10 September 2012
You run, run blindly as you trip and stumble over sticks, branches and roots in the darkened confusion. Slip and slide over foliage from trees. But you don't care anymore, you just have to run. Run for your life.
You become short of breath, you feel your strength waning, hut you must live. So you push on, the adrenaline pumps through your veins as you repeat those words to yourself,
I must live.
I must live.
I must live.
Therefore, you must run.
You trip over something large and rough, sending you face fist onto the forest floor.
You see a light cut behind you, faintly, ever so faintly. You stand, but can no longer regain your balance. The cool air burns you nose and throat as you survey the pitch black surroundings and try to catch your breath. You can't see your own hand in front of your face. Fear rises and bubbles leaving your mind further jumbled.
The confusion of your fall, has left you bruised, scratched, and even more lost.
Which way is safe?
Which way were you going?
Where is forward, where is back?
Where is he?
The light faintly flashes again. In the distance in front of where you are.
He has made himself known.
The hunter has made a mistake.
The prey takes off.
You run the in the opposite direction, as fast as you can again.
You know if you want to see the sun rise again on a new day, you must escape this forest.
You still don't know where you are.
You still dont know where your going.
And you still don't know if you'll make it there.
He is sadistic.
He is cunning.
He knows his way around these woods.
You do not.
But you can run.
Run faster than he ever could.
You have to hope that saves you.
You can think of the glinting knife.
The duct tape over your mouth as you cried your silent tears.
The ropes around your hands, binding you to the pole, cutting your wrists.
Remember slipping out?
Remember pulling your bloody hands from the bindings?
Ripping that tape from your mouth?
Running out that door, just as the tires crunched across the gravel?
Hearing his angered yelling as you disappeared into the dark woods, as they swallowed you whole?
You remember it all as you see the small stroke of light crack the darkness.
For a moment you think it's his flashlight again.
But no.
It never grows faint, never becomes too bright.
It stays steady.
You run faster and faster.
Your legs burn from the constant running.
You will them on.
Just a few more steps.
Just a moment more.
You run right off the side of an edge, a small cliff.
Your face hits pavement.
As you stand quickly you see a road in the moonlight, you've hit a road.
You continue this run.
Even faster.
Even stronger.
More alive as you see a restaurants neon open sign flash.
More dimly lit buildings come into view.
And all you think is
I'm free
I'm free
I'm free.
Run • Opuss № I