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Chapter Five

Shadows from tall hemlock trees cast along the uneven ground that crickets did not dare to cross. The wind danced around the lateral branches on the trunks as brittle leaves rustled from its path.

Clumps of moss covered thousands of roots that popped and twirled above and under the ground, resembling the arms of demons crawling out of hell. All wildlife was silent- a sound not to be made in the predatory atmosphere.

A gray beech tree with its smooth, slick bark stood shorter than the hemlocks surrounding it. Bushes bare of foliage bordered the clearing around its base.

My hunched form leaned against the gnarled trunk, hands on weak knees for additional support. I groaned at the soreness coming from my aching legs that were somehow still working. When was the last time I ran so much in a day? I cannot recall.

The thing in my back became painfully apparent, leaving me to debate on what to do.

Movies emphasize the importance of not removing a pierced item from a body unless death is the goal. The problem is that every time I try to get moving, the object causes a searing pain to radiate through my spine. It not only made it difficult for me to move but also hurt.

It is hard to run with something sharp shifting inside your back. In fact, I have no doubt it is fucking difficult to do anything at all with something inside your back.

I took a deep breath and straightened up, the tree trunk holding most of my weight. My fingers curled around the sharp ridges of what felt to be metal, protruding from my skin.

I hesitated, a whimper escaping from my nervous throat. Just touching the piece caused the flesh around the wound to throb.

Not giving myself enough time to back out of doing it, I jerked the foreign object out. A yell of agony interrupted the silence as stars blurred my vision.

The metal fragment landed on the ground. It had rust covering it and resembled the shape of a butter knife, minus the sharp edges.

Good thing I am not up to date on my tetanus shot.

My face twisted into a grimace as I applied pressure to the wound with my palm. I hoped to ease the blood that oozed from the site.

The edges of my vision were muddy, little black speckles shimmering around. I felt like I was in a disco.

That is definitely not good.

Leaves crunched towards me.

It was a struggle to stay awake. I needed a reality check, so I flung a slap to my cheek. This was not the time for all that.

My vision relatively returned, but the world continued to spin around me. A hemlock tree that had low branches centered my attention. I dragged myself to it, my left hand continuing to press on my injury so I would not bleed out.

I released my hold on my back upon reaching the tree, clambering up the branches. I had to keep my mind from easing into the darkness that was tempting it. I counted them one after one.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

Suddenly, my ankles were gripped, a yanking action immediately following.

I lost control on the branch that my hands were clamped on as I was dragged downwards, my fingertips grasping air. I cried out as I barely caught myself on the branch directly below it.

Fucking shit.

An angry glare stared down at the offender. "Leave me alone." I ordered furiously.