Darkness

Everyone has darkness inside

It was getting dark.  I glanced at my watch nervously.  7:45.  It was getting late, and I was all alone.  I had decided to go on a camping trip with some friends and gotten separated from them.  How, I had no idea.  All I knew was that everywhere I looked I could see the trees closing in all around, suffocating me.  Soon I wouldn't be able to see even that much, as it was the night of no moon.  I had a flashlight, but the batteries were old and the beam it cast was extremely weak.  Shoving it into my pocket, I decided to conserve it for only times when I really needed light.  

I looked around again, already able to notice the darkness falling across the forest.  All sense of time was lost to me.  I looked at my watch again.  8:36.  Not good.  It was getting dark fast.  Nearly in a panic, I started to run through the forest, often barely able to see trees in time to throw myself to the side to avoid hitting them.  Now and then I thought I could see a light in the distance, but it always disappeared in the trees.  Anxiety was beginning to take its hold on me, and I could hear whispers of fear in my mind.  As a dashed madly through the trees, I ran into a low branch that I did not see in time to dodge.  My forehead connected with the branch with a dull cracking sound and I fell to the ground.  I reached up to touch the area that had been hit, and when I pulled my fingers away they were covered in warm, sticky blood.  I wiped my hand on the ground and picked myself back up to continue through the woods.  

A light shone in the distance again, I could see it clearly.  Hopeful, I started running toward it.  After a short time, however, the light vanished yet again, leaving me in even deeper darkness than before.  I stood still for a moment, trying to catch my breath and come up with a rational plan to follow.  As I stood there, I heard an unmistakable sound from behind me.  Heavy breaths.  Deep breaths.  And they were coming closer.  I turned quickly and peered into the darkness, but it was no use, it was too dark to see anything more than a foot or two from my face.  I couldn't even see my own feet as I ran.  Turning around in terror, I ran through the forest.  As I was running, I could hear the breathing following me, seeming to get closer and closer.  I pulled out my dying flashlight and used it sparingly to keep from running into any more trees.  Suddenly the ground dropped out from beneath me and I fell into a dried up river bed.

I tumbled to the ground, losing all sense of up and down before finally coming to a stop at the bottom.  Chest heaving, struggling for breath, I rolled into a crouch, looking around frantically.  Now I heard footsteps crunching on the dry leaves.  The heavy breathing followed, coming ever closer.  I turned and scrambled up the opposite bank and struggled to pull myself up and over the edge.  Finally, I made it to the top and took off in a dead run as fast as I could go.  

Running, running, I don't know for how long.  I turned my wrist to look at my watch and realized it wasn't there.  It must have fallen off when I fell down into the river bed. I thought to myself.  I continued running, but could not escape the darkness.  My flashlight died and I was totally enveloped in the darkness.  I heard the footsteps coming closer.  I threw myself to the ground under a partially decayed log, trying to hide from my pursuer.  I could hear it coming towards me.  Then the footprints stopped.  I held my breath, trying make no noise at all to avoid detection.  After some time, at least 20 minutes, I dared to peek out.  A flash of light and all I could see was a huge dark shape coming towards me.  Then everything faded into darkness.  

I woke up in the camp with my friends.  We ate breakfast and I told them about my dream.  They laughed and said it was probably just because we were in a strange place and that I wasn't used to sleeping outside.  That made sense and I believed them.  It wasn't until we had packed up all of our things that I realized I still didn't have my watch.  I looked all over for it, but didn't find it.  Months later we went camping there again, and as we were walking along a river bed, I saw it.  A watch, cracked and rusted. The one I had lost before.

Reviews

[Meowy Cats]

I wish there was some dialogue and the story moved faster. I like the scene though. However the end is just like I woke up, it was a dream. There should've been more to it.

[Jeremy Hiles]

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this! I appreciate your feedback, however, the ending is left open with realizing the watch was gone, and then returning later and actually finding it in the area where he had fallen down as he ran through the woods. Maybe I should have put some more emphasis on that last part. Again, thank you for your feedback!

[LatoyaEvans]

The imagery in this is intoxicating very good job.

[Jeremy Hiles]

Thank you for your review!