Turn Away | c.h

Chapter 12 - State of Grace

I wrapped my arms around myself, my breath hitching as I looked beside me. The street lamp flickered above me, casting my shadow in front of me, giving me something to focus on.

The street was completely empty, but not necessarily quiet. I could hear something following my every footstep; I don't know if it was just my paranoia or my imagination. But every time my foot hit the ground, it seemed to echo a few meters behind me. No matter how many times I checked behind my back, I never caught sight of whatever was following.

I picked up my pace, my breath short and deep. I was almost home, I was less than a block away.

My body jumped as I heard a voice from behind. This time, I caught sight of a figure. It was a man. He was limping towards me, hands crippled and fingers curled as he followed after me.

I walked forward, trying not to glance back at him too obviously. Surely he wasn't actually following me; he couldn't have been.

I attempted to talk some sense to myself as I wrapped my arms around my chest, trying to keep myself warm. The thick, black land beside me had me on edge. The fact I couldn't see in, but knew whatever was in there could see out, had me almost shaking. I hated this entire situation. Maybe I should've stayed at that damn restaurant.

It was when I turned the corner and glanced behind me, I saw the stranger do the same. That's when I felt myself panic. My pace picked up incredibly, to the point I was running. Frantically looking behind me, the stranger continued to follow my steps, his legs going as fast as they could.

I ran past the old, pitch black park, knowing my house was down this road. My breath was incredibly irregular, I was struggling to get any air into my lungs as I tried to run. I got to the point of exhaustion, that I tripped over my own feet, completely distracted by how close the man was.

"Fuck," I cursed, sitting up. I felt my knees and arms begin to sting as blood already began seeping from the grazes. I mustered up all the energy I had left to stand up, scampering to my feet as the stranger grew closer and closer.

My house was now in view, but it seemed even further away now that I was living in a world of pain. One step after another, I was closer to my house. The man still followed hot on my tail, hands curling outwards as if he was reaching for me. I puffed out continuously, trying to focus on my save haven and not on the pain growing stranger across my body.

When I reached my house, I sprinted to my door, squatting to grab the spare key from under the mat. I shakily found it, lifting it up and trying to slot it in the keyhole.

I glanced over my shoulder, feeling my body tremble in fear as the strange man stood before the pathway to my house. Completely still, he watched me, his silhouette staring me down as I trembled to get inside. The second the lock clicked open, I forced the door open, letting myself inside and slamming the door shut. I locked it shut, alongside the other lock for even more safety- to put my mind at ease.

I backed away from the door, my exhausted body still shaking. My heavy breaths filled the silence, as I tried to gasp for air.

I stood in front of the door for a few minutes, regaining my strength and tiredness and I wondered if the man was still there. Carefully, I stepped towards the window, shaky hands reaching out to grab the curtain.

I pulled the fabric back, looking out to my front yard. The man still stood there, eyes glowing under the street lamp. His eyes shone a hazel, orange colour, they were the most prominent feature, even from this far.

My movements had completely ceased as he slowly blinked, eyes staring straight at me. And slowly, he backed away. He turned and began retracing his steps back down the street.