Present
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Leaves and branches scratched my arms, face and other parts of my body as I ran along the dark wooded forest. I didn’t know where I was going, but I was pretty802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0iYwMWsSY
sure I was running for my life from whatever was chasing me. The air802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtGgD1nu0q
around me was cold and there was fog everywhere. The full moon had come802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBrYL9CklS
up and it was as bright as ever. But its light wasn’t bright enough for802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOMP9KDYDX
it to illuminate around the forest because of the foliage of the tree802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1mrahUkIm
leaves above.
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I ran, trying to dodge every branch and jump over any fallen log blocking my path. I had fallen over a log at some point and must have badly injured my knee, but now802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnBOrn7xrh
was clearly not the time to check myself. I could feel its presence and I802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYFExYUKND
knew it was coming closer and closer. I could tell it wanted me. I802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCC7rk26wr
could tell it wanted to find me. I could tell it wanted to kill me.
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Whenever I felt it coming closer, I would try to push myself and run a little faster. Sweat ran down my face and I was panting so much. No matter what, I couldn’t802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpG2oNOCpPC
stop running and I wasn’t planning on doing so any way.
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This was just like those American horror or Africa Magic movies about witchcraft I had watched. I never thought I would be going though whatever happens in such movies in my life. Everything's so real and my heart pumped so fast that the802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5Enw9uotn
adrenaline that spread throughout my body had kept me going for what802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr3EVRsUkV
seemed liked hours.
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All of the sudden, I felt something grab my waist and draw me a few steps back. I found myself pinned to the bark of a tree. For a moment, I thought whatever802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5ElvNwYym
was after me had finally caught me. Before I could scream, a hand802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWstqMbXLvd
quickly covered my mouth and I could tell I was with a person, but it802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLPPVoslyw
was too dark to even see who it was. I could tell it was a man because I802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK88uTNkO1
could make out the person’s physique even in the darkness. I could feel802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJi4AYHPLLy
his other strong arm pin my whole body with my back against the tree802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJWFZFglbD
that I couldn’t even move. The hand he used to cover my mouth was802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmXVIv5zrA
quickly withdrawn. He put up his index finger and placed it to his lips802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yqHsFenRi
obviously telling me to be quiet. I silently nodded, and for once, my802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixsugmdNYy
breathing slowed down and I felt my body relax a little. I could tell802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqpPGd8gAj
that no matter what, this man in front of me was only trying to protect802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2vzsPjJ4h
me, but that didn’t mean I had forgotten about the danger around us.
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A chilling sensation came over me. The feeling became stronger and I knew it was coming closer. The man still had me pinned to the tree and he just waited in802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpVrmNRAEa
silence. Then a black shadow passed us and it was moving as fast as I802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCQfHEKEMA
could have ever imagined. The shadow was going to catch me, no doubt802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcpmWYmwAj
about that. Thank goodness the man came before anything happened.
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A few seconds later, the chilling sensation had subsided and I couldn’t help but feel relived. The man’s hand that held me to the tree loosened and he took me by the802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMbtT1byZ9
hand and dragged me along with him to wherever we were going. He didn’t802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRH8PR2NIG
say a single word to me and it was best to keep quiet in these forests,802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaGTAePFHy
just in case the shadow ever found us. We soon came upon an open area802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrTry8Zn4Q
with a few trees around, the moon shone brightly over us and I could see802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaSVTS573R
the man’s back but not his face. As I continued to look at him, I802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOZNb3A06C
couldn’t help but feel that I know him. I wanted to see his face so802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0MQ5lspcd
badly and curiosity took the better of me: I spoke.
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“Do I know you?” I asked.
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The man stopped walking and I bumped into his back. I felt his body go rigid because of my question. I hoped I hadn’t upset him. He was the only key to getting out802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvF28GW5Cu
of here.
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“Now isn’t the right time for this,” he whispered, “and you better stop talking. We aren’t safe here.”
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“I just wanted to know who are you, that’s all,” I whispered. “I want to thank you for what you did for me back there.”
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“Don’t thank me; we aren’t out of the forest yet.”
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I couldn’t help but say, “You sound very familiar, do I know you?”
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For a moment there was only silence and all I could do was stare at the back of the man who had saved me. He sighed out heavily and he finally spoke:
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“Knowing you, you aren’t going to give up so easily, asking the same question just to annoy me. You’re always so persistent and stubborn, Diana.”
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It was now my turn for my body to go rigid. I stared at him with shock. How did he know my name? How did he know I was persistent and stubborn? I needed answers.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0XYugijFy
And I needed them right away.
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I didn’t have to ask the questions that were running around my head as the man immediately turned to face me. My jaw suddenly dropped and I couldn’t help but feel802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShW5KTgkvt
surprised and yet again happy when I saw his face. But some things802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZnFgo2HOF
weren’t adding up though. How did he know where to find me in the first802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fVfmxWk2d
place?
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And why of all people did it have to be him?
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