Just keep running. Don't stop. Got to keep going. I need to turn back. Need to know how close they are behind. But I cant. No, I mustn't. I can barely see in the dark. It is like being blind. The only light is the silver shine of the moon. I stumble and trip over small rock and branches. My dress catching in roots ripping an tearing it but I don't care. The only thing that matters is me getting out of here alive and the small diamond beating up and down on my chest as I run. Its like a second heartbeat. Now I can hear their screams. The screams of loss and desperation. I am swamped by the sudden urge to cry, to scream, to curl up on the ground and give in. I push myself. I know I have so much more to live for. My legs are like lead. Almost impossible to move. Then I saw it. The moon glittering in its water. My legs suddenly gain a new lease of energy. I run for all I am worth towards the lake. Then cool water rushes round my hot ankles I've made it!!! Relief washes over me. They cant get me here. They cant go in the water. There is no time to rest thou. There is a bridge only a few miles down. They will cross and if I don't hurry they will catch me and take back the necklace. I cant let that happen. With effort I wade into the water and begin to swim towards the opposite bank.
I crawl on all fours onto the grassy bank. my dress is heavy with the water it has soaked up. It will weigh me down. There is no time for decency. I try to undo the buttons on the back of my dress but my arms just don't bend that way. I take a small dagger out of its sheath wrapped around my ankle. Its gold hilt is encrusted in rose quarts that shine and dance in the silver light of the moon. I take the dagger and rip at the sides of my dress so that I strip to my cream and chocolate brown corsets and underskirts. I feel a lot lighter now. I can see it from here . its like a shining beacon of hope. The little brown cabin nestling in a forest. Oh my god. I'm nearly there. I have nearly done it. My small moment of joy is smashed by the sound of those terrible screams and the wines of their tortured horses. I begin to stagger, drunkenly to the cabin. I can hear the hoof beats beating on the grass sounding like the very heartbeats they did not possess. I can smell their vile rotting and decaying flesh. The air becomes cold. I'm almost at the cabin but I can see them now. Those terrible dark figures sat atop their powerful steeds. No. no I cant let them claim me. They are mere feet behind me. Their going to get me. Oh god no. please, no. but then my hand clasps the doorknob. I twist it round and through myself into the cabin. A mans voice calls my name as I lie on the floor of the cabin. Safe. I'm safe. I cant move I'm too tired. I can feel the icy diamond still pressing in my chest. I got it. I have the necklace. Its all ok. I can feel warm strong hands lifting me up. I cant stay conscious any longer. I let go and sink into merciful blackness.