I ran as fast as I could, lungs burning, losing my breath with each step I took. I was afraid, exhausted. I needed to survive. As my feet reached the first floor of the parking lot, I pushed myself further, reaching the back door.
I left it open behind me as I bolted, running from them. But regardless of how fast I ran, their footsteps followed me . I despartly tried to reach the first human gathering I could find, to hide, to be safe.
I rushed through the dark alley . jumping into a group of workers who sighed in exhaustion from the long workday. Trying to blend in, I panted my exhaustion down, slowing my pace. I tried to hush my rushed breaths. to silence my heart, which screamed horror, and my mind, which screamed chaos.
I tried my hardest to look like one of those workers. wishing for them to stop following me. wishing for them to slow down. or for those people, who seemed to care only about themselves, to try to protect me, thinking I was one of them. But that was a mere wish that could never be anything near the truth.
I heard people scream. they fought pushing past others to reach me. not slowing down, not stopping. all of them desperate, telling each other they needed to catch me, no matter the price.
Holding onto my life tightly, I found myself doing the same thing as them. As I pushed through the crowd, they either cursed at me or gave me nasty glares. They were judging me, but I had no time to focus on what they were saying or to feel the weight of their nasty looks.
All I could think about was surviving—escaping, being safe—and nothing else. I pushed my body to its limits as I rushed into one of the alleys, hoping the footsteps wouldn't follow. My breath hitched, and my mouth became dry.
I shut my eyes, wishing for them to stop, to lose my trail—but again, those were nothing but wishes.
I kept running from one alley to another in desperation to escape, but they found me each time. It was endless, and my body screamed with exhaustion, begging me to stop, to rest. But the situation said otherwise, and I had no choice but to accept it, regardless of how harsh it was.
Taking my last turn, I stood motionless for a few seconds, observing the high wall blocking my way. My mind went into full panic as I tried my hardest to think of something—anything. I needed to find a way.
I turned my head in full panic, looking for any glimpse of hope, anything that could save me. Footsteps grew closer and closer. and my mind became messier until it fell upon the barely open door of an old abandoned building.
I rushed in, trying to shut the door behind me, then sprinted up the first stairs I found, hoping to make it to a safer place. It seemed to be an old office, as I was met with scattered desks, papers, and files thrown all over the floor. The place was a mess.
Running around, I checked for any open doors. but was disappointed to find most of them closed, one floor after another. I kept running, searching for any place to hide. I ignored the heavy steps that shook the place, breaking through this old office. I ignored the fear that tried to take over me.
Until I found an open office, rushed in, closing the door behind me. I fell to the ground, my breath heaving, my body crumbling into the mess I should have collapsed into earlier. My throat burned.
I was falling apart, but I had no such choice. I needed to get up, to move again, to stay alive. I stood up and made my way to the sofa on the left side of the room, hiding behind it, leaning my back against it.
My head throbbed with pain as I sat there, struggling against the nauseous that never left me. Regret rose to the surface of my heart as I sat there, gathering the pieces of my broken self.
The sound of doors being smashed open, desks being thrown, got closer. Their voices—showering me with curses, calling my name, promising me hell.
My heart beat louder and louder. I was afraid. I was really scared. I wanted to cry, but no tears came out as fear held me tight, choking me in the process.
And soon, it all collapsed as they broke the door open, rushing in with heavy, loud steps. Fear tightened its grip on me. crashing my bones as I stopped breathing, acting as if I wasn't there—or at least as if I were dead.
But life is really unfair. No matter how much I fought, it was useless. It was my fate to face this, for them to catch me, and now I needed to worry about what was coming next.
Would i be killed, tortured, or worse—if there was something worse? My breath stuck in my throat as one of them pushed the sofa away, making me feel the emptiness behind me.
I moved on instinct. Running toward the large glass window and shielding my back. I locked eyes with him, giving him a sharp gaze filled with fear. As I tried to pretend to be strong, to act like I wasn't consumed by terror.
As the desperation to live, to survive, was eating me alive in a situation where I was doomed. That annoying hope kept pushing me further.
In that instant of desperation, I felt a gust of air hit my back. I stumbled into what seemed to be a gate—magical, glowing red, it was beautiful.
I saw them recoil in surprise at the appearance of the gate, and my mind seized the chance. I pushed myself through it, crossing to the other side.
I watched the gate sealed, blocking the threat that I feared. I didn't notice anything else as I shut my eyes, breathing in relief.
My mind sang the words: We have survived. We're safe. My heart leapt from joy. I was alive. I was safe. My wish had come true. My heart danced with joy, and my tears threatened to fall—but stopped midway.
Then I felt a hot breath against my neck, followed by a growl. I froze, and all the joy disappeared. Only fear and hopelessness remained as I once again faced the claws of death.
I gasped as my mind declared defeat telling me that I had no right to life. There, in that moment, my life was in the hands of a savage animal standing behind me. And not even magic would be able to change my fate this time.