A Dark Destiny

Present

Leaves and branches scratched my arms, face, and other parts of my body as I ran along the dark forest. I didn’t know where I was going, but I was pretty sure I was running for my life from whatever was chasing me. The air around me was cold, and there was fog everywhere. The full moon had come up, and it was as bright as ever. But its light wasn’t bright enough for it to illuminate the forest because of the foliage of the tree leaves above.

I ran, trying to dodge every branch and jump over any fallen log blocking my path. I had fallen over a log at some point and must have badly injured my knee, but now was clearly not the time to check myself. I could feel its presence, and I knew it was coming closer and closer. I could tell it wanted me. I could tell it wanted to find me. I could tell it wanted to kill me.

Whenever I felt it coming closer, I would try to push myself and run a little faster. Sweat ran down my face, and I was panting so much. No matter what, I couldn’t stop running, and I wasn’t planning on doing so in any way.

This was just like those American horror or Africa Magic movies about witchcraft I had watched. I never thought I would be going through whatever happens in such movies in my life. Everything’s so real, and my heart pumped so fast that the adrenaline that spread throughout my body kept me going for what seemed like hours.

All of a sudden, I felt something grab my waist and draw me a few steps back. I found myself pinned to the bark of a tree. For a moment, I thought whatever was after me had finally caught me. Before I could scream, a hand quickly covered my mouth, and I could tell I was with a person, but it was too dark to even see who it was. I could tell it was a man because I could make out the person’s physique even in the darkness. I could feel his other strong arm pin my whole body with my back against the tree, and I couldn’t even move. The hand he used to cover my mouth was quickly withdrawn. He put up his index finger and placed it on his lips, obviously telling me to be quiet. I silently nodded, and for once, my breathing slowed down and I felt my body relax a little. I could tell that no matter what, this man in front of me was only trying to protect me, but that didn’t mean I had forgotten about the danger around us.

A chilling sensation came over me. The feeling became stronger, and I knew it was coming closer. The man still had me pinned to the tree, and he just waited in silence. Then a black shadow passed us, and it was moving as fast as I could have ever imagined. The shadow was going to catch me, no doubt about that. Thank goodness the man came before anything happened.

A few seconds later, the chilling sensation had subsided, and I couldn’t help but feel relieved. The man’s hand that held me to the tree loosened, and he took me by the hand and dragged me along with him to wherever we were going. He didn’t say a single word to me, and it was best to keep quiet in these forests, just in case the shadow ever found us. We soon came upon an open area with a few trees around. The moon shone brightly over us, and I could see the man’s back but not his face. As I continued to look at him, I couldn’t help but feel that I knew him. I wanted to see his face so badly, and curiosity took the better of me. I spoke.

“Do I know you?” I asked.

The man stopped walking, and I bumped into his back. I felt his body go rigid because of my question. I hoped I hadn’t upset him. He was the only key to getting out of here.

“Now isn’t the right time for this,” he whispered, “and you better stop talking. We aren’t safe here.”

“I just wanted to know who you are, that’s all,” I whispered. “I want to thank you for what you did for me back there.”

“Don’t thank me; we aren’t out of the forest yet.”

I couldn’t help but say, “You sound very familiar; do I know you?”

For a moment, there was only silence, and all I could do was stare at the back of the man who had saved me. He sighed heavily, and he finally spoke:

“Knowing you, you aren’t going to give up so easily, asking the same question just to annoy me. You’re always so persistent and stubborn, Diana.”

It was now my turn for my body to go rigid. I stared at him with shock. How did he know my name? How did he know I was persistent and stubborn? I needed answers. And I needed them right away.

I didn’t have to ask the questions that were running around in my head as the man immediately turned to face me. My jaw suddenly dropped, and I couldn’t help but feel surprised and yet again happy when I saw his face. But some things weren’t adding up. How did he know where to find me in the first place?

And why, of all people, did it have to be him?