes wide. My ears pricked, trying to figure out which direction the sound came from. It sounded quite close. I laughed at myself. It was probably just an animal. I had seen deer in this wood before. But it was such a loud crack.

Another twig cracked.

I stood up, and looked around me, trying to see if anything was through any gaps in the trees. But I couldn't see anything. I turned around, and ran the same way I came, keeping my eyes and ears pealed for any sight or sound. Then, I slowed down to a walk, and looked behind me. There was nothing there, of course. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes; I was clearly just being paranoid because of what Aurelia had told me.

It's not safe, she had said. What did that even mean? I heard the muffled, but definite, sound of a laugh in the distance. A laugh, or a cackle? The sound sent shivers up and down my spine, and goosebumps appeared on my skin.

Run, Ivana. Run, I thought.

With a burst of adrenaline, I started to sprint. My legs were aching in protest, but I ignored them stubbornly. Breathless, I carried on pushing myself faster and faster. There was a faint light in the distance, and I felt relieved. I was getting closer. I looked back, to see if anything was possibly following me. There wasn't. As I turned my head to look behind me, I slammed into a tree. I fell backwards, my sight suddenly blurry and stars danced across my vision.