Prologue
I can hear my heart beating furiously in my chest, a routine thump that seems to echo out in these lonely woods. My legs have begun to ache, pushing me to stop running.
But I can't afford to take a break, because that might just be the end of my life.
I don't have to look back to see if they're still following me, I know very well that they are.
Sweat trickles down my forehead--- despite the chilly temperature, as I take in wispy breaths of cold air.
"F*ck" I breathe. I don't notice the tears that have begun to cascade down my face, a hot jab stabbing at my throat.
I'm going to die here. There's no way around it. Very soon I'm going to run out of energy---which I'm sure they're counting on, and they're going to kill me.
I don't want to die. There's so much I haven't done yet.
I should have just stayed home, I should have listened to mum.
Did I even tell her I loved today? I doubt it.
Finally I glance back, eyes frantically searching for them. As I turn my head forward, I dive head first into a tall tree, stumbling onto the ground.
I should get up and continue running, but I don't have any fight left in me. I collapse onto the snow, wiping the tears away.
"Please..." I croak, but I know it's no use. I know they're going to kill me anyways. I look up and the last thing I see before everything goes back is them standing before me, grin plastered onto their face and knife glinting in their hand.
I back away in shock.
I know this person.
It almost looks like-
