what came over
pavement as I sprinted, my b
purposeful-followed me, getting
ch on forever, the streetlights casting long,
hat I was being hunted, but I h
but there was something else-something dee
over and over again: "You are not
away. I had t
sneakers skidding ag
ut there was no sign of him.
h
arms failing as I tri
ith a sickening thud, th
ould not breathe,
ound me closed
en I h
. Slow, d
my legs shaking, but I
o give in to fear. I
s I pushed myself harder, f
I was going. I was n
of panic but I coul
ts peak, something in the corner
I squinted into the darkness, my heart po
im. It was s
er fi
cks, my heart thumping p
he man did. It was not a pre
lness to it, a presenc
it, a voice called out
iac
fr
that
disappear into the night, b
ed in place, my eye
me again, this time so
n, like a force pulling me for
of a dimly lit alley, was a
ered, my voice
the shadows, her ex
and her lips pressed into a t
istant. Like she di
urge of emotions crash throug
idea wh
o go." My voice cracked, and
anymore. I just... I j
e was still a coldness to h
as though testing the weigh
e out here alone.
y heart still raci
stand. I cannot g
cker of something in her eyes-so
e just stood the
are doing the right th
hat is out there. You
h an unspoken warning, but I cou
rotest, but she held u
. This is not just about you. There is a r
k, confusion swir
talking about?
shoulder, like she wa
ly, and I felt the te
voice suddenly low, urgent. "Come with
run in the opposite direction, but something
ared. Terr
I asked, my voice ba
st. Her eyes flickered to
barely audible, she said,
far end of the street caught my attenti
in my throat as a set of head
ht at the intersection, the eng
eart slam i
I whis
twisted into
arm, her grip p
e to go
free. "What the
he pulled me with her, faster
ith her pace, my mind a whirl
brighter as it moved close
ing from anymore, but I knew t
was strained as sh
fter us when I heard a voice
iac
my tracks, panic r
tanding in the
ma
een following me
ew. I was not just runni
ing from e
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