what came over

pavement as I sprinted, my b

purposeful-followed me, getting

ch on forever, the streetlights casting long,

hat I was being hunted, but I h

but there was something else-something dee

over and over again: "You are not

away. I had t

sneakers skidding ag

ut there was no sign of him.

h

arms failing as I tri

ith a sickening thud, th

ould not breathe,

ound me closed

en I h

. Slow, d

my legs shaking, but I

o give in to fear. I

s I pushed myself harder, f

I was going. I was n

of panic but I coul

ts peak, something in the corner

I squinted into the darkness, my heart po

im. It was s

er fi

cks, my heart thumping p

he man did. It was not a pre

lness to it, a presenc

it, a voice called out

iac

fr

that

disappear into the night, b

ed in place, my eye

me again, this time so

n, like a force pulling me for

of a dimly lit alley, was a

ered, my voice

the shadows, her ex

and her lips pressed into a t

istant. Like she di

urge of emotions crash throug

idea wh

o go." My voice cracked, and

anymore. I just... I j

e was still a coldness to h

as though testing the weigh

e out here alone.

y heart still raci

stand. I cannot g

cker of something in her eyes-so

e just stood the

are doing the right th

hat is out there. You

h an unspoken warning, but I cou

rotest, but she held u

. This is not just about you. There is a r

k, confusion swir

talking about?

shoulder, like she wa

ly, and I felt the te

voice suddenly low, urgent. "Come with

run in the opposite direction, but something

ared. Terr

I asked, my voice ba

st. Her eyes flickered to

barely audible, she said,

far end of the street caught my attenti

in my throat as a set of head

ht at the intersection, the eng

eart slam i

I whis

twisted into

arm, her grip p

e to go

free. "What the

he pulled me with her, faster

ith her pace, my mind a whirl

brighter as it moved close

ing from anymore, but I knew t

was strained as sh

fter us when I heard a voice

iac

my tracks, panic r

tanding in the

ma

een following me

ew. I was not just runni

ing from e