Shadow hopping

She was exhausted from running away from this shadow. Since her childhood she had ran away from it, from this thing for as long as she could remember. She was but a young child when she first saw it, standing behind her house, peering into the woods that lined her back yard as an unworldly fog settled over the property.  Unsure of what it was, she ignored it till it started to follow her. Her parents refused to believe the young girl and when the nightmare continued, they brought her to therapist after therapist, psychiatrist after psychiatrist. nothing they did helped, the shadow was always be her side, always there. Now running away from this shadow again brought back the haunting memories.Tripping and losing balance, she scrambles up and continues to run, trying to escape this childhood nightmare.  She stops, feet unable to push further,  NO! I can't stop now, it's going to catch up to me.And she is forced to look into the dark abyss of the shadow. As soon as she looks in she knows everything will never be the same again. She sees despair, pain and death's own shadow. Death being stalked by the same shadow. What kind of twisted game is going on?!?! Then she sees her face, warped in a grimy mirror, ashen skin and brittle hair. she reaches out to touch it only for it drift away in wispy water-like strands. She pulls back her hand to see it pale and bony. What is this? How could my hand have aged in mere seconds? Then a scent came so over baring it was hard to breathe, it smelt like summer honeysuckle, just like the field behind her home when she was a child. she immediately felt safe, till that smell started to chock her those wispy strands floating around her started to wrap around her neck and she was frozen in place, this is like a war, how could i win? she thought it despair. panic was washing over her and she tried pulling the wisps off but she couldn't grab them. I can't loose not now, after i've come so far. She tried a different tactic pushing against the shadow and propelled herself away and for a chance at freedom. after several failed tries she broke free. as if an adrenaline shot was stabbed in her heart and she ran. she didn't look back to see it  was still coming after her. she ran through forests and clearing for how long and till where she had no idea. she began trotting to a brisk walk when she reached an old country highway and attempted to act natural. yea 19 year old girl with a bony hand and hair snagged with leaves walking on the side of a highway at 2 in the morning is real natural. she walked on a gravel path kicking stones ans she walked thinking that her life was pure hell. she was wallowing in self pity when she came across a suspicious motel. she decided that this encounter with the shadow is not the last, she had to take action. entering in her expectation of a decent room seemed fruitless. Avoiding eye contact as much as possible she went to her room. the man at at he front desk smiled and a wisp of black smoke escaped his mouth. He whispered something in an ancient language and flipped off the 24 hour sign, heading down stairs. In the motel room 107 the girl swung a chair in front of an old computer and began searching for places she could receive help or get rid of this shadow. Her ears pricked up when even the crickets stopped chriping their eerie sounds. something is not right... could the shadow be here? Now? how?   She shut off the lights and peeked through the gauzy curtains of the room. The road was pith black but she swear she saw something move.  A giant RV passed by, now people decide to come back.  when the RV passed she saw, a figure to tall to be human, what is it that, no wait them... there wasn't only one a group of them came. Why are they just standing there? Are they in the league with the shadow, he can't be here!She moved away from the curtain picked up her wallet and wrote down directions to the destination of where she wanted to go. On the computer screen showed the address to a small town psychic with the ability of aura and soul cleansing. A short but antsy ride later she saw a worn out shack, with flickering lights. Eugh, false advertising much? What ever the case i need her help. she walked into Madame Velaspar's Psychic Reading Store. The door creaked hitting her with a spray of dust. Disgusting.. Pushing back old beaded curtains she called out, hopping she was there to help her.  She saw a table with cards and other oddities. Tarot cards, people still have those. What no Crystal ball? She laughed to her self. Not all physics use crystal balls my dear. You can read thoughts? Of course... I have been given the gift of many tongues. i was.. well i need help. The shadow that chases you can only leave once something of pure enlightenment sets you free. You have a curse set upon you.     Out side the store the shadow waited his loyal army at his flanks. She stepped outside... when the fog rolled in. no he's here, i have to do this, the crazy lady said so. OK she takes a deep breathe, she walks slowly to the shadow, dreading every step. Peering inside she now see's something worse than the first time. so many mirrors, what is this? Who are those people, other people the shadow took away, stolen from this world? if only i could reach out and touch them to help. An uncontrollable force pulled her in. she gasped as icy water filled her lungs There's water? Why is it dark. I can't see the bottom! will i drown?! A grisly grey hand shot out of the water a grabbed her leg pulling her down. No! i won't let him take me! multiple hands shot out grabbing her in all directions pulling her under i can't do this any more. she let hands pull her under the midnight waters as she became part of the sea of souls.

Reviews

[TJ]

Wow. Loved the ending, I think you did a great job choosing it! I expected a happy ending but this is a pleasant surprise. Loved the build up! It was kind of rushed but I think you did a great job with this one :) glad I can say I helped

[Jess Holden]

I love it :D