As he rounded the corner, I sprang up quickly and headed to the door. Thank God it wasn’t locked. I yanked it open with full force and bolted towards the woods. My escape was a little sloppy, but I wasn'tauditioning for the Olympics here. I was trying to get away from a crazy killer.
Running in my slippers proved to be a challenge. I never looked back to see if he was hot on my tail. I paid no mind to the branches, rocks, and mud underneath me. I didn't give a shit that the objects stabbed at the bottom of my feet, making my ankle twist and turn multiple times.
I stumbled twice, but steadied myself and kept running. Thank Jesus, it’s summer, and it is warm outside. I would never have gotten off the porch if it had been winter and there had been snow on the ground.
My heart is pounding in my chest, and my lungs are burning. It’s good that I am in decent shape; otherwise, he would have caught me by now.
I am not concerned about what will happen after I evade capture…if I get away.My only concern is getting away from the creep. A shiver runs down my spine when I think of what he will do if he catches me.
Even in the dark, I know these woods very well. I don’t think he does, so that gives me an advantage. I pray there aren’t any coyotes or hungry bears roaming around.
Usually, black bears won’t bother humans unless a mother is protecting her cubs. This makes me think of the TikTok trend. Would you rather be alone with a man or a bear in the woods? I would choose the bear! All.Day.Long.
My body weaves in and out between the trees as my feet pound against the hard ground. I can feel the rocks and sticks poking through the tiny holes beginning to form on the bottom of my slippers. I don’t care about the pain shooting up my legs and across the soles of my feet. My only focus is getting away from my crazy stalker.
Chapter 6
Atlas
I heard my newly gained property noisily escaping from the den as I went to the kitchen. Smiling, I figured she would try to run. I certainly would have tried to get away if I were her.
I know she won’t get too far without sneakers on her feet, clad only in a tee shirt and panties. She isn’t aware that I have already mapped out the woods behind her house, and I can make my way through the thick brush with no issues. I have been trained to apprehend and destroy the enemy on much worse terrain than in her backyard.
She isn’t my enemy and never was, but now I consider her my prey. I smiled; a shit-eating grin spread across my face. I was enjoying every minute of my depravity. It’s time for the hunt. I love a good chase. It excites me.
I slowly walked out the door, closing it behind me. Before taking off, I warmed up by stretching myarms, neck, and legs. I cracked my knuckles, inhaled deeply, and was off.
I sprint towards the woods like a hungry lion looking for its next meal. I’m unconcerned about how far she has gotten. I am much quicker than she is, plus I’m also wearing boots, which gives me more leverage against the elements.
I have had expert training in invading enemy territory, and in my mind, I am out for the kill. I pick up speed, my Timberlands pounding swiftly on the solid surface.
The rush of adrenaline courses through my veins, boosting the energy needed for the task ahead. My legs carry me deeper into the dense brush, my eyes keen and hyper-alert to my surroundings.
Although it is warm tonight, I’m not even breaking a sweat. The moon threw off a slight glow, illuminating the trees, but other than that, there wasn't a speck of light back here. I know the darkness will also slow her down.
My legs are strong and in great shape, allowing me to keep up the pace easily. My heartbeat remains low and steady as my feet hit the messy terrain faster. Most of the ground is dry, but other parts are coated in mud. It doesn’t deter my speed as my boots glide through the thick, slippery surface.
I dodge between the trees, keeping my eyes and ears trained on the sights and sounds around me. She can’t be too far ahead unless she’s a track runner, which I know she isn't. Maybe if she had on sneakers, she might evade me, but there was not even a slim chance of that.
When I hunt, all my senses are on high alert, turning me into an animal. I am surrounded by nothingbut vast blackness. Grabbing my cell phone, I switch on the flashlight. I move it from side to side but see nothing in the immediate vicinity. I slow down to keep a steady momentum to avoid becoming winded and sweaty.
I know she can’t be very far. I am in the thickest part of the woods now. I keep the light trained around the parameters, searching for any movement from my prey. All I can see are rows of trees, and I hear the faint sound of an owl in the distance. I hope there aren’t aggressive animals out here.
The thought of one chasing my girl worries me. I’d hate to shoot the creature, but I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. As ruthless as I am, I love animals and didn’t relish the thought of hurting one.
I dismissed the intrusive thought, focusing on the mission ahead. These woods lie isolated from the road. As far as I can see, there is only one way in and one way out. If I were a serial killer, this would be the place to take a victim.
There isn’t a soul around, and it’s eerily quiet out here. This is another reason that I want her with me. She lives out here all alone, and that makes her very vulnerable to the creeps concealed in the dark. It would be so easy for some dick to take advantage of her and even kill her with no one knowing about it immediately.
The thought makes my head pound. That can’t happen on my watch. Look what unfolded tonight with the scum bag she invited over. I constantly worry about her. She is always in my head.
At least I know I won't kill or seriously hurt her. I admit my intentions are for my own filthy needs, but I will treat her well. I always take excellent care of myproperty. I am jolted back to the present when I hear something. My ears perk up as the sound becomes more pronounced, like a low, timid squeak.
I slow down as I breathe in deeply. Her scent assaults my nostrils. I look to the left of me, then to the right, but still see nothing. I chant in a low whisper.
"Here, kitty, kitty. Come on out. I want to play with you."
The ping of shallow breathing assaults my ears again. It sounds like she is covering her mouth, trying to muffle a scream. I canfeelher fear engulfing my body like a fiery flame. Her scent becomes much stronger, exciting me. She isn't far. I am surprised at how animalistic I sound, but this is what she does to me.
