Black Cape

Cora ran as fast as she could, not knowing where she was going to go. She chose a tree and hid behind it. Night was nowhere near over. Silhouettes of trees and bushes were silent with the night.   The only light came from the moon but even that was gloomy, just like her life.

Her pale skinny arm was screaming at her in pain. It took her entire strength not to scream in agony. She stood very still, cradling her arm as blood gushed down it. The sound of twigs snapping and leaves crunching drifted her way. She automatically dropped. She held her breath, but not because of the smell of dirt and dead animal. The snapping got louder. She risked a peek around the thick tree and regretted it. There he was. In a black cape with a shiny, shockingly sharp knife in his hand. She didn't know what kind of knife it was but at that moment she didn't care. The black cape just stared at her crouching body. She couldn't look away. How could she when she knew that death lay ahead? Her eyes were glued to him. She couldn't think straight. What am I going to do? She asked anyone who might be looking in on her thoughts. The black cape took a step forward and without any qualms she flew up and ran as fast as she could. She cried out for help. She appreciated her surroundings, looking for somewhere to mask herself. Behind her it was all still. She stopped running. Looking around to see where the black shadow was. It was quiet. That scared her even more. She turned around. She hit something and automatically flinched back and tripped on a fallen branch. Her heart accelerated along with her breathing. The black figure with the sliver object stood inches away from her. She shuffled back.

'Please! Please! I'll stop looking! Just let me GO!' Cora cried.

The shadow did not reply. Instead he just calmly walked forward. Tears hastily ran down her soft, pink cheeks.

'Please.' She whispered, even knowing that if she survived this she would carry an even more terrible affliction with her for the rest of her life.

She got to her feet and ran in the opposite direction of the black figure. She wasn't giving up. That was all she ever did, but this time she wouldn't. It wouldn't be fair on her. She flew around trees and bushes, not risking looking back. Her breathing was heavy and uneven and everywhere hurt. She wished so badly she had taken fitness classes seriously. This made her think of her friends and family- all the sleepovers, the family dinners. Her life had been great, until the day her father was killed and she decided to snoop around and find out what monster murdered him. She was so close to the truth she thought she could touch it. She knew they would come for her but little did she know that they were already on their way. Her little brother begged her to stop. He just lost his hero; he didn't want to lose his only friend too. His voice echoed in her head and she said out loud, without realising it, "I'm going to survive this. Don't be a coward. Fight back... for them."

All the running and blood she had lost was affecting her. Tiredness was taking its toll, but she went on. Soon she could see light. This made her feel just a bit safer. She kept running, not slowing down as she got closer to the light. For a while she thought she was dead from all the blood she had lost and was seeing the gates to heaven. But that thought quickly vanished when she came into view of the headlights of a Landcruiser.

She sprinted over to the driver's side. It was empty and no one was in sight. She hopped in like a rabbit running from a predator and started the vehicle. She reversed quickly then drove in a direction she did not know. The road was rough and bumpy and her speed did not do her any favours. She hit her head continuously on the roof until she decelerated. She was terrified. She searched the glove box, the dash board and under the seats. She almost gave up and then saw an iPhone on the seat beside her. She felt stupid for not looking in the most obvious spot.

Her hands were shaking uncontrollably. By the time she dialled the number it was too late.

'Help! Ahhh!' she made an ear splitting shriek. In front of the Ute stood death. She slammed on the breaks. Cora started panicking ten millions times more than she was before. The Cape walked to the driver's side. Her heart stopped. She was too terrified and shocked to move. The Cape started opening the door. Face red and stinging, she kicked at it and it flung hard, smashing into the predator. Maybe the prey would get away. A hand came in her direction. Or maybe not.

'NO! Get your hands off me!'

The hand gripped at her hair, pulled her from the Ute and slammed her to the ground. Her arm was throbbing. She squeezed it to stop the pain. It didn't work. She rolled onto her back. Worst mistake she had ever made- apart from not running him over when she had the chance. The black cape hit her in the stomach with the small sword. The pain was excruciating. Her eye site was blurry. She couldn't see what was happening. Another jolt of pain hit her stomach. Something was scraping against her back. Her eyes were only just staying open. Shades of blurred green drifted past her head. She then realised she was being dragged away like a dead animal on the side of a road. The scraping stopped and was replaced by something cold and soft. The smell of damp dirt lingered. A black blur walked away. The faint sound of an engine started and soon disappeared.

'I'm sorry Eddie, I failed...'