Running From The Past

Chapter 7

The distance want too far. Charlie was the best at long jump and held the school record for three years but this time she was crouching...in a tree...being hunted by a potential rapist...

Her knees were bent and ready to jump. Her body was shaking with adrenaline and fear. Matt was a few trees away. His face was filled with anger and hate.

Carefully she let go of the tree body and got ready to jump. Putting on foot first she leaped from one tree to the other, arms raised in the air. She cleared the jump and just made it to the other tree. Hugging the main body of the tree and one foot on a small flimsy branch. Her ideal landing area was a meter above her head.

Twigs snapped beneath her. She glanced down to see Matt was wandering around looking for her. Silently she prayed he wouldn't look up and spot her.

"Charlie...I know your there..." Matt taunted.

Slowly he wandered away, but he was still in sight. Carefully Charlie pushed on her foot hoping the branch wouldn't snap. Tiptoeing abled her to reach another branch above her head. It was thicker and more stable.

Using her upper body strength she pulled her self high enough to get her other arm to grab the branch. She was left helpless dangling in the air. Matt was still wandering around. He didn't know where she was but he knew she was stuck. Swinging a leg up Charlie hooked it on the branch and then the other leg. Pulling her self up she sat on the ranch and waited for her arms and legs to stop shaking. The branch she needed was just above her head.

Charlie slowly stood up as to not shake the branch and attract attention. Her arm reach and grabbed hold of the weapon. She pulled on it hard but it didn't come loose. Again. Again. Again. But the branch wouldn't come loose.

Steadying her feet she used both hands and pulled with all her might. Snap. It came undone.

Charlie let out a small scream as she fell back. She stuck her arms out and planted her feet firmly on the branch. Her make shift bat was still in her hand. It weighed a ton. She balanced the weight in both hands.

Looking down she could see Matt. He was standing at the tree she just jumped from.

"Charlie! I swear to God when I find you I'm gonna kill you!"  He shouted angrily.

'Show time!' Charlie thought and grinned.

Using the broken branch as a support she made her way down one branch, to another so she was closer to the ground. She didn't care about the amount of noise she made this time.

Pausing she could see Matts eyes searching everywhere for her.

"Charlie!" He shouted again.

"Yeah?" She shouted back trying not to laugh.

Matts face filled with confusion.

"Where are you!" Matt shouted again.

"Magicians never reveal their secrets." Grinning she leaned back and held her branch.

"Tell me where you are!"

"Shall I put you out of your misery?"

Charlie bent her knees and held her branch in her hand. Planning it in her head she jumped down from the tree, landing a few meters away from Matt.

"Ta da!" She shook her hands in the air and grinned. He was shocked to see her appear so suddenly.

"What the matter? I thought you wanted to see me?" Charlie made her voice sound disappointed and pouted.

"Where the hell did you come from?" Matt shouted at her.

"Err the tree..." she pointed behind her to the tree she just jumped from.

"Doesn't matter now anyway...it means we can finish where we left off." Matt came closer and wrapped his hands around her waist.

Charlie tried to pull away but her hips grinded against his causing him or moan.

"Get off me!"  Charlie said through gritted teeth.

"But why should I? The funs only just begun!" Matt smacked his lips against hers and forced his tongue into her mouth.

Charlie gagged and tried to push away but he just deepened it. Gripping the branch tightly in her hand she raised it high and brought it down on his head.

Matt made a choked noise and felt to the ground. He was still awake and watching her.

'Kill him...' Someone said in her ear.

Turning she saw no one. All there was was trees. Trees can't talk. Can they?

'He killed Red. Your lover. Your everything. Now he has to pay. You've started the job, now finished it....Finish it!' This person she didn't know screamed in her ear.

She looked around wildly, but she was alone besides Matt.

"I've gone insane..." she mumbled softly.

"What?" Matt whimpered in pain. A large gash on top of his head oozed with blood.

'Finish what you've started Charlie. It's the only way.'

Charlie looked at the branch and then at Matt.

"The only way for what?" She asked no one.

Matt gave her a confused look.

"You know Red can never rest until vengeance is served. So do it. Do it! Do it!'

Tears ran down her face.

"I hate you..." she turned to Matt and muttered.

"What...?" He gave another groan of pain.

"I! Hate! You!" Charlie screamed and bashed him again in the head. Over and over and over she hit him in he skull...until finally she stopped.

She was covered in blood. Her face, clothes, hair all had mud or blood or leaves stuck to them.

A disfigured body lay in front of her. Dropping the bloody branch she tipped her head to the side and looked at him.

'Well done...' said no one.

"Thanks!" She laughed and skipped away happily.