Running (On hold)

Chapter Two.

I awoke to the hard, damp stone covered track greeting my face with a kiss. The black edges had gone from my vision and so had my attackers. I lay on the floor hardly daring to move, just in case my attackers returned. I could see the sun just disappearing behind the tall green trees and I knew I had to move. still lying on the ground, I stuck my hand into the front pocket of my jeans to search for my phone, but it was not there. in fact nothing remained in my pockets, they were bare apart from the small note I had been handed at my uncles funeral just before I was attacked. The words that where written in my uncles smart sweeping style echoed around my brain:

"Dear Milly, I love you and I trust you, this is important, time is important. love, your uncle, Charlie Taylor"

I missed him more than ever at that point, he had always been there, he was my only relative who agreed to be my guardian after my parents left for south Africa to join the native tribes. and now he's gone, and god only know where my parents are. I felt more alone than ever.

I lay on the forest floor for longer than was probably wise, letting the cold from the damp autumn leaves seep through every inch of my body, as my thoughts seeped through every inch of my brain.

Then I tensed as I felt the claws sink into my left palm, the chill in my bones disappeared as warmth ran up my cheek, my eyes flickered at the sight of the black and white face, the deep brown eyes that bore into my skull, but they wern't intimidating they had a more longing and wary quality. I sat up, trying to ignore the dull ache that ran through me as I pushed the collie dog off my arm.

My parents used to have a dog like that when I was young, he used to sit at the end of my bed; protecting me from bad dreams and pain and evil. Tommy was my best friend for many years of my young life, and I think my parents thought It was unhealthy for me to be that attached to a dog, but he helped me and listened to me and I always repaid him for everything he did with a small scratch behind the ear and a piece of bacon off my breakfast plate. I never had many friends at primary school, but I always had Tommy. He had to go when I was 9, my parents couldn't take him to Africa with them, just like how they couldn't take me. I was alone without Tommy, and the sight of the collie made my eyes swell with tears. I buried my face into the soft fur of the face that was still staring up at me, letting a black and white blur obstruct my senses. A soft comforting smell filled my nostrils as the dog pushed its self closer to me, but this dog was not Tommy and I had to force myself to remember that. This dog belonged to someone and that someone would come looking for their dog sooner or later, they could help me, but I wasn't sure that I could trust anyone after I was attacked not two hours ago. I could hear footsteps approaching faintly, they hadn't seen me yet. I had to make a decision, I could run, but i was weak or I could stay and hope that whoever is coming will help me.

The Collie dog must have given me away already so I stayed put and closed my eyes. I heard a twig snap near my foot and a shiver ran through me, it was then that I wished that I hadn't closed my eyes but I couldn't change it now, I wanted to seem helpless and nonthreatening so that whoever was coming towards me wouldn't feel as if they had to defend themselves or attack me.

a muffled command came from above me, "Flinn com'ere"

I heard paws skutter across the damp forest floor and then the cold nose of the Collie pressed against my arm again. My muscles tightened when the wetness of the dogs nose took me by surprise but I did my best to stay as still as possible.

"get up"

my eyes stayed shut and I didn't move.

"you're trespassin' on private land, get up"

My eyes flickered and mud covered wellies came into my vision.

"how did you get here?"

"I" I had to cough the words up my rough dry throat "I was chased."

The man was clear to me now, a wool hat covered most of his head but I could still tell that the hair below the navy wool was graying and so was the stubble that was growing too long around his split lips and discoloured teeth.

"who chased you?" his voice was rough and accusing, I felt as if he was holding a gun to my head as I spat out,

"I don't know who they were" my voice trembled as I realised "and I don't know why they were chasing me"

There was a change in the man's expression it became more inquisitive and pitiful.

"two men and a woman?" he questioned. I nodded, too shocked to even speak. How had he known that, I had only just registered my attackers through the blurry darkness of my pain, how had he known them.

"you best come with me then." a large rough hand was extended to me and I hardly hesitated to take it.

"My name's John, and I guess I will be protecting you for a while now."

protecting me? What was he talking about.

"I'm Milly" I introduced myself before following John away from where I had fallen, towards, well towards wherever safety was.