lined the tops. Dark stone gargoyles held sentry positions atop the towers giving the library an eerie appearance. I continued ahead, rounding the back of the library towards the path that would take me down through the woods and out toward the boardwalk and sand dunes along the lake.
That's when I saw him; a man dressed in black, standing just behind the old oak tree next to the library parking lot. He was half hidden by the trunk of the large tree, just standing there staring at me. I turned my head focusing back on the path in front of me. Feeling my heart quicken, I looked toward the tree again. Relief flooded my body when I realized he was no longer there.
Shaking my head to clear the unnerving image of the unsettling stranger, I decided I had just imagined the man behind the tree. I continued down the path, leading into the woods. It was beautiful there. The leaves had really burst forth in the past week so the forest was full of green. I listened to the leaves moving and rustling in the wind while rays of light passed through the trees and lit the path in front of me. I breathed deeply again, smelling the earthy scent of dirt, pine, and rotting bark. I turned my head slightly to my right and focused on a large tree. Squinting my eyes, I tried to make out the something that was directly behind the tree, almost hiding.
What is that? Part of the tree?
I felt my heart jump, when I suddenly realized what it was. It was him. Panic filled my mind as I became too aware of my very quiet, very secluded surroundings. I began to run a little faster looking, away from the tree as I approached. I didn't want to see him staring at me as I ran by. I nurtured my flight instinct as I began to sprint, running past the tree as fast as I could. My mind began to race as swiftly as my legs.
Maybe I can out run him. If he grabs me, would I be strong enough to pull away? If I scream, would anyone hear me?
My mind filled with strategies to protect myself from this stranger stalking me.
I frantically looked ahead to see if anyone else was on the path or walking through the woods. That's when I saw him again. This time he was in front of me, but behind a tree on my left.
How did he get there?
I was running really fast now, but no longer really watching where I was running. I kept staring at the stranger and he kept staring at me.
Relief flooded over me as I realized I was close to where the path turns to boardwalk. The boardwalk marks the end of the woods and the beginning of the sand dunes leading to the big lake.
There should be more people on the boardwalk, especially on a beautiful day like today
. I tried to keep my rising panic under control.
Just as I left the seclusion of the woods, I stole one more glance to my left. He was still there, staring at me from his spot behind the tree.
Be careful,
my conscience warned me. As I looked forward to the openness and brightness of the dunes ahead, I felt my right ankle twist beneath me. Sharp pain shot up the outside of my ankle and through my calf. Gasping, I fell, putting my hands out to catch myself. As the rough wood of the boardwalk touched the palms of my hands, I felt more stabbing pain in my ankle.
I leaned on my hip and grabbed at my throbbing ankle.
What rotten luck. Sprained ankle.
My eyes started to tear up as the throbbing pain continued. Panic-stricken, I thought of my stalker. Is
he still there? Is he coming for me?
I didn't have to look. I knew he was. I could feel him coming.
-Two-
Fear. Breath-catching, heart-pounding, sweat-inducing fear coursed through my tense body. I knew he was right behind me. I heard his footsteps stop just a few feet from where I was nursing my ankle on the boardwalk. They're right, you know. In times of intense stress and danger your senses are heightened. A defensive reaction, an instinctual way of protecting one's self. I heard everything even my own heartbeat. I heard the scratch of his shoe on the sidewalk behind me as he tentatively switched
That's when I saw him; a man dressed in black, standing just behind the old oak tree next to the library parking lot. He was half hidden by the trunk of the large tree, just standing there staring at me. I turned my head focusing back on the path in front of me. Feeling my heart quicken, I looked toward the tree again. Relief flooded my body when I realized he was no longer there.
Shaking my head to clear the unnerving image of the unsettling stranger, I decided I had just imagined the man behind the tree. I continued down the path, leading into the woods. It was beautiful there. The leaves had really burst forth in the past week so the forest was full of green. I listened to the leaves moving and rustling in the wind while rays of light passed through the trees and lit the path in front of me. I breathed deeply again, smelling the earthy scent of dirt, pine, and rotting bark. I turned my head slightly to my right and focused on a large tree. Squinting my eyes, I tried to make out the something that was directly behind the tree, almost hiding.
What is that? Part of the tree?
I felt my heart jump, when I suddenly realized what it was. It was him. Panic filled my mind as I became too aware of my very quiet, very secluded surroundings. I began to run a little faster looking, away from the tree as I approached. I didn't want to see him staring at me as I ran by. I nurtured my flight instinct as I began to sprint, running past the tree as fast as I could. My mind began to race as swiftly as my legs.
Maybe I can out run him. If he grabs me, would I be strong enough to pull away? If I scream, would anyone hear me?
My mind filled with strategies to protect myself from this stranger stalking me.
I frantically looked ahead to see if anyone else was on the path or walking through the woods. That's when I saw him again. This time he was in front of me, but behind a tree on my left.
How did he get there?
I was running really fast now, but no longer really watching where I was running. I kept staring at the stranger and he kept staring at me.
Relief flooded over me as I realized I was close to where the path turns to boardwalk. The boardwalk marks the end of the woods and the beginning of the sand dunes leading to the big lake.
There should be more people on the boardwalk, especially on a beautiful day like today
. I tried to keep my rising panic under control.
Just as I left the seclusion of the woods, I stole one more glance to my left. He was still there, staring at me from his spot behind the tree.
Be careful,
my conscience warned me. As I looked forward to the openness and brightness of the dunes ahead, I felt my right ankle twist beneath me. Sharp pain shot up the outside of my ankle and through my calf. Gasping, I fell, putting my hands out to catch myself. As the rough wood of the boardwalk touched the palms of my hands, I felt more stabbing pain in my ankle.
I leaned on my hip and grabbed at my throbbing ankle.
What rotten luck. Sprained ankle.
My eyes started to tear up as the throbbing pain continued. Panic-stricken, I thought of my stalker. Is
he still there? Is he coming for me?
I didn't have to look. I knew he was. I could feel him coming.
-Two-
Fear. Breath-catching, heart-pounding, sweat-inducing fear coursed through my tense body. I knew he was right behind me. I heard his footsteps stop just a few feet from where I was nursing my ankle on the boardwalk. They're right, you know. In times of intense stress and danger your senses are heightened. A defensive reaction, an instinctual way of protecting one's self. I heard everything even my own heartbeat. I heard the scratch of his shoe on the sidewalk behind me as he tentatively switched
Similar Books
Hounded (Shifter Town Enforcement)
Sadie Hart
Texas Angel, 2-in-1
Judith Pella
If Your Wife Only Knew
Cydney Rax
The Last Heiress
Mary Ellis
Acid Song
Bernard Beckett
The Cinderella Killer
Simon Brett
Hold My Heart
Esther M. Soto
Falling For Disaster
K. Sterling
Rane's Mate
Hazel Gower
That Friday
Karl Jones