Run
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Claire Stanley, Grade 7, Elderslie High School
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Short Story
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2018
Excellence Award in the 'Write Along 2018' competition
I ran. I ran as fast as I could. The rain was coming down hard. It felt like tiny rocks hitting my body. The wind was pulling me back but I had to keep going. I heard a deafening howl so I knew that they were close. I turned around but the rain was so blinding that I couldn’t see a metre behind me. Another howl. I built up speed every step I took. Then, I fell. Brown, gooey, thick mud engulfed me. Every time I tried to get up, I would fall again. I finally got up and kept running. It was hard because the mud had added extra weight, but I couldn’t waste any more time. Then, another howl, but this time from in front of me. There was nowhere to go. Another howl to my right. They got closer and closer. A howl to my left. The rain came down even heavier and I was more tired than I had ever been. Then, behind me.
I was surrounded.
I looked up and saw a full moon peeking through the trees. I also saw a ledge within reaching distance. I quickly grabbed on and hoisted myself up. I got to my feet and started running again. The path started to disappear and I was quickly descending into darkness.
I woke with a start. Sweat was dripping down my face. I thought it was a bad dream, but it was a real-life nightmare. I opened my eyes and saw black holes staring into my soul. I realised that the sweat was actually drool and I was covered in it. They were all around me. I tried to scream but no sound came out.
The thought of dying without saying goodbye suddenly felt like it was becoming a reality. I forced myself to sit up and then slowly and cautiously, I stood up.
I ran. I ran as fast as I could. But this time I wasn’t running for my life, I was running home.