My heart was racing. My head was pounding. Both my legs burned of pain. I couldn’t catch my breath, I was breathing hard and fast. I’ve been running for hours, in the woods. I stopped near a tree because i started feeling sick. I could feel the bile rising in my throat. I couldn’t help but let it out. I used the back of my hand to wipe my mouth.
“God, I’m not cut out for this," I mumbled to myself.
I sat down and tried to catch my breath. I opened the water bottle that I had in my right and drained the remains of it. Putting the empty bottle beside, I laid back on the grass and looked towards the sky.
It was so quiet in the woods, you could hear the sound of a river nearby; I could also hear the beating of my heart. I like the peace and quiet, it’s actually relaxing. Closing my eyes, I sighed and breathed in the fresh air of the woods. All I can smell is the dirt and grass.
SNAP!
I opened my eyes and sat straight up to see if anything or someone was around. No one was around. I exhaled out, realizing I was holding my breath. I laid my back down but my body was stiff.
Maybe it was a small creature, I thought, or it was probably a branch that fell on top of another.
Naming the possibilities of what cause the snap helped me relax. I closed my eyes once more, and drifted off into sleep.
**** **** ****
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
My eyes open to see the nighttime skies. I realize my phone was ringing. Before I could pick it up it stopped. It was my a miss call my mother. I look at my phone to see the time was seven thirty.
I slept for that long!
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
My mother was calling me again. This time I picked up.
“Hello?” I said, sitting straight up
“Zoey where are you?” My mom asked. Her voice sounded calm but I detected a hint of worry among.
How do you tell your mom that you went running and fell asleep in the woods?
“Uhhh... I went running for alittle while and then I had to do some errands. I guess I lost, track of time,” I half lied.
My mother sighed, “Okay, just be home soon for dinner.”
“Okay love you, Mom,” I said.
“Love you, too. Bye.”
“Bye.” The call ended.
I got up and brush some dirt, that was one me, off. Even though it was night, there was still some light given off the moon. The sky was clear; the moon, in clear view, was bright white and a full moon.
I started walking so I could get out of the woods.
SNAP!
I flinched and looked around. There was no one insight. I stood still and silent. I heard the sound of more sticks snapping and getting closer.
Is someone following me?
I started walking, but a little faster this time. I notice the faster I walked the closer the sound came.
I broke off running, dashing through the woods as fast as I could, dodging the trees and jumping over logs and rocks. I didn’t look back, not even once.
