The low-hanging branches slapped painfully across my face as I sprinted through the forest, my bare feet stinging with each step. I'd lost the heels I'd been wearing, who knows how long ago. They were just a memory now. The tiny cuts on my skin felt like paper cuts, and the pain was unbearable with every gust of wind.

I didn't look back, in fear of what I knew was pursuing me.

My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest, pounding like a drum. I pushed myself, willing my legs to move faster despite the exhaustion screaming at me to stop. The only thing I knew was that I had to keep running.

I stumbled to a halt at the riverbank, the wind howling around me, the trees groaning. The river in front of me looked like a wild beast, its frothy waters promising an escape, but at what cost?

Before I could decide if I was ready to face that danger, a twig cracked behind me, loud enough to rival a gunshot. I spun around, expecting the worst, but all I found were shadows playing tricks in the moonlight.

The forest was alive, not with the usual sounds of rustling leaves or chirping crickets. No, this was different.

My heart lodged in my throat, I took a deep breath and stepped into the icy river. The current was surprising, stronger than I thought possible, and I almost fell. The water washed over my ankles, so cold it burned.

I stumbled, my feet slipping on the slick river rocks beneath me, sending a fresh wave of terror through me. I fought to stay upright, my heart racing even faster now. The water was relentless, pushing back with every step I took, like it didn't want to let me go.

But fear was a powerful motivator.

I couldn't give up. I had to keep going. Not with the fear of what was behind me, so close I could almost feel its breath on my neck. With teeth gritted and every ounce of strength I had left, I pushed through the river, each step a battle against the current, each moment a fight for my life.

The wind howled, the trees creaked, and the shadows danced, but I didn't stop. I couldn't let the hope in my chest flicker out. Each step was a victory, even if it felt like I was losing the war. The forest felt like a living, breathing nightmare, but I wasn't going to let it win.

One foot in front of the other, I waded through the river, the water rising to my calves, then my knees, each inch a struggle. The cold was biting, the current roaring like an untamed animal that threatened to pull me under, but I kept pushing, driven by fear and the desperate need to survive.

I stumbled, slipped, and almost fell, but something inside me refused to let go. I gritted my teeth and kept fighting the river, the wind, the dark, and the fear. Because giving up wasn't an option. Not when the alternative was to be caught by what was hunting me.

So, I continued, my breaths ragged, my heart racing, my body trembling. But with every step, I was one step closer to the other side. And maybe, just maybe, one step closer to freedom.

Finally, I reached the opposite shore, my hands clawing at the muddy bank. I hauled myself out, soaked and trembling, my once-beautiful gown clinging to me like a soggy shroud. The effort left me gasping for air, my muscles screaming in protest, but I had made it.

I was alive, and for now, that was all that mattered.

Soaked and exhausted, I paused for a moment, amazed that I had survived. The chill in the air pierced through my wet clothes, numbing my skin. I was tired and shaking, but I was alive.

That was what mattered most. I had faced the frigid water, fought against the fierce current, and navigated the encroaching darkness of the forest. I had made it across. For now, I had evaded the threat behind me.

More challenges lay ahead, but making it across only fueled my determination.

I had the strength to keep moving, to keep fighting, as long as I refused to give in.

That dress was a burden. It weighed me down even before it got soaked. It was ripped, too, constantly snagging on loose branches. This only slowed me down. I had to take action. 

I yanked the fabric, feeling its resistance. I pulled again, harder. Finally, the material gave way. The ripped section broke free from the dress, providing a small amount of relief.

Now, the dress was shorter, about the length of a cocktail dress. This change made a world of difference. No more worries about the fabric getting caught on branches or bushes. With that piece gone, I could move more freely.

The moon was beginning its ascent, casting an unnerving light through the dense willow forest.

I stumbled through the tangled undergrowth, my heart pounding with fear.

"Harley! Harley, I'm not here to hurt you. Just come out so we can talk."

Talk? A sadistic laugh bubbled up in my throat. The only chat we'd be having was the kind where I introduced his family jewels to my kneecap.

My senses were on high alert, so much so that I barely registered the pain when a branch slapped my shoulder, adding to my many cuts.

And then, the unthinkable happened. A twig, hidden in the murky darkness, reached out to trip me. With a yelp, I tumbled down a small slope, the world spinning as I rolled, unchecked, until I slammed into the base of a tree.

"Dammit," I hissed through gritted teeth, pushing against the pain. The scent of the earth was heavy, almost suffocating, as I fought to rise. The metallic smell of my own blood mingled with the dampness of the leaves.

The pain in my ankle was like a thousand white-hot embers, searing my flesh, as I attempted to stand. It was useless. My leg buckled beneath me, and I crumpled to the ground, tears stinging my eyes. The scent of the earth, damp and pungent, filled my nostrils as I bit down hard on my lower lip to keep from crying out, the taste of copper filling my mouth.

My body trembled with the effort of moving, the pain in my ankle that seemed to spread up my leg with every inch I dragged myself. I could feel the stickiness of the blood on my skin, the wetness of the dirt clinging to my palms as I clawed my way to a nearby fallen log, which appeared almost impossibly large.

The bark was rough against my palms, the scent of damp earth filling my nose as I desperately tried to hide behind it.

If only I had confided in someone where I was going. If only they knew to find me now.

I searched desperately for anything that could be used as a weapon, my eyes scanning the ground around me.

If I could just get my hands on something-anything-to protect myself.

And there it was-a pebble, small but shining. I stretched out, reaching with a tremor in my hand, trying to keep the sound of my breathing from betraying me.

The crunch of leaves grew louder, each step closer to uncovering my hiding place.

My breath came in ragged gasps as I tried to calm my racing heart. The sound was deafening in my ears, like a wild animal trapped in a cage. I huddled closer to the log, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.

"Harley, my love. Please come out. I never meant to scare you. I just want you to know that it's okay to show me how you feel now. No one is here to judge us anymore. We can finally be together."

Be together?! How I feel?!

All this time, it was him. Some I was supposed to be able to trust.

He took my trust, used and abused it.

After everything, he thought I would just come out and...what? Forgive him? Love him?

The footsteps stopped just on the other side of the log. I held my breath, waiting, my eyes squeezed shut as if that could somehow make this all disappear. But it didn't. It never does.

I felt a tear slip down my cheek and the cold stone pressed into my palm. I wanted to scream, to tell him that he had no right to ask for my love, that it belonged to another. But fear had wrapped its icy fingers around my throat, silencing me.

Suddenly, a twig snapped behind me, and I carefully spun around, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The cold, damp earth sent shivers up my legs as I stood, the taste of fear coating the back of my throat.

But there was nothing there—only the impenetrable blackness of the forest.

In that moment, I realized something far more sinister hid in those woods than any human threat. The sharp snap of a twig came again, this time from my far left. I couldn’t tell what caused it or where it came from, not with the confusion pressing in all around us.

Shadows stretched and twisted across the crooked branches above, moving like eerie puppets pulled by invisible strings. It was then I understood that this cursed forest kept secrets darker than I could ever imagine. And in that instant, I wondered if my fate had already been decided long before I set foot inside its tangled depths.

"Now I've got you," I heard him chuckle before taking off in the direction of the noise.

The sounds of the forest—the hoot of an owl, the rustle of a creature scurrying through the leaves—all fell away, leaving me alone with the pounding of my own heart and the echo of his sinister laughter.

As the sound of his footsteps grew more distant, my own heartbeat began to subside, the thunder in my chest reducing to a dull throb. The scent of the forest, once comforting, now felt cloying, suffocating.

I pushed myself up, my legs wobbly as if made of jelly, and started the painful journey back the way I had come. The taste of adrenaline lingered on my tongue as I tried to piece together the events that had just unfolded.

The chill of the forest floor seeped through the soles of my feet, sending shivers up my spine as I strained to listen for any sign that he was still nearby.

The forest opened up into a clearing, which led to the safety of the open road. The crunch of dead foliage beneath my feet sounded like gunshots, and I flinched at every snap of a twig.

With every step I took towards the clearing, the underbrush seemed to reach out, grabbing at my legs with a hundred tiny claws, each snag sending a shiver down my spine.

I knew he wasn't alone in his pursuit. There were others, lurking in the shadows, just as eager to drag me back to the hell I'd escaped.

Up ahead, a sliver of light pierced the dense canopy of the forest, calling to me like a lighthouse in the middle of a stormy sea. It was a narrow escape route, but if I was quick and quiet, I might just make it to the open road unnoticed.

Panting and limping, I realized I had barely covered ten feet, my legs feeling like they had lead weights attached to them.

I paused, leaning heavily against the rough bark of a willow tree, and whispered a prayer to the sky. "Dad, if you're up there, I know I messed up. I didn't keep my promise to take care of Mom like you asked. But if you can see me now, if you can hear me, please help me get out of here."

The rough bark of the tree pressed into my palm as I leaned against it for support, my leg trembling with exhaustion. The sky above was a canvas of inky black, dotted with the cold, distant stars that offered no warmth or comfort.

Suddenly, the touch of a hand on my shoulder sent a jolt of terror through me. I spun around, expecting the worst, my heart racing like a caged animal.

It couldn't be.

"How?"