The stars are shining brightly in the clear night sky, even though they are so incredibly far away. The cold breeze rustles through the leaves which are covered by a soft layer of crystallized water. The entire forest is painted in a calm white. Snow is piling on the ground like gentle clouds. In between the calmness of the night are heavy breathing and hasty steps. The snow crunches beneath the woman's boots with each step she takes. She runs through the woods, passing by trees that look the same. Her brown hair is flowing in the cold breeze coupled with the fast pace of her steps. Every now and then, she takes a quick look over her shoulder. It seems that she's trying to get away from something or someone. She makes her way straight forward. She doesn't turn right or left or changes her direction even in the slightest.
Though, it takes every little piece of her willpower, not to avert her gaze to these weird things that are set up regularly all around the woods. These set-ups consist of a stick which is stuck into the ground, as well as a skull stuck on top of that. She also saw a rather fresh-looking skull, a while back. It still had hair on it, black hair, not like the other ones. The sight of it scared her. Could there be a possibility that she will also end up like that? With her head on a stick? But she told herself to ignore all of that. These were merely distractions!
She's certain this stuff is prepped up with the sole reason to cause distraction. But she's ambitious, yearning to get out of this mess. Her wide blue eyes staring straight ahead, wishing that behind the last tree her sight can make out, is finally the end of these god forsaken woods. But after every tree is another and then another, looking exactly like the previous one.
Her steps slow down and she braces a hand against one of the trees, trying to catch her breath for a second. Her heart is pounding against her ribcage. She can even feel her heartbeat up to her neck. Her lungs are burning, and her throat is dry. The last thing her mind can remember before ending up here, is a sharp pain ripping through her legs, then moving up her pelvis and up her spine. She can't remember anything before that. Or so she thought because those creepy creatures she tries to get away from seem oddly familiar.
After a quick pause, she looks around hectically, trying to spot if it's still there. She perks up when she hears the soft cracking of a branch in near distance. So, without thinking and guided by adrenaline and fear, she resumes to run in the same direction she was heading to mere moments ago. She dodges the trees which are standing in her way. Her steps are determined yet have their strength and speed from her fear of getting caught. Her hot breath turns into misty steam when it's released into the cold night air. She doesn't peek over her shoulder anymore, since she's too focused on a certain spot in the distance. A soft glimmer of hope flickers in her blue eyes when she sees that the lines of trees finally end. Her steps quicken even more, and determination fills her veins, driving her towards her goal.
Eventually she reached the destination she yearned for. But her steps falter and she soon stops in her tracks entirely. The glimmer of hope fading from her eyes as she stands on the edge of a clearing. She takes a few slow steps forward. Her gaze scanning the small clearing that is surrounded by even more trees. Her heart aches with uncertainty. Her determination to escape these woods and to successfully flee, loses in intensity. A weird sound is heard behind her and before she knew it, a sharp pain settles in her stomach. She looks down and sees something red spreading on her shirt. Her hands reach out to touch the red, wet and expanding stain on the piece of fabric. It stings when her hands come into contact with her body through the shirt. When she withdraws them and looks at her palms, all she sees is a deep, smeary red. It's her blood. Her blood is flowing steadily out of her body and staining her shirt.
Her vision blurs. She lifts her head back up, before trying to take a few more steps. As she attempts her first step, her knees give out. Even though she's kneeling in the snow now, she can't really feel the coldness of it anymore. Even the cold wind blowing through her brown hair, that is also pushing a few strands on her face - She can't really feel it. At least not as much as she should. "Is this the end? I don't want to die", she thinks to herself as the pain in her stomach only intensifies because the adrenaline slowly loses its effectiveness. "Not now! Not after everything!? Was that all for nothing? All my efforts...pointless?", she thinks. Her emotions are all over the place. Frustration, sadness and anger are boiling in her heart while it fulfils its last beats.
Her sight slowly turns completely black as darkness envelops her. She falls forward, face first into the snow. The soft white snow surrounding her slowly turns red as her blood seeps into it. The calmness of the night takes her in and allows her to rest now. No more running. No more fear. Only pure peace. Then, beautiful snowflakes begin to fall with quiet gentleness from the dark sky, as if the stars were falling with her.
