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Thunder booms, murky black clouds spool across the sky, devour what dim light penetrates the atmosphere. Glance upward, sigh with the reprieve; it’s not the sulfuric haze that rains down acid from the skies.
Put on an extra burst of speed; the hoard is close behind.
Run.
Run faster.
They’re coming.
Cross the rancid stream. Turn north. Never go south; they’re waiting there, waiting with teeth and claws, stingers and venom, talons and fangs. Stomachs growl, jaws drip acid saliva, eyes burn with hunger. There’s fresh meat in the forest.
Never.
Go.
South.
Twisting branches, carnivorous scrub, scrabble against exposed skin; tearing, rending, shredding. Break right, the ravine’s not far. Get to where the forest can’t follow.
Get to the ravine.
Find the marker. Twisted and decayed, looming from the fog across the chasm. Breath stutters, lungs gasp; dig for the last reserves of strength, pray to a God who’s no longer there, and jump.
Free-fall.
Plunge.
Where is it?
Oh God!
Where is it?
There!
Grasp the vine, swing across the abyss. Shoulders scream, hands strain, hold on. Just a little longer. Almost there. Wait. Wait.
Let go!
Hit the ground, roll with the momentum; limbs tangle, scrabble for purchase, seek solid ground.
Crash to a halt.
Can’t stop.
Where are they?
Look back. Don’t look. Have to look.
Growling, snarling, roaring; red eyes closing in. Muscles bunch, coil, launch into space. Getting closer, closer, too close! Claws scrabble, seek purchase, scrape, fumble, nothing.
Falling, dropping, snarling, screaming, crashing.
Silence.
Sigh in relief, head bows to toward the ground. Just a minute, take just a minute, a minute too long.
Rustle behind, snap of a twig, presence encroaching. Grope for a weapon, any weapon, anything.
Hold.
Hold steady.
Wait for an opening.
Spin around; prepare to strike, mouth snarling like a creature of the woods. Figure looms, eyes glow, fog swirls; shadows condense to a familiar visage, outspread wings.
Exhale. Sag to the ground. Tension bleeds away.
Voice like thunder breaks the stillness.
Hello Dean.