Chapter One
A middle-aged woman fled through the densely shadowed forest. She whimpered quietly under her breath, looking across her shoulder.
The anguished blood-curdling screams from her dying sister rang in her ears. The terrible, agonizing, gut-wrenching piercing shrieks reverberated through the trees and abruptly halted. As she bolted through the labyrinth of trees, twigs and branches snapped loudly beneath her feet and echoed in her ears. Her breath rasped. Her black eyes widened. Turning slightly, she nervously looked behind to see if she was still being chased.
The woman entered a large clearing surrounded by tall trees and shrubs. She stopped, caught her breath, and gingerly turned around. Her stomach knotted, and her pulse raced. She ran her clammy fingers down the sides of her black cargo shorts to dry them. Her hands pressed against her face as she closed her eyes and sobbed, dreading what those things we're doing to her sister. Her eyes snapped open as branches snapped loudly all around her. Her hands trembled and her breath stalled. Her lips and knees shook while she stood there. Her eyes bulged from their sockets as she nervously scanned the trees to see who or what was out there. Her pulse raced.
A cold shiver crawled up the length of her spine. She took hesitant steps as she back away. Her body froze in mid-movement. Her lips quivered as something breathed on her neck.
Long black fingers with nails like talons grabbed her from behind, gripping tightly around her chest. Sharp nails ripped through her purple crocheted top. A blood-curdling scream escaped her parted lips. Her eyes widened in terror.
With its strength, speed, and power, its muscular arms forcefully dragged her away towards the shadows.
Her shallow breath quickened. Her nails clawed at the attacker’s hands as she desperately tried to escape, but she couldn’t get away. The thing that had hold of her was too strong. She kicked about frantically; her feet slipped out of her white and black Fila trainers and hit the floor with a thud.
The woman dug her heels into the dirt in an attempt to slow her attacker down, but it didn't work as they just dragged across the ground.
A muffled scream escaped from her lips as she slowly disappeared into the darkness where the shadows consumed her.
