Illusion ➵ Zach Mitchell

01 ➵ foreshadow

ILLUSION

[part one: chapter one]

FORESHADOW

THE trees flash by me in a blur, vivid greens and rich browns blending into nothing. My converse are muddy, my shirt is torn, and my legs are cut and bruising.

I can barely keep running. I cheeks are red from the wind and I am breathing hard. With my lungs aching, I carry myself as quickly as I can to the main road.

I can hear him roar behind me; the ground shakes as it runs after me. Dogging tree branches, I try and run faster than my legs can carry me.

I feel like coughing up blood. My head is spinning and I can't see anything. I just keep running. I need to reach that road.

I know I can't take much longer, but I hear him and I keep going.

I notice trees getting thicker. I realize I had been going the wrong way. I stop abruptly and spin around.

Where had I came from? Where am I going?

I can't think.

It's too late. It's already here.

I quickly duck behind a fallen log, hoping that the darkness will be enough to keep me hidden.

Closing my eyes, I hear it approach me and I smell its rancid breath near my face. If I wasn't so scared, I'd scream.

Suddenly, I feel an arm slide around my waist and the other cover my mouth, muffling my agonizing screams.

"Relax, it's me."

I breathe out a sigh of relief, easing into him. It's just Zach.

A loud roar comes from behind us. Turning to Zach, I watch as his eyes widen.

I close my eyes and hope that Owen gets here soon.