Matches

Chapter 1

I walked through the trees. The sky was ablaze in a bright orange and red sunset. Leaves were dim and blotting out the stars and moon. I zipped up my jacket. Summer has been getting surprisingly cool.

Gravel crunched under my feet as I hiked through the small forest. I inhaled deeply, taking in the smell of wet grass. Puddles still littered the forest floor.

I walked up to a damp bench. Sitting down, I closed my eyes, listening to...nothing? Not a single bird call. Not even the quiet chatter of squirrels. Strange. I looked down at my phone. 7:32. Hmm. The birds usually didn't quiet down until the sun set, around 8.

No, something was wrong. I wasn't sure if it was because of the eire quiet, or the deep fear that suddenly took hold of me, chilling me to the bone. I stood, suddenly in a hurry to get home, or at least out of this forest. I walked faster, almost a jog.

A branch snapped!

I jumped and looked down at my feet, seeing a broken twig. I chuckled at myself and continued walking, a tad slower than before.

Another snap.

I stopped and glanced down at my feet again. There was only gravel, no twig or leaf in sight.

Again, I heard a snap. My breathing quickened. I continued walking very slowly, very quietly.

SNAP!

My eyes darted to where the sound originated. I looked for any signs of movement,even the slight quivering of leaves. Everything was silent and still.

A breeze whispered through the air, shifting my hair the slightest bit. A giggle. That's all it took for me to completely loose my nerve/shit. It wiggled it's way into my ear, rooting it's seed into my mind. Something about it was completely off. Maybe it was the way it sounded like it was a child with a mans voice, full of excitement and mischievousness. Or how it drifted off at the end, not fully stopping, like it would continue on for eternity. But I think it was because it came from right behind me.

Whatever it was, I ripped my mind back to the present and whipped around. My eyes darted back and forth, praying for anything except for the emptiness before me. My legs took off before I realized I was moving.

This isn't right, I thought. It shouldn't be taking this long. I didn't walk this far. Yet all around me were trees, trees, and more trees.

I tripped on a branch, or a root, or something, and flew forewords. Instincts brought my hands over my face. I shrieked as my left palm landed on something sharp. Cold water soaked through my jeans and shoes as I scrambled out of the the puddle I fell into. I turned around to get back into the trail. It wasn't there.

(479 words)