CROSSING LINES

Chapter 1

My name is Alice Young and the day I finally decided to run away from my life in New York City was also the day I started to follow my destiny. It was during one of the hottest summers, one in which the birds smashed their heads against the windows, looking desperately for some shade.

I left my work at the McDonald`s early and ran to the tiny apartment I was renting with Dean. I have decided the sooner I leave him the better. I counted the money with trembling hands: 1.230 bucks was all I could save during the past months I put the wrinkly notes in my wallet and threw the few clothes I had in a suitcase. People used to say Dean was the all-American boy, with a special charm and unflappable smile, but they did not know him like I knew him, and I have the bruises and scars to prove it.

I was 23 years old when I met him in a bar, and his sweet brown eyes tricked me into moving in with him. Three years down from there I have had enough. I looked myself in the mirror and tried to hide the bluish bruises around my mouth and cheek with concealer. No avail. I finally picked up my long blonde hair into a ponytail and methodically took the luggage, took the keys, closed the door of the department behind me. Double lock, Dean will have a hard time trying to open it when he arrives drunk as usual. Before I went down the stairs, I stifled a sob with a deep breath. "Alice, you can do it girl."

I checked my watch: 9:40 pm

Where the hell am I?

The secondhand Ford was going at 90 mph and around me everything was darkness. "I should have crossed the state line around an hour ago!"- I thought - There was something wrong, the road became much narrower and I hadn't crossed with a car for a very long time. I was afraid of turning on my phone and use the navigation because I was sure Dean would try to reach me as soon as he realized I was gone, but seeing now that the car was running out of gas it seemed like it was my only option.

I parked the car on the side of the road and turned on my phone. There was no signal and as I tried to understand what was happening I heard a noise. It seemed like the neighs of a horse, but it sounded as if it were far away. I thought that it could be coming from a farm in the vecinity and I did not payed much attention, I kept looking at my phone but then I heard it a second time and this time it seemed to come from somewhere else; much closer. An intense fear washed over me, and I felt a chill go down my spine.

I made sure all the doors were locked and I looked around but I just saw the empty road ahead and tree branches all around. No lights, nothing. A loud thunder followed by lightning startled me. It was a clear day with no clouds indicating rain whatsoever. What the fuck is happening? There it was again, horse hooves getting closer and closer, the sound of the wind among the trees and my whole body shaking with terror.

-"Shit, shit, shit…" I whispered desperately while trying to bring the car to life again and finally able to get out of there. After a second trying the Ford finally moved I let out a sigh of relieve but my tortuous experience was far away from finished. The hooves of the horse louder than ever while my car was going slower and slower until it came to a halt. The blinking headlights were illuminating the unpaved road when suddenly, for a split of a second, I saw it crossing the way. A black blurred figure bigger than any horse I could think about came from right to left crossing in front of my car. The fear was seizing me and even though I felt the urge of scream there was no sound coming out of my open mouth.

A moment of silence. I was breathing desperately, and I finally let go of the scream of horror I had stuck in my throat.

-"It is ok… There is nothing… there is nothing. It is your stupid brain playing tricks. Use your logic; use your goddamned logic…"

A minute passed in total silence and I was trying to decide whether getting out of the car. The headlights finally died and holding my breath I opened the door with a trembling hand.

CRASH!

The whole roof of the car was crushed by the second I stepped out of it. A huge black horse was over it, neighing in the most desperate way. I shrieked terrified when I saw the man on the horse. Man? I could not believe my eyes. There was no head! No fucking head! THAT IS NOT A HUMAN!

I ran as fast as the strength in my legs allowed me down the road but I realized it would be easy for that being to catch me so I made a leap of faith and went through the woods. The Horseman was behind me and I heard with horror the metallic sound of an unsheathed sword.

I could not see more than three inches far from my nose and I tripped with a rock falling into the hard ground hurting my hand and my knees. I didn't even think about the pain, I stood up and kept running while limping on one leg but the horseman was faster and grabbed me by the hair.

-"No please. I beg you!" – I cried.- "I'd do anything. Anything you want. Please don't kill me."

The Horseman was brandishing his sword in an indecisive way. After a moment he sheathed it. I kept sobbing petrified of terror and with my hair still tangled in the Horseman gloved hand.

He let go of me pushing me to one side while descending from his horse. Now I paid attention to his clothes, he seemed to be wearing a very torn and antique armor, all black and dirty. A long red and black cape that touched the ground and a high collar that managed to make the lack of head even more impressive.

-"Wha… what do you want me to do?'

The horseman grabbed my hand and with the other he grabbed his horse reins and took us both to an unknown location deep in the woods.