The One in the Woods

Evelyn.

My name is Evelyn. 

My dad just kicked me out of the house so I'm walking along a nearly empty road. If only one of the cars would stop so I can hitchhike a ride to my Aunt's house. After a few more minutes I sigh. 

This is hopeless.

 I pull out my phone to see if I can find a shortcut to walk to her house. I pull up a map and gaze over it. According to my phone, the quickest and easiest way to her house is through the forest that lines the road. That works for me. I find the nearest path into the forest and follow the trail. I take note of my surroundings as I walk. My dad may be a jerk but at least he taught me to be cautious and use the wilderness to my advantage.

I continue to walk before I hear a rustling in the bushes. I slow my steps and pick up a broken branch in case it is a big animal that I will need to defend myself against. When the rustling stops, I wait a minute before continuing at a normal pace. I keep walking until I here another rustle. I stop in my tracks, brandishing my branch. I see something approaching from the dark cover of the trees. It's a large, dark, figure. I look in disgust as it practically leaves a trail of drool in its path. I can't tell exactly what it is but it's definitely not human.

 I slowly back away, refusing to let fear take over me. I feel an aura of negativity surround me as the trees seem to get darker. I'd be an idiot if I thought my life wasn't in danger. I back up just far enough that I can easily turn around and run. I break into a sprint as the beast takes chase. I refused to let the fear get to me as I knew it would only further cloud my head. I ran as fast as my legs could take me, staying on the trail. I soon could not hear the footsteps behind me. I didn't stop running though. I continued, holding my makeshift weapon against my body.

I ran for what felt like 15 minutes before slowing to catch my breath, remaining aware in case the monster decided to sneak up. I slowed to a walk. I pull out my phone to see if there was any information of this beast online. The only results that came up were myths and legends about the forest. I continued to read before i saw drips of blood on the trees and on the path. I knew better than to follow them. I heard a rustling behind me and I was quick to start running again. I could see a break in the trees, and a house in the distance. I tried to run faster but suddenly a branch came out of nowhere and hit me in the forehead. 

I fell to the ground, struggling not to pass out from the hard hit. I saw the shining yellow eyes of the beast approach from where the branch came from. My breathing quickened as it got closer. I tried to get up but it hurt to move. It got closer. I reached for my trusty weapon. The monster got close to my face and I felt a claw scratch down from my neck to right over my heart. A string of saliva dripped out of its grotesque mouth and onto my cheek. I thrusted my branch up into its chest and leapt up as it was distracted.

 It howled in pain.

 The noise it made could only be described as a scratchy shriek that throbbed in my ears. My head was spinning but i had to bolt to the forests exit. It was catching up to me. I made it mad and now it was REALLY chasing me. I was almost out. I felt it claw my back from behind me, not quite being able to grab me. I bursted from the trees and into the sunlight. I ran halfway into the houses yard before turning back just in time to see it try to follow me. It took a step out of the trees before its skin visibly sizzled and burned. It shrieked again before backing into the trees. It glared at me with its yellow eyes before leaving into the darkness.

 I survived.