Nature of the beast (book 1 of the Beasties)

Moving on

I have to keep moving or he'll find me when he gets up. My muscles protest with every step. The wooded ground digs into my bare feet. A freezing chill has set in my bones, since I'm only wearing an xl mens, black, t-shirt. My uniform, I scuff to myself. I have no clue where I'm going, all that matters is that it's far from him.

Houses start to pepper my surroundings. Someone left their work boots on their back door step. I quickly snag them and slide them on. They may be 10 sizes too big, but they will protect my feet. A few houses down, some body forgot to take their laundry off the line. I grab what was there, a pair of boxers, two white, mens t-shirts and a pair of socks. I strip off the one article I was wearing and replace it with what I took. Rolling up the socks, I shove them in the toes of my boots. Boots secured on my feet, the despised black uniform catches my eye. A great rage comes over me and I stomp the hated object into the ground, till it was nothing more than a dirty rag. Feelings finally put aside, I continue my journey.

The sun is beginning to rise. I will still have a good four hours before I can allow myself to rest. I notice a garden at the edge of a property. I silently rush over, taking one of the white t-shirts off, I use it as a basket, filling it with tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers and carrots. Quiet as a church mouse, I stalk back into the distance and start to munch on a carrot while I look for shelter.

2 hours later

There is a fallen log with three trees around it. The log rests lopsided against a boulder, creating a shallow nook. It will do for now. I just need it for the day. Crawling inside the nook, I'm able to fit, if I curl up in the fetal position. My homemade sack under my head as a pillow to create some form of comfort. For the first time in a year and a half, I have the most peaceful sleep.

"Emily, Emily, come out and play. You know I don't like to wait"

"My name's NOT Emily!"

I jar awake before the night terror can play the rest of it out. Fully alert, I take in my surroundings. It's dark, almost pitch black. That is my Que. to continue my journey.

Crawling out of the nook, a cold wind rushes through me. Shivering, I sit up and grab a tomato. The sugar in it will help give me the energy I need to start moving. The army would of been proud to have me as a solder if they saw my mad survival skills, I joke. After finishing my breakfast, I gather my home made sack and head onward.

The night is half over for the moon is directly above me. I'm so stiff from hours of walking that I resemble Frankin Stien's monster. I have to keep going. The farther away, the safer I am. It's been awhile since I've seen another house. I hope I'm not walking in circles. Don't think about it, keep moving.

SNAP

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Slowly I move in a circle to see what is out there. A deep growling sounds behind me. Cautiously I turn towards it. Not more than 15 feet away is a black bear. So of coarse, I have to do the worst thing possible in this situation, run.

The bear gives chase. I must look like the best cheese burger in the woods. It's snarls, growling and roars are ten times terrifying than any animal attack documentary I've ever seen. I throw my sack, hoping it would go after it like a dog. Boy I'm stupid. The bear is far too happy chasing a burger with legs, than a sack full of veggies!

CRACK! Whoosh! "Owe!"

The ground literally opened up and swallowed me whole. Angry growls and roars of defeat, echo down to my ears. It appears I've fallen into an old dried up well. I do a body check. Head physically ok, but mentally cracked, arms still functional, back is fine, legs are OUCHE! My right ankle appears either sprained or broken. I send a prayer to God that it's only a sprain.

A final grunt is heard from the top of the well as the black bear gave up and moved on to find an easier meal. Yes! Cheese burger one! Scary bear zero! I get up to asses the damage and figure a way out of this hole. My ankle is fine so long as I don't apply any pressure. It is too swollen to tell if there are any broken bones. Leaning my back against the wall, I try to leverage myself with my good foot on the wall across from me, to see if I can shimmy up. The well is too wide. I feel around the walls for foot holds. There are quite a few. If lucks on my side, I'll be able to climb out by free hand rock climbing.

Climbing is not easy. My finger nails feel like they are ripping off and my abs are screaming. I'm ignoring the shooting pains in my ankle. Half way up the well, I start to get confident, almost cocky. How does that saying go "Blind arrogance is enough to cause a grown man to crumble"? I don't know about the man, but I do know about loose dirt. My hand grabs the next hand hold, only for it to give from loose gravel. Down I went with the rock still in my palm. For a moment all I could see were stars, than the blackness of the sky enveloped me.