Her breath hitched in her throat as the overwhelming feeling of dread flooded through every nerve of her body. There was no amount of training that could have prepared her for this. No amount of skills that she obtained throughout the years of hunting that could help her now.

She was his prey, and her defenses were vastly limited. She needed a place to hide. She needed some amount of cover to disappear for just a few moments; but, 'where?!'

She heard HIM before she saw him. Heard the wing beats above the tree tops, the screeches emitting from his demonic throat. He was trying to locate her, like a bat after an insect. That's all she was right? Food for this creature of hell.

'What do I do, what do I do?' She frantically looked about her for some place to run to, she knew there was a creek nearby that had caves… 'Hide, I have to hide.'

There wasn't enough time to hide though. There wasn't enough time for the safety of shelter, as even in the dark; darkness would not shroud her from the eyes of this beast.

Her heart pounded quicker in her chest, she could hear the blood thrumming in her ears as she careened for the caves. It was still her better option, to try and hide, because the other option was capture, or worse.

She swallowed a scream that was building in her for several moments previously; her breath was ragged as she just barely made out an opening of a cave in the thicket of some trees.

The screech was closer now when it sounded, pushing her to run harder, to move faster. She dodged under the brush, hoping to make him lose sight of her in under the canopy of the trees. Right now, that was her only cover.

She halted though, when she saw that just before the caves, the canopy opened, and she would be spotted by his eyes in mere seconds. If she wanted to remain covered, she would have to risk taking the longer route, away from the cave just to follow the perimeter that enveloped the clearing. Now the scream turned to one of sheer frustration. She had little choice. Either risk being seen and caught, or risk staying out in the forest longer; which would no doubt, lead her to being caught.

She opted for the more dangerous route; risk being seen. She held her breath, waiting until she heard him sweep through the canopy, it sounded as if he got caught?

She didn't dare to look back as she bolted into the clearing. It was about 200 yards to the cave, she could make it. 'I have to make it!' her mind screamed at her.

Why couldn't this just be a dream? Why was this her life now, how was this deserved?

100 yards to the cave.

She heard the crashing through the tree tops, the unholy screech of the monster himself, and felt his eyes upon her back.

50 yards.

The wing beats grew louder and faster with each step she took. She had to make it, she couldn't let this thing catch her.

She felt tears of both frustration and fear spring forth in her eyes. She couldn't fathom what this thing wanted with her. For the past month, it has been a constant game of cat and mouse. She was the mouse though. To be caught in his grasp… in his teeth. She felt her body shudder with the fear that was soon to paralyze her if she didn't keep moving.

10 paces.

She was so close, she could see the mouth of the cave yawning open, waiting to devour her. To her relief, it was a smaller opening, meaning this beast could not follow her through without changing back. He could not enter as easily as her.

She dove. Hope breached her fear as she neared the opening, hurtling her body forward. She would make it, she would be safe for a short moment, enough to find another escape route. He would not capture her today, she was determined in this notion.

He saw her dive towards the cave and knew he would not be able to follow her in. He had to catch her now or he would lose his chance. He screeched loudly, smelling her fear escalade within her. She knew he was a breath away. She knew she had a slim chance on escaping, and he would not allow it.

He smiled a fanged grin as he flashed through the sky, disappearing and reappearing in front of the cave, still smiling as the dark-haired beauty came crashing towards him, straight into his arms.

He smiled as her eyes widened in the horror that was now right in front of her. The mouse was caught just right outside its hole, and the cat would not let it go. Not this time.