Happy

Monsters in the dark

Heavy breathing. Pounding feet. Hearts racing. Blood pumping. Lights shining through the trees. The darkness suffocating.

Trees appearing from nowhere, their branches whipping back; cutting and bruising soft, dirtied skin.

Two children, no older than 11, sprint through the dark forest. Shouts of men from behind echo in their ears. Their heavy footsteps dauntingly close behind them. The barks of rabid dogs echoing through the night; pushing the children on further.

"Come on Prim!"

One of the children, a young boy, pulled the girl forward. Sweat rolling down his forehead as his body screamed to stop, aching for relief.

"I-I can't do it, Joey! I-I-it hurts so-so bad!" Prim cried out.

In the darkness, as Joey looked back for a second, he could see blood soaking her rags. Dripping to the floor. Glinting in the dim light of the moon.

"You can do it! Come on! Just a little further! I promise!"

Just up ahead, through the leaves of the trees, Joey could see a small drop and the sound of rushing water.

"See! It's the river! We can do this! We have to do this!"

A new burst of energy, pumped through the children's muscles as the river gave them a ray of hope. Their legs pounding and adrenaline racing. They finally reached the drop.

Peering down over the edge, they only had a few seconds before the men would catch up.

"Joey, I'm scared!" Prim cried, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Don't worry, I'm here with you! We can do it together!" Joey said bravely.

Grabbing Primrose in a tight, protective hug, they jumped down into the rushing water below. By the time the men finally made it to the edge of the drop it was already too late. The kids had already disappeared under the gushing water.

The dogs jumped about restless; barking furiously as they were too scared to jump in after them.

"They got away!" One of the men grunted. "Search the forest! Don't let them get away!"

The men all dispersed, leaving the rushing waters and venturing back into the forest.