small talk • writings & ramblings

writing ; run

He slumped against the tree, gasping for air, inhaling and exhaling raggedly.
His clothes were tattered and torn and covered in blood stains.
His head was on fire and his heart was pumping out of his chest.
He looked around from the tree cautiously, looking for the thing that was chasing him.
CRACK!

It was the unmistakable Sound of a twig breaking, and He snapped his head around to the other side of the tree, and swallowed.
Then he smiled.
There, almost invisible in the dark, was a lone wolf.
It didn't seem aggressive. It was just looking at him, curious.
Then, following the sound of another twig breaking, the wolf ran further into the dark woods, scared.
And then he saw it.
It was his doom.
Fleeing from the cover of the tree, he ran as fast as he could, trying to follow the wolf that had left moments before.
His legs wobbling from his intense fear, he stumbled and tripped on a root.
The creature was only metres away.
Feeling the adrenaline kick in, he dizzily got up and ran further into the woods.
The trees were becoming closer together, and the path in between them was growing more narrow.
Having to face sideways to get through, he was panting and gasping, hoping the creature was too bulky to fit through the shrinking gaps.
Hoped.
But alas, the horrifying creature twisted itself into a shape that could easily slip through the spaces in between the varying trees.
He looked back, his face being scratched repeatedly by the branches as he ran.
Suddenly, his shirt was caught on a stick that was sticking out from the tree.
Struggling, he hurriedly tugged at his shirt until it pulled free and teared.
He was panting so heavily that he had to stop and pause for a moment. He was beginning to doubt that he could survive this chase.
The creature was starting to draw closer again, and his breath hitched in his chest.
Run.

The trees were starting to spread out again, and he could smell hints of tar.
There was a road.
He sighed almost happily.
With new found hope, he ran that tiniest bit faster and headed towards the smell.
He tripped over and landed on the rough ground, and laughed.
The creature knew that the chase was up and retreated back into the woods, growling.

He laid on the road, drenched in sweat and blood.

I made it. I made it.

He slowly got up off the ground and surveyed the area. So far, all he could make out was a grass patch on one side of the road, and the forest on the other.
The road was endless.
He turned around slowly.
His eyes widened and his mouth dropped when he saw the bright pair of headlights and heard the unmistakable sound of a car horn.
Is this the end for me?
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Then he waited for the incoming impact.