94. Real Fear

Continued...

Immediately my own head answered the question as if it was begging me to let it. And finally let I did: Unless... that wasn't Jake.

I never saw his face. 

I only assumed based on a back profile of a man and my own stupid sense of optimism that just couldn't accept to see a strange man in my living room, although someone has been leaving me roses for past couple of weeks now. 

And come to think of it, now it seems he was taller, his form much leaner then Jake and far agile to be an ordinary man.

The dreadful realization brought about a clear sheen of tears in my eyes. A whimper slipped past as I tried to control my mind going crazy with the implications at the moment and my body from shutting down.

I am a fucking idiot with a death wish.

I looked around, my eyes could barely see anything around me anymore. The part of the forest has grown so dense, the light from the moon could barely cross it's way down from the canopy of trees above.

Stumbling and wincing at the resulting pains, I somehow managed to bring myself back on my feet, no matter how the muscles all over my body were now complaining via contractions.

I couldn't. I couldn't give up and melt down right now. I needed to get out of here first.

Just then I hear something. The first sound ever since I rushed in that wasn't the sound of my own pacing heart or racing breath. It sound like a crunch of dried up leaves.

I turn to the noise's direction, upon squinting really hard hoping I could see. I immediately wished I didn't.

It was a silhouette. A silhouette of the same man I thought was Jake and ran after. 

It was not Jake. 

I gasped stumbling back as hands flew over my mouth from making another noise. As if if I remained really quiet he wouldn't see me. 

He was staring directly at me.

I can't make out anything but that the frame was of a man. It stood at a distance, half covered by the tree he was behind. I could only see half of the silhouette poking out. 

With the hood over his head I can't see his face it was just darkness where his features should be.

As soon as it came, it left. Disappearing again behind the tree.

I blinked my eyes a few times and looked around, fearing he would pop out from behind another tree. A tree that would be much closer to me. And then that would be the end.

I was wrong. I was so wrong about myself. I was not the nutcase who found danger to be seductive. There was no allure to what I was going through at the moment. 

It was simple fear. A very real fear for my life.

I was alone, surrounded by darkness and wilderness. I am well beyond my own space, I am now in his domain. He has the upper hand here. He is in control.

Well, now I am not sure if I had an upper hand even when I was in my house, anymore. 

Another noise from somewhere behind me and I turn to see a blur moving past the gaps between the trees. Then again, I turn and see the same happening. 

He was moving unnaturally fast, like a shadow with no body as it's owner.

My breath was either coming in pants or not at all. I was feeling dizzy with the rush of blood mixed with adrenaline and something potent, something that should be named as nothing but pure terror.

Circling around me, yet only remaining behind the trees surrounding me, it was playing with me. Like the predator who plays with his food. 

Tonight I was on the menu. A completely reckless, obtuse who walked- no rushed to her own funeral. I wonder if I would even have a funeral at all. If he would leave something of me to be buried and mourned over.

I stopped trying to follow his movements. There was no use, he moved so quick I could barely catch him before he was behind the other tree. 

Refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing the utter horror in my eyes as I see him finally attacking me, I closed my eyes shut. 

Pinching them down tight I looked down and waited.

Waited for my death to come. For the pain to make me scream in torture.