Into the Woods

Time is not my friend

Meandering

Wandering

Down the path

Beyond the sign

I should never have crossed

The Sun it waxes ‘or the horizon

Tired

Giving way to the gloaming

The trees they bend as the wind howls

Sending shivers down my spine

Shadows grow

Distorting

Twisting my thoughts

Toward darkness

And creatures

Hidden in shadows

“Turn around!”

“Go back home!”

My inner voice screams

A shoelace catches a branch

I fall

Slow motion

Until my face meets the ground

That feeling

Creepy

I’m being watched

“Run!”

“Stand up!”

“FLEE!”

I’m motionless

As shadows dance

Leaves swirl

Somewhere in the distance

A cry echoes across the valley

The moon faded behind the clouds

The trees loom above

And something taunts me

From beyond

It’s labored breath

Ragged

Savage

Waiting to devour me

“Don’t turn around!”

“Get up! Run!”

“Now! Go! Now!”

My legs can’t hold me up

They refuse to carry me

I crawl to a tree

Try to pull myself up

But…

The thing, it’s there

Why does it taunt me so?

“Show yourself!”

“No! Leave me alone!”

If only I could scream my inner fears

The light is gone

I’m all alone

Waiting

Fearing

What waits for me!

Stumble

Fumble for my phone

My foot slips

I slide down a hill

My phone flies in the air

Gone in the brush

I hold my breath

I hear it’s death rattle

It’s closing in

“Fight back!”

“Grab a stick!”

Makeshift weapon ready

I turn towards the trail

The shadow swallows my courage

But I run

Without looking back

Barely breathing

Out of breath

Heart pounding

Hysterical

I see my car

Just around the bend

Reach for my keys

They’re not there

I search every pocket

Every inch

They fell out as I tumbled

I collapse by the driver’s side

I can’t go back into the woods

Not now!

Not while the shadows wait for me

I must wait here til the morning

Time is not on my side