It was dark, but Joanne could still see the vague shapes of her surroundings. An overcast night sky hid the brilliance of the full moon, and the faint orange glow of street lights did little to banish the gloom. Her heart beat was picking up and her breath coming quicker as she peered around, wishing for light so she could see where the hell she was and where the one who pursued her lurked.
Oh yes, she knew she was being followed, and knew what it was that stalked her.
And she was scared.
She'd tried to keep it together at first, she knew these creatures and also knew that for her to be targeted was a mistake, but after an hour of running from the 'shadow' and watching people being suddenly dismembered she knew that nothing was going to save her. There was no mistake, it wanted her and what these things wanted, they took.
Joanne started to swear under her breath, the need to do something filling her. Yet no matter where she ran it would follow, and besides she didn't know where it was for the minute. Running straight into the thing because she'd panicked was probably not the best course of action, yet she couldn't keep a grip on herself forever.
Maybe it knew that eventually she'd loose it and run straight across its deadly path, and that's why it was waiting.
Or maybe it just thought her plight and visible distress where amusing.
Joanne's face contorted into an angry grimace as tears streamed down her dirt streaked face. She wished the bastard could feel what it was like, to be humiliated and terrified, chased to exhaustion with no hope of escape.
Thoughts of her friends, family, and the people she'd seen die tonight flashed across her mind. There'd been so much blood…. In her head she could see the shape of her attacker, outlined in it after a particularly messy attack on a couple in the wrong place at the wrong time. She'd watched it tear through them, unable to move, as more of its form was revealed while its blades did their work, cloaking effect spoilt by the gore that covered it. Whether such a gruesome display was unintentional or meant to petrify her more Joanne didn't know, as its other killings, while sudden, had been neater and less messy. Before it vanished once again the dripping form had looked at her, glared, as if to say 'I know where you are, and I could have you now, but why bother when the chase is so much more amusing?'

>I DON'T WANT TO DIE HERE… Her thoughts screamed as she started moving again. She couldn't stand still and wait for death any longer, her terror driving her on into the night. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she pelted through the never ending darkness, all control gone as she blindly ran.
As she ran there was nothing, no land features she could identify, no people to go to. Tears dripped down her face once more, like she'd go to them anyway, like she'd lead that thing to more innocent people.
Too many had died tonight simply because she'd lacked the strength to lead the monster chasing her away from others. More tears came, blurring her vision so she truly was blind until she wiped them clear with her sleeve. Dirt from her filthy clothing got into one of her eyes, and she was forced to stop her desperate flight to try and get it out.Standing still, she cleaned one of her fingers before using it to rub out the dirt. She tried listening, to see if she could hear anything close to her, but all was quiet except from her heavy breaths punctuated by sniffs now and then. Looking around, she was now on the edges of a wood or forest, with trees here and there but getting denser up ahead.
Was the silence a good thing? Had she got away?
No, she told herself. How cold a mere 18 year old escape from a being that was the ultimate hunter. It was probably playing games with her again, and while she felt anger at such humiliation it was a whimper that escaped her lips.
Then a faint clicking sound came to her ears, brief and so faint she doubted if she had heard it at all…

THUMP - something heavy dropped to the floor, its landing muffled by the dead leaves that coated the ground.

Joanne spun, trying to pinpoint the direction of the sound.
Nothing.
Her breathing was speeding up again, and soft whimpers coming more often as her fatigue and the knowledge that she could not escape overwhelmed her.

>This can't be it, she thought >this cannot be how I end. After everything I've been through I can't just die here on this cockbite's blades, UGH some one help me

Leaves rustled, but she couldn't tell where, something was coming nearer.
Then pain exploded through her head, she dropped to the ground clutching its sides, unable even to utter a sound at the pain…

>Had enough human? The presence demanded. Its tone was filled with contempt and anger.

Joanne didn't, couldn't reply. God her head hadn't hurt like this for ages, why was it so painful now?

>Because I'm making it hurt. The presence informed her. Something picked Joanne up by the neck and squeezed hard, not enough to kill but on top of her head pain it was excruciating. She gasped for breath and her hands fumbled at the arm of the thing that held her, weakly trying to pry herself loose. A low clicking sound once again reached her ears as she felt waves of amusement and scorn pulse from the being.

>So weak, how did you ever escape me? The cloaking device was turned off and Joanne gasped as what she already knew was confirmed not 10 inches from her face.
A Predator.
And not just anyone, she realised looking at its harsh mask, she knew this creature…

>You thought I'd just run like a coward? And leave you alone? AFTER YOU WHERE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY DOWNFALL? His hatred for her struck her like a blow, before he threw her into the nearest tree trunk. The impact drove what little breath she had from her, and something cracked. Blinking in pain and gasping for breath she watched the Predator stalk up to her.

>You…
>You deserved it

The Predator once again seized her by the neck with one clawed hand, bringing her up to his 7 foot eye line. With the other hand he undid the mask covering his face, and his mandibles waved and clicked angrily in front of her. Yellow eyes burned into hers, and dots swam before her eyes as lack of oxygen started to take effect.

>Die

With a simple clench of his fist the Predator unsheathed his long wrist blades before slowly sliding them into Joanne's chest, her rib cage being no match for his strength. The wet sound of ripping flesh and pain as bones splintered jolted through her and…

Joanne gasped loudly, waking up.

Her eyes flew wide open, darting from side to side, yet only her familiar college room greeted her.Her hands were clenched, gripping the sheets and cover which was wrapped and tangled around her body. Clearly she'd been tossing and turning quite violently, but after a dream like that it wasn't surprising.Joanne forced herself to calm down, and tried taking slower, deeper breaths. She convinced her fingers to release their grip on the bedding while her eyes moved over her room, checking every shadow for anything unusual.
But there was nothing.
It had just been a dream.
The wind rattled branches against her window, making her jump, but now she was calmer, she knew no one was here except her. Well, there were her fellow students at the college, in rooms next to and opposite hers, but nothing threatening. No 7 foot intergalactic hunters looking for blood and revenge at any rate.
Joanne sighed. False alarm.
Yet something told her that things weren't as simple as that.

Just a dream? Maybe.
She frowned.
Then again, maybe not…