The game had started. It broke into a smile as she ran from its arms into the thick woods. Closed its dark eyes and counted to ten. It wanted her to have enough time to try to escape and hide.


    It heard her erratic feet stepping on leaves, stumbling on branches, sinking into the mud. Hopefully those last efforts wouldn’t cause her to faint. The game lost its fun when the guests became unconscious.


    It took a deep breath. Her sweet scent mingled with the smell of sweat, blood, terror and hopelessness that exuded from her body. It swallowed the flow of saliva in its mouth, opened its eyes and followed her with slow and careful steps.


    It came across a forbidden trail, a frayed ribbon with a “do not cross” warning stuck between the trees. It stooped down and crawled with ease, entering a narrow path amidst the huddle of trees, the leaves blocking the sunlight.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The brief gloom gave way to the sudden brightness of the stream, the waters showing the path to a gorge. It was close. Still couldn’t see her, but now could hear her perfectly. Her little heart beating in a furious rhythm, pumping fresh blood to the ends of her body. Ragged breathing. Teeth chattering. Blood dripping from the open wound on her arm.


    Moving like a wolf, it stalked through the rocks and shifted to the bank on its left. It approached a dying tree, the trunk covered in funguses and lichens, barks anemic green.


    There she was, curled up like a child. Dirty like a tramp. When she noticed its presence, she tried to get up to run, but it was too late. The game was over. It had won, as it always did, and now its patience was running out. Now it was hungry.


    The creature took her in its arms again, cradling her hair. It caressed her face as it smiled at her.


    And buried its teeth in her neck.