The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Escape
by Sheri White

Anna ran through the woods, dead leaves crunching under her bare feet. She turned to see if it was still following her, but caught her foot on a tree root. She fell hard, feeling her ankle twist beneath her.

Tired and out of breath, Anna considered just giving up. What’s the point, she thought. The guttural cries in the distance, however, changed her mind and she got back up on her feet.

I have to get away. I will be free if I can get through these woods.

Anna could only limp quickly now. Tears of pain filled her eyes and streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision.

“AH AH AH!”

Oh, god. Anna tried to limp faster, but her twisted ankle only slowed her down. She had to stop, just for a few seconds to catch her breath. She leaned against a tree and closed her eyes. Before she could take one deep breath, though, she heard snorts and gibberish. It was getting closer. Crackling leaves and snapping twigs told her she was almost out of time.

Anna looked around, unsure of which direction the sounds were coming from. Then she saw a brightness just a little ways away, making her heart leap.

“I can make it,” she whispered to herself. Determined to get away, to finally be free, she ran towards the clearing. The pain as she ran was like knives stabbing her relentlessly, but she ignored it.

“AH AH AHHHHHHH!”

No! Please, no!

Could she really feel fetid hot breath on her neck, or was she imagining it? She willed herself not to look back.

But she couldn’t help it.

She saw its face, saw its arm reaching out for her.

“No! Leave me alone!”

She turned back towards the clearing, so close, almost there, but didn’t see the rock jutting up from the ground in front of her.

She screamed as she fell, from pain, but mostly because she knew she would never have another chance at freedom.

She lay there on her back, breathing hard with her eyes closed. Finally she opened them, and looked up at the creature standing over her.

Its lips formed a rictus of a smile. It knelt down beside Anna, and stroked her cheek with clammy cold fingers. Then it spoke its first word.

Mama.

Fiction © Copyright Sheri White
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More from Author Sheri White:

When the Clock Strikes 13

Tick – tock
Tick – tock
Tick – tock
Your time is running out. When the clock strikes 13, all manners of hell will break loose.
When the Clock Strikes 13 is a collection of thirteen short horror stories by some of the best horror and dark fiction authors writing today. Inside, you will find stories to frighten, shock and gnaw at your inner fears, and take you places that belong only in the dark recesses of your mind. There are monsters on these pages; some are human, some are not.

Available on Amazon!