• Exhaustion and adrenaline rushed through my veins like an angry ocean.
    I gasped for air- trying to get my breathing under control.
    My forest, the place I called home had somehow transformed into a terror-filled
    Maze.
    A maze with no beginning or ending.
    A prison with no escape.
    --
    I leaned my back against a huge tree, gripping my fingertips into the rough,
    Old bark.
    Calm down, you have to keep quiet- they'll get you too.
    My thoughts pumped through my head.
    Every word echoing and lingering in my mind.
    I closed my eyes and pursed my lips together.
    You can't hide here forever. They'll come around here sooner or later.
    My thoughts were at war with my body.
    I couldn't move.
    And plus, I was shaking like crazy.
    I open my eyes and slowly slide my hands off the tree.
    I looked around.
    Nothing…
    I turned around and peeked from behind the tree-
    Nothing…
    I found no sign of them.
    It wasn't quite night yet, but there was a blanket of gray fog sitting
    On the ground right under my feet.
    There was no sunlight at this point, and everything seemed dense and heavy.
    The warm air was coated in a sweet smell with a mix of rainfall and hidden life.
    No wind.
    No birds.
    No nothing.
    --
    I took a step back and sat up against my tree. Legs pulled to my chest, steady
    Breathing, heart pounding- I was still overwhelmed with fear.
    Heh.
    It echoed.
    I jumped.
    Where in the hell did that laugh come from..?
    I thought.
    I ignored it, and brought my legs back to my chest.
    Stupid girl.
    There it was again.
    I looked around as the words pulsed through my mind.
    It sounded like it was coming from elsewhere.
    I'm disappointed in you Jane.
    What..? How did it know my name..?
    I soon came to the realization that it was coming from within my head.
    Wow.
    I thought.
    It didn't even sound like me.
    It was low, dark, and filled with anger.
    You better start running..
    Then she laughed.
    What was that supposed to mean..?
    R-run from what..?
    Quiet…
    Then I knew.
    In the distance, I heard guns.
    The shots pounded through the forest- stealing away every bit of silence and peace.
    I shot up and looked to the direction of the noise.
    I heard their footsteps shaking the earth.
    Then the screams, the cries, and the death chokes.
    I turned around and ran.
    --
    Without looking back I pushed hard and fast through the brush, thorns,
    Roots, fallen leaves, mud.. And such..
    I heard more fires, closer this time.
    Much closer.
    My feet and legs ached with pain.
    But that didn't matter. I had to keep the distance between me and them
    As far apart as possible.
    ---
    This was hopeless.
    There was no way out of here.
    It seemed to go on forever-
    But I kept running.
    ---
    I shot up in bed, sweating and shaking.
    I gulped for air.
    I hated this.
    These nightmares have been tormenting me since
    I was a little girl.
    I wiped my eyes, took a deep breath, and laid back down.
    I stared at the ceiling and rolled my eyes,
    Trying to block out the images of my previous dream.
    I sighed, rolled over, and closed my eyes-
    Not to sleep, but to try and rest without disturbance.
    ---
    Hunters.
    That's what they were.
    They were cruel, and didn't understand anything
    About how things work- of course,
    They didn't want to, so I guess that's
    Understandable.
    And tonight, they had crossed the boundary.
    They were wandering in the forest the belonged to us.
    Not them.
    I don't know how they found out, they never crossed this
    Far into territory before.
    Who knows.
    At least it was just a dream.
    For now.