Creeping

The dark forest creeped in on me as I ran but regardless, I continued running deeper into the woods. He would soon realise that I was taking too long to pee. What will happen then? And when he catches up with me after I tried to escape? He might kill me out of anger!

I continued running and running until I heard his faint voice behind me, "Come out, bitch! You can run but you can't hide." "I'll get you!"

The staggering fingers of fear gripped my bowels as I heard his ruthless voice without a trace of an Australian accent in it. I gasped for breath but kept moving. Someone touched me and I yelped in fear and fell to the ground. My end is now!

A lizard. It had fallen from above the tree. I looked up at the tree with thick leaves and plenty of branches. I was already exhausted and chances were he would catch up with me anytime. I hope I haven't forgotten how to climb. I thought as I tried to mount myself unto a branch. A liquid ran down my arm. It was starting to rain.

My pale eyes stared at the ground as my abductor ran past me. I was up in the tree, protected by thick leaves with branches for support. How long before he will find me? If he doesn't but still decides not to leave until he does, for how long will I be able to remain on top of a tree 20 feet above the ground? I prayed silently that Damien Jaeger would come for me.

A bright light flashed across the sky and I feared its brightness could have given me away for a few seconds. I squirmed and ducked my head, paranoid. The raindrops were getting heavier by the minute and I feared that a storm wasn't far behind. Soon, the branches started becoming slippery and the rain washing down on my face made matters worse as I could barely see through hazy sight, what to take hold of.

"Ahhhh!" A branch snapped, making me lose balance. I had taken hold of another in the nick of time but my slippery hands were now the enemy.

I tried to lift myself back on the tree. Pr prrr. Horror filled my face as I recognized the cracking sound of the branch. God, Please help me. I didn't want to fall to my death.

"Well, well, well." I heard someone yelling through the heavy downpour, "If it isn't the little mouse that tried to get away."

Oh no. My abductor is back!

"So you were up on this tree while I went around this dumb place looking for you." "You're gonna pay for trying to make a fool out of me." He added with aggression.

"Stay away from me!" I yelled, hopelessly and my ears caught a mocking laughter.

Suddenly, the branch snapped and I yelled in horror as I fell to the ground.
~

I was dead. I thought I was. Everywhere was pitch black- until a little light pierced into my eyes.

Through blurry sight, I saw a familiar stranger approaching me. His face- he looked malicious. Was he going to kill me? I thought to myself. I tried to move but I felt limp. I was laying in a pool of rainwater but I couldn't feel a thing. Out of nowhere, my abductor fell into the dirty rain water that I was lying in. He came so close to my face but immediately withdrew as though he was being sucked away. Now there was someone else beside him. He towered over my abductor and looked far more intimidating. A few punches to my abductors face from him and me let him fall stiff to the ground.

A distorted voice called my name as I felt myself being lifted off the ground. My lips parted open as I tried to call me saviour. Using up the last bit of life I felt was left in me, I whispered his name, "Damien…", And my lips went shut as my eyes succumbed to darkness.
~

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep

The sound came in a repeated pattern, ringing through my ears. It was the first sound I've heard in forever, aside from the sound of my heartbeat. In this darkness that surrounded me, an immense joy filled my heart to know that I was still breathing although I was very far from the light, I kept walking towards the end of the tunnel. The sound was coming from there. I was sure that my little angel; Darcy and her father, Damien Jaeger were waiting for me.

"Mélie!" I heard Damien Jaeger's voice from the end of the tunnel. He sounded melancholy, unlike anything I've ever heard, "Open your eyes, Mélie!"

"I'm coming, Damien Jaeger!" I yelled at the top of my voice.

"Open your eyes, Mélie." His voice came again and still, I called out to him at the top of my voice.

Why can't he hear me? I was listening to him.

"Don't die Mélie, Please."

Tears built up in my eyes, "I'm not going to die, Damien Jaeger."

I continued running towards the light at the end of the tunnel and towards his voice but as I ran, I seemed to be moving further away from the light instead of close to it. I fell to my knees in hopelessness. His voice was loud and clear, "Please stay with me, Mélie."

"Damien Jaeger, help me." I cried silently. The darkness was starting to swallow me again.

"Please stay alive, Mélie...I love you."

His voice echoed in my head as he uttered those words. Suddenly, brightness consumed the darkness and I found my strength. Taking a final leap, I jumped towards the end of the tunnel and my eyes flew open.

"Mélie!" Damien Jaeger yelled as I set eyes on him, "I'm so glad you're awake." He blurted in relief and his hands flew around my body. I groaned in pain and he quickly withdrew his embrace.

His hair was ruffled and disheaved, his eyes looked tired and deprived of sleep and the buttons on his shirt were undone with no blazer to conceal his large biceps. Overall, he looked like a handsome mess.

I tried to talk but he raised his hand in protest. Still, I stammered in persistence, "What...did...you...say?" My voice was sore and eerie and I realised that there was an oxygen mask on my face.

"I love you, Mélie." His tender eyes didn't try to conceal his emotions this time.

My eyes built up with tears, "What?" I had to be sure I wasn't delusional.

"I LOVE YOU."