Running From a Shadow

Almost Perfect

Mark's P.O.V.

My cellphone rang out three times before a hysterical Jack picked up. His voice, although breaking with an unknown terror, made my heart flutter. His voice so wonderful to hear after his wicked look-a-like had warned me not to breath a single word of our conversation.

"Mark? Oh thank God!" He shakily sobbed out uncontrollably into the phone.

"Jack! Calm down. I'm here." I tried to make my voice as soothing as possible to ensure he would feel safe within the room he had most likely hidden himself in. "I'm coming to find you. Can you tell me where you are?"

"The-the forest...just behind my home. Treehouse." He sniffled before whispering "can you stay on with me?"

"I would never leave you, Jack. Just hold on, okay?"

I followed his instructions, though reluctant to enter the forest this late at night. For Jack, I would think with each step. I have to do this for Jack...

I came across a large treehouse situated in the center of a gigantic weeping willow. The moon just barely illuminating the ground as I walked to the base of the tree. It was made of fine oak, slightly rotting of age. I looked up to the platform. I didn't know how to get up there...

"Jack? Are you up there?" I whispered just loud enough to leave an echo. There were quiet footsteps creaking above me. The tint of green hair peaked from the window. Then, he disappeared. After a moment of feet tip toeing across the wood and something dragging along with them, a ladder stretched down to welcome me to the treehouse. I climbed the steps into the cramped space. Jack was sitting, curled up in a ball near the entrance.

"Jack! Thank God you're okay!" I took a small step closer, not wanting to overwhelm him. He looked up, red veiny eyes staring back up at me. He quickly stood up and ran over to me. Within seconds, his arms were wrapped tightly around my waist, his face nestled into my shoulder. His body jerking ever so slightly as he sobbed.

Finally, he pulled back, his hands now on my shoulders. Our eyes locked as I stared into the oceans that were his eyes. I used my thumb to gently brush the tears off of his cheeks before walking him to a chair situated in the center of the room.

"What happened, Jack?" I asked softly. I felt like a mother, my voice just as soothing as any mom would want to be in a crisis such as this one.

"I don't know." He was so quiet, as if he was losing his voice. But he soon gained confidence and shared what had happened.
"I was walking home and someone started following me. I ran to the tree and thought I'd gotten away, but he showed up inside like he was there to begin with. He looked like..." Jack looked away from my eyes. He stared off into the trees swaying in the soft wind of the night. I pulled him back to my gaze with one finger.

"He looked like what?" I whispered, trust filling my eyes.

"He...he looked like you, Mark. Only he had red eyes...a-and he had a deeper voice." I was shocked. How could someone look exactly like me? It couldn't have been a coincidence that someone had long, red and black hair. It couldn't have been a coincidence that this person had the same facial features and build that I did. It's just not possible.

I softened as to not worry Jack any further. I wrapped my arm around his shoulder and walked him to the corner of the room. We sat down together and he buried his face into my neck. When his breathing relaxed, I leaned my face into his hair, breathing in his pine smell. It was weird considering he loved near oak trees, but he smelled completely of pine. His hair tickled my nose lightly and I fell into a deep sleep I haven't had in weeks. It was almost perfect. Almost...