you shouldn’t have come here. you knew better. the unease had been there from the start, a sick feeling twisting in your gut as you stepped into the forest. something about this place felt wrong—too quiet, too dark, too alive. but you couldn’t stop. something compelled you, drew you in despite the warnings screaming in your head. and now, you were paying the price. now, you were running for your life.

your lungs burned like they were in a chemical fire as you ran. the twisted trees lying ahead, taunting you as you continued to run into the unknown darkness—you felt like you couldn't think or breathe; all you felt was all your nerves telling you to run as fast as fucking possible. suddenly, your foot caught on a root, and you smacked face-first into the ground. all you felt was pain radiating from your face, hands, and knees as you spit out dirt and leaves, and as you were about to get up, a hand grabbed the back of your head, and your mind screamed, 'no, no, no!' i don't want to die. do something!' but you were frozen in your spot as tears blurred your vision as your head was pulled back roughly, your neck cracking from the momentum and pain reverberating through your scalp as a knife's blade was pressed to your throat.

"jesus fuck, you're fast," a deep, rattling voice said as his body crouched down to look you in the eye. both of your features falter at once.

something has shifted.

as the blade pressed against your neck, you could feel him falter, although it was hardly noticeable. you could see his eyebrows furrow in confusion, like he was at war with the thoughts in his head, and he lolled it to the side, staring into your blown-out pupils.

why isn't he doing anything?

the thought bounced around in your head as he just sat there, quiet, breathing unevenly; you could hear both of your hearts beating as fast as rabbits as you both looked intensely at one another.

he's not going to kill you.