Alice was running faster now, not running for fitness or enjoyment but running scared. She knew her pursuer, she'd been flirting with him in one of the bars Alice and her friends had visited on their girls night out. She hadn't flirted with him because she was interested but because she thought it was a bit of fun. The fun had ended once he had tried to kiss her and boy he hadn't taken her rejection well storming out the bar with a dead eyed stare that had brought a little shiver down Alice's spine.
Alice had only just left the bar when she sensed that someone was following her and had looked over her shoulder to the sight of a shadowed figure around 100m behind her. Alice had been reaching for her phone to call or text her friends for help when she had heard her stalkers pace pick up forcing her to launch into a run herself. It was through blind panic that Alice made her second mistake of the evening running towards the forest rather than running towards home she just hoped she wouldn't regret that mistake. It was then, as she ran towards the forest that the figure rounded the corner under the street light that Alice had seen it was the guy from the bar and the look of anger and determination terrified her to the core.
Alice was now clinging on to two thoughts, she was no slouch when it came to running, in fact she ran at least a couple of times a week to help maintain her slim athletic build and secondly she knew this area of the forest like the back of her hand she'd spent many a school holiday discovering this forests best places to play and hide. Greg that was his name Alice now suddenly remembered, Greg was still giving chase but he had slowed now his stamina was draining and just in time Alice thought here was her chance to put her plan into action.
She pushed forward as fast as she could, her bare legs catching the cold nights air dew that had gathered on the knee high grass that grew along the path this along with the stray thorns that had adourned the path which had cut away at the bare area around her knees were causing Alice to wince and gasp but she wouldnt let this slow her she needed to be ahead for this to work. She saw her target up ahead a fork in the path with the left path partly obscure by an old foresters house that had stood in the forest for many years, although part of the structure had collapsed it acted as a perfect cover for what she was about to do.
Alice rounded the corner at speed stumbling slightly but ctching herself before she fell in front of her she saw her destination the fallen Douglas fir that reached across the babbling brook offering safe crossing from one side of the bank to the other. Alice had played on the tree many a time her friends had even nicknamed it "Dougy" but now she wasnt here to play now she needed "Dougy" to help save her life. As she approached Dougy she glanced back to see that Greg was nowhere to be seen however she could hear his heavy footsteps getting closer and closer. Alice knew she had seconds to put her plan into action and she had to get it right now!!
Alice was carrying a neon pink clutch she'd seen in River Island it was a bargain at £10 but right now its use could be priceless. Alice launched the clutch as far as she could past the far end of "Dougy" aiming for the path that had formed from so many people using "Dougy" as a crossing and her heart lifted as she saw it land perfectly dead centre of the path. Upon seeing her aim had been true she slid down the bank as quietly as possible and dived into the darkness below "Dougy " pushing her back up against the cold soil and rocks that now felt like safety, she stood their motionless and held her breathe thinking "please let this work".
Seconds later Alice heard Greg step onto "Dougy" his steps were heavy and his breathing rapid as he made his way across the fallen fir. Alice then heard Gregs steps quicken as he spotted her clutch on the ground. The next sound she heard sent a wave of relief through Alices body as she heard Gregs heavy feet reach the clutch and then pick up pace again off into the distance. She was safe all she had to do now was come out of her hiding place and run back the way she came she would leave the clutch there was no point in risking anythig for it. She stepped forward towards the brook to listen one last time to make sure Greg was gone. She sighed heavily there was no sound just silence. "Thank God she whispered".
Alice stood listening ready to move the sense of relief now passing over her body. If she'd looked behind she would have seen the dark figure detach itself from her friend "Dougy" she would have seen the blood red eyes staring towards the back of her head along with the sharp finger like talons slowly reaching for her back, but even if she had looked it was already to late.
