Running for survival

I spot the pair of black boots slowly approaching me. I wanted to move, but fear paralyzed me. My hair is yanked, and I scream in pain.

I look towards my assailant's face and am shocked to see entirely black eyes and a blood-covered face.

He didn't seem human; his skin was extremely pale, as if there was no blood in his body.

Desperation fills me as I recognize that face. It's the same mysterious man from the party. I struggle in his arms, and he smiles satisfied.

His hand touches my neck but quickly recoils upon reaching the chain, as if it hurts him. He snarls at me like a cat about to attack another.

I see Dad crawling down the hallway, his body covered in cuts. Dad thrusts one of his hunting knives into the creature's ankle, and I hear its guttural scream.

"Cursed worm!" he shouts before throwing me downstairs. I feel my body ache with each step. "How dare you try to hurt me, you insolent worm?"

"Run, Violet!" Dad yells as I struggle to get up. His eyes lock onto mine, determination in his face. "Don't look back, my daughter."

Without effort, the man kicks Dad's body, sending him through a wall. That wasn't human; that wasn't a person!

I hear Dad's painful groan. The creature turns toward me, but before it reaches me, Dad jumps on its back and bites its neck fiercely, making it bleed. I've never seen such strength in Dad before; it's like seeing another man.

I run down the stairs and stumble, falling on the last step. I get up, look at the front door. I need to be quick.

Realizing the main door won't help, I remember our isolated house and the forest. The forest seems the best option to reach the road. I try to recall Mom's childhood camping instructions about navigating through the woods.

I hear his steps approaching. This couldn't be human. What person could do the things he did?

Even with a knife in his ankle, he still runs fast. It's terrifying. Mentally, I pray, hoping this is just a nightmare.

I feel that at any moment, I'll wake up, and Dad will hug me, saying it was all a terrible dream.

I walk towards the backyard without looking back. Tears blur my vision. With the help of a chair, I jump the fence and run towards the forest.

Is this my fate? Has my dad given his life in vain?

I run desperately, hearing the steps and the sound of breaking branches. It's terrifying to flee from something unknown. That thing surely isn't human, despite its appearance. I saw it attack innocent people, saw its huge fangs and claws.

"God, help me." My voice comes out panting and tearful. With little air and courage left, I scream. "Get away from me, beast!"

Its demonic laughter echoes through the forest, sending shivers down my spine. It seems luck is not on my side; not even the strongest of gods could save me now.

A scared scream escapes my throat as I trip over a thick root and lose balance. My head hits the ground hard. I can't see due to tears; the fall messed up my senses. I'm dizzy, can barely see a foot ahead. I try to get up, but my foot is caught in the root.

I grunt in pain as I feel weight on my body and labored breathing on my neck. The smell of blood makes me nauseous. I hear a malicious laugh near my ear, and panic sets in. I'm going to die; I feel it in every cell of my body. This is my last moment, my fate.

"Forgive me, Dad." My voice is hoarse and trembling. "I should have listened to you."

Tears stream down my face. Its teeth sink into my neck, and I scream in pain. The tears continue to fall, and Dad's face comes to my mind. Soon, I'll join my family.

My body is weak; I feel my blood drained from my neck. I can't fight; I'm trapped by the weight of this cursed creature.

A movie of my life plays before my eyes. I see Simon running with me on the beach, our parents laughing as they filmed us. My first dance, Simon accompanying me; he was so happy to be part of that phase of my life. Anna's birth, Sarah leaving home, and our last night together at a pajama party.

Simon's acceptance letter to college. Our wild night in the city, where we exchanged our best friend necklaces.

His face is vivid in front of me, as if he's really here.

"It's not time to give up, lotus flower." His voice is calm and beautiful. A tear runs down my face, and he smiles before wiping it away. "Be strong."

"I can't." My voice is weak, as low as a whisper. "I've lost too much. There's no reason to go on. At least if I'm gone, we can be together."

Simon smiles, a beautiful and sincere smile. His eyes sparkle, and he caresses my face before bringing his lips to my ear.

"It's not time yet." He kisses my cheek. "I'll always be watching over you. Calm down; help is coming."

His face disappears like mist in the air, and adrenaline snaps me out of the trance. I feel my survival instincts kick in.

A loud howl makes the creature divert its attention from me and sniff the air. Its body seems on high alert; the creature looks around, frightened.

Growls in the bushes give me chills. They are close; a howl a few meters away makes me tremble with fear. The creature leaves me and runs in the opposite direction of the sound, as if fearing for its safety.

Relief settles in my body, and I sigh, but a thought makes me freeze: the beast was scared, so is there something worse than this creature hunting me?

My vision is blurry from tears, and the memory of my entire family being murdered won't leave my mind. All of this is my fault; I should have listened to my parents' advice, shouldn't have been so skeptical. Now everyone is dead, and it's all my fault.

I invited disaster into our home; I brought this demonic creature to our family. And all that's left for me is to cry and accept my fate. At least soon, I'll be with my family again.

Simon's words come back to my mind, and a surge of adrenaline invades my body, blocking my thoughts. All I can do is get up and run. I've never run so fast in my life; it's like my legs are guiding me, as if they know where to go.

I enter an unfamiliar part of the forest, but I hear the sound of cars passing on the road.

I try to run a few more meters, but I lose balance and feel a strong pressure on my ankle. I look at my leg and scream in horror; I had stepped on a damn bear trap! The strong adrenaline in my blood makes me act without thinking, and before I know it, I had freed myself from the old trap.

I hear sounds of something approaching, and I'm lifted off the ground by a huge wolf. I scream in horror, start to struggle, and my coat tears.

I seize the opportunity, break free, and run towards a massive tree. Climbing with difficulty due to the weakness from multiple injuries, I feel as fragile and defenseless as ever.

I have to be quick, but my body aches, making the ascent challenging.

"Damn it!" I grumble, realizing I'm bleeding. I hear sounds of something circling the tree, and my desperate scream echoes through the forest. "Get out of here, monster!"

The noises around the tree are frightening. The creature prowls, and my knees shake. I can't crouch forever, and the wolf seems to know that. My hands sweat; I won't be able to hold on for much longer. A noise makes me scream; the branch I'm on falls, bringing me to the ground. Another large branch hits my leg, and the sound of bones breaking resonates through the forest, making me scream in agony. My sobs of pain are loud, and I hear the creature getting closer. I try to move, but the pain from the broken femur makes my head spin.

"Dad, I'll be with you soon."

I know this is the end; I won't have another chance. My foolish choices brought me here. I feel as alone as never before in my life, and the loneliness hurts even more, knowing I'm the cause of all this.

My head spins as I try to move the branch. My vision blurs, my breath weak. I only hear the approaching steps and the sound of its growl.