I felt the gaze of someone.Something. And in one cold, hard flash I was slammed with memories I’d been trying to forget for years. So many shivers up my back that I’d had at random points through my life, always getting the feeling of being watched by someone.Something.
Mum would tell me I should stop making up stories, with Grandma cursing behind her and saying I was asilly little girlwho should betold offmore, and so I’d stopped voicing them. Stopped daring to speak them out loud.
Tonight, that feeling was stronger than I’d ever known, and my heart took on a life of its own, ready for fight or flight.
When I heard footsteps on the cobblestones my senses made the decision for me. Flight. Most definitely, definitely FLIGHT.
I bolted as quickly as I could, hair loose and tumbling as the soles of my feet took the force of the ground. Wet moss, and cold stone, and the sound of my breaths running as wild as I was.
I was being chased.
The footsteps behind me were heavier than mine, and much, much faster.
Shit. Shit. SHIT.
I ran harder, trying to scream, but it didn’t work. My screams were silent, even though I could feel the force of them slamming right through my throat.
That sealed my fate, and I knew it. Nobody was going to save me – nothing except my own determination.
Panic and terror were enough to give me an insane energy rush. I sprinted with everything I had, but the turning onto Keel Avenue didn’t come. The street kept looming ahead, but no matter how hard I tried, and no matter how fast I ran, I just couldn’t reach it. There were only cobblestones and desperation, with an increased sense of knowing.
I knew I was going to get caught.
I knew my running was futile.
Still, my spirit fought on.
It felt almost as though the heavy footsteps behind were playing with me, holding back just enough to enjoy my efforts. Still, I tried to scream. Still, there was only silence.
The cobblestones kept on coming, the buildings reappearing on loop. I kept giving everything, gaining nothing, and slowly, slowly, slowly, I could feel my spirit weakening.
No. NO.
I fought it some more.
My silent screams were louder but useless. My feet were hurting, but kept on running, running, running until I couldn’t take it anymore.
Finally, I buckled and stopped.
I pressed myself against a timber framed building, my back against a thick wooden door. My hair felt tangled and my nipples were like bullets, still freezing cold despite the fact that I was sweating and panting for breath, clouds of steam around me like fog in the air.
I looked up and down the street, preparing myself for my attacker, but the footsteps had stopped. A fresh prickle ran up my spine.
I was being watched. They were still there. Waiting in the shadows.
Panting, heart pounding, I glanced around, waiting for the inevitable…
Who the hell was watching me?
Who the hell had been watching me like this my whole life?
My instincts knew the answer before I did. I recognised his voice before he stepped into view.
“Have you finished fleeing yet, Katherine?”
I folded my arms over my breasts. His smirk was enough to make me shudder.
He looked even more striking under the moonlight. His smile was brighter, his eyes piercing green. His suit immaculate. His dark hair sheening. But he looked different in these surroundings, as if we’d been transported back a hundred years.