Into The Labyrinth

With every step I took the dried, dead leaves crunched under my feet. The cold November wind could hardly reach me through all of the trees, but every once in a while a gust would rush by, throwing my hair around my face as I scrambled to tame it. I pulled the sleeves of my coat down over my hands and wrist brace and pulled my hood up around my face. I'd never make it out of here if I let myself freeze.

I was dreading sun fall. Upon leaving in such a hurry, I'd completely forgotten a flashlight or any source of light at all. Thinking of all the creatures that roamed this forest at night made my heart beat nervously. I squinted at the sun along the horizon the best I could through the thick forest. It was only another hour or so until I was enveloped by total darkness and all of the horrors that came with it.

I lifted my chin up bravely. I'd lived with a vampire for the last month; I could handle a few woodland animals.

Last night had been a hiccup in the history of my hatred toward Ethan. There was no reason for me to think I missed him. With Ethan gone all day I got to relax in peace and quiet without being bugged or teased by him. I got to spend all of my time with Mary and Hanna, and occasionally Jacques when he was in the kitchen. As soon as Ethan returned he would find me. I didn't even want to think about what would happen when he realized that I'd been in his room. It was bound to happen; He would smell me. I'd made the bed as best I could before I left, but it didn't matter.

I glanced at the horizon again and noticed that the sun was mostly gone except for a sliver of gold. Ethan was probably just pulling up to the mansion. I was glad that I didn't have to see him. Even if I couldn't find my way out of the forest and had to resort to turning around and going back, at least I could prolong the inevitable for just a short while longer.

Although, his anger would disappear only to be replaced by outrage once he realized that I wasn't at the mansion. I hoped he wouldn't direct any of his feelings toward Mary and Hanna. I intentionally didn't tell them where I was going, or that I was even leaving. The last time I'd tried to run away had been an embarrassing failure.

The sun had vanished by the time I reached the clearing just past the creek. There was little light, save for the faint silver glow the moon offered. I found a fallen tree, its trunk parallel with the brown leaves on the ground, and sat down to catch my breath for a few minutes. It was cold underneath me, but if I hugged my jacket close it wasn't so bad.

My eyes were growing heavy in the darkness, and I leaned back against the log. The sky above me was deep blue, a breath-taking background for the millions of shining stars. I listened as the wind rustled through the branches above me. Every so often a freshly fallen leaf would land somewhere nearby, the soft sound echoing against the trunks of the trees.

The sound of the leaves crunching came to my ears and I sat up, alert. The noises were too close together to be leaves falling. Either there was an animal hopping around, or someone was in the forest with me. I scanned over the trees wildly, searching for movement or a color out of place.

I stood up from the log, preparing to run. My heart was racing despite my mental notes of self-comforting. Another shuffle sounded from my right, and my head snapped in that direction. There was no one there that I could see.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice wavering. There was no answer, only dead silence. I took a step forward, kicking the leaves out of my way.

Another shuffle sounded, though this time it didn't stop, and then I saw something scurry, moving fast and low to the ground. It jumped onto a tree, its feet grasping at the bark to hold on.

A squirrel. I held back a laugh and clutched my heart, a silent gesture that it was okay to calm down. With a smile, I turned back to the log just as something in my field of vision darted behind a tree. I froze, my eyes zeroing in on the area as my smile wiped away immediately. I knew this wasn't an animal. There was nothing friendly about the way the dark silhouette had intentionally moved behind a tree to hide from me.

I took slow steps back, careful to put my feet down as gently as possible as not to make too much noise without letting my eyes drift from the spot where I'd seen the figure. My mind raced over the possibilities before landing on one and somehow, I knew that this was the same thing I'd seen the other night. The thing I'd seen looking up into my window the night of the dinner party. Ethan had come to my room just as they were disappearing into the dark forest.

How stupid I had been to come here on my own. I had nothing with me to defend myself, not even a cell phone to call someone. All I could do was stare like a deer in headlights, waiting for whatever was watching me to make a move.

Defiance in me rose up, much like the night Ethan abducted me. I couldn't give up so easily. If someone was really stalking me then I'd put up as much of a fight as I possibly could just to make it harder for them.

Spinning on my heels in a split second, I took off running back the way I came. I could hear only my own footsteps which motivated me to push myself to go even faster. I'd walked in one direction the entire way here; it would be easy enough to find my way out.

I jumped over bushes and rotting logs to dart through the trees. My hair was whipping around violently as my hood had fallen down against my back again. The cold air filled my lungs as I took deep breaths, trying not to tire myself out. Behind me somewhere I heard a twig snap, and without casting a look over my shoulder I knew they were behind me. It was close, much closer than I expected, and the adrenaline coursing through me gave me super speed. Nothing close to what Ethan possessed, of course, but at least more than I was normally capable of.

In the distance in front of me, I could hear people shouting. It sounded like a man's voice. I charged towards it, praying to make it before whatever was chasing me caught up.