Fallen

Chapter Eight

~8~

            Outside the air is warm. Without my Pod I don’t have the exact time, but the sky is a dark black and the moon and stars shine brightly above. We learn in school where all of the other towns are located and I know that if you go through the woods that you will approach many of the nearby towns, so I make my way to the white fence that separates the town from the edge of the woods. It is there mainly so little kids can’t go wander in the woods, but I am no longer a little kid.

            I walk forward and climb up onto the fence then throw my leg over the top and climb down the other side. Hopefully no one saw me and will follow me, I think to myself. Then I stalk into the woods.

            I’ve never really been in the woods, so I don’t know what to expect. Of course I’ve read plenty of books that took place in the woods so I am at least prepared. I walk forward – what I assume is forward, anyway – and see no signs of other humans anywhere. I do see animals and plants that I thought I would only ever read about in books, though. After not seeing anybody, many of my fears of getting caught go away, but other fears take their place.

            I feel lonely. I am so terrified that I might get lost or maybe threatened by an animal and nobody will hear me cry. That would be the death of a coward. When it’s finally my time to go, I want to go like my mother – without any doubts and any tears.

            An owl hoots in the distance and it makes me jump. When I do, I see the silhouette of a person behind me. At first I think I might just be paranoid so I keep walking. After I walk a few yards, I hear leaves crunch behind me. I refuse to turn around and look behind me. It’s just the wind, I tell myself. More leaves crunch. Just the wind.

            When leaves crunch behind me for the third time, I try a little harder to persuade myself, “It’s just the wind,” I say out loud, almost yelling.

            “No it isn’t,” a voice says behind me.