I started my brisk pace back towards the gravel road; my knees were weak and still shaking from terror. I held the light in front of me, turning it every few feet to see my surroundings, nothing but trees. I seemed to get back to the creek much faster than when I was running from it.
It was still quiet, nothing but the rushing of water and wind blowing through the leaves. As I walked up to the keys I kept the light fixed on the tree line where I saw the eyes. I didn’t even kneel down to pick them up; I kept in a ready stance so I could get out of there just as quick the second time. The keys jingled together as I lifted them from the cold, damp ground.
I could hear it; I almost froze in fear. I could hear the soft breathing from behind the trees. It felt like it was staring me down, my body shuddered and woke me from my frozen state. I turned to the gravel road and ran like I never have before.
My feet crashed against the gravel and for a second, that was all I could hear. Then I heard it; a second set of feet running behind me, not as fast but twice as loud. I held in a scream and ran even faster.
It kept following me, but I didn’t dare look back. Past the old gate and onto the tar road where the crunching of my feet turned into a soft patter. It was still following me as I heard it leave the gravel road. It was close.
“FUCK!” I screamed hoping that the first word that came to my mind would deter whatever was chasing me.
I frantically unlocked the car and the wide-eyed Marli jumped in, I was soon in the drivers’ seat with the keys in the ignition, car roaring to life and in gear. I didn’t even remember putting the keys into ignition but I released the handbrake and the car sped off onto the road, tyres spinning on the gravel.
“Did you see it?” I asked, still short of breath.
“I saw you running back to the car, why were you running?”
“It was right behind me, I heard its footsteps chasing me. How did you not see it?!”
“There was nothing there, all I saw was you running.”
How could she miss it, even without turning back I could still feel it behind me. It seemed that just feeling its presence was worse than actually seeing it, like seeing it would somehow make me feel better. Less scattered, more coherent and centred.
The drive back to her house was an awkward silence; we wanted to ignore what happened. That was until we got to her court.
“It didn’t look like anything…” She muttered.
“What do you mean?”
“Well it didn’t even look like anything, it was just a shadow. No shape, just a dark blur.”
“All I remember was seeing its eyes. It was like looking into a fire, I could feel the heat coming from them.” I seemed to force the words out, I didn’t want to remember.
We fell silent for a moment.
“Do you want to come in?” She asked.
“No… I’m really tired and I feel kind of sick, I just want to go home and get some rest.”
“Alright, let me know how you feel in the morning.”
She got out of the car and walked to her front door, I waited until she got inside before driving off. I wasn’t lying, sickness had filled my body and all I could think of was how queasy I felt. Even the beast didn’t sound its usual self as it roared along the road on its way back home.
YOU ARE READING
Deep Creek
Paranormalne"I had no idea where I wanted to be. In truth, I didn't want to be anywhere. In my mind, existence was optional... And at times, confusing. So I planned to do what I always did in this situation; I'd drive. No particular direction, just onto the nea...
