WHO WAS HE?

 

The world seemed to hold its breath. ‘Time slowed, the silence broken only by the rustling of leaves and her ragged breathing’. The blade hovered, shimmering with a terrifying finality.

But then, a sound—a sharp, urgent bark. Her eyes flew open. From the shadows, a dog lunged forward, growling fiercely. The figure hesitated, startled by the unexpected threat.

She seized the moment, adrenaline surging anew. With trembling hands, she grabbed a nearby rock and hurled it with all her might. It struck the figure's hand, the blade clattering to the ground.

She scrambled to her feet, her legs moving on sheer instinct. The light was closer now, a beacon of hope. She sprinted toward it, her lungs screaming for air. Behind her, the figure cursed, his footsteps pounding after her.

As she reached the light, she burst through the door of a small cabin. A kind old man looked up, startled but concerned. Before she could speak, the figure appeared in the doorway.

"You've gone far enough," the man said, his voice cold and steady. He reached behind her. Facing her figure, pulling out a shotgun. The dark figure froze, his sinister confidence vanishing.

The girl collapsed to the floor, trembling but alive. The light had saved her, but the shadow of terror would linger for a long time to come.

Adan Amjad VI Green