Page 33 of Hide and Seek
I’ve spent enough time wandering around the woods since I started school that I don’t think twice about veering off the path and running deeper into the forest.
The ground is uneven beneath my feet as I duck under low-hanging branches and run around fallen trees. My footfalls are way too loud, and my breathing is already harsh, but I don’t dare slow down.
I’m so focused on trying to get away that I’m not watching my feet, and I trip over an exposed root. I instinctively bite my lip to silence my cry of surprise and desperately grab at the tree in front of me so I don’t face-plant on the forest floor.
It’s not pretty or graceful, but I manage to stay on my feet, my heart racing as even more adrenaline floods my system. The near silence that surrounds me, punctuated by my harsh breaths and racing heart, makes me pause.
Is he done counting? Has he started looking for me yet?
“Ready or not,” a raspy voice calls from my left.
I whirl toward the voice and scan the trees, but there’s no sign of him. A jolt of panic mixes with the adrenaline still flowing through me, and I can’t tell if I’m terrified, excited, or both.
“Here I come,” the voice says. He’s closer now. But I still can’t see him.
Rather than stick around and wait to be found, I take off again. I’m running blind, and I have no idea which direction I’m headed in or where I am, but that doesn’t stop me from racing deeper into the woods.
Before my parents got rich, we lived on a semi-isolated plot of land surrounded by forest. I spent my childhood playing there, and I’m as comfortable out here as I am when I wander around my old hometown.
I thought that would give me at least a bit of an advantage over him, but I can already hear the echo of footsteps behind me, heavy and steady as he closes in on me.
More excitement joins my fear as I try to lose him, taking what I hope are unpredictable turns as I jump over fallen logs and dodge around rocks.
I toss a quick look over my shoulder and almost stumble when I see a dark silhouette in the trees about twenty feet behind me. Digging one foot into the ground, I do a quick pivot to change directions and slip between a cluster of trees, then take another hard turn and run toward a pile of moss-covered rocks, tossing another glance over my shoulder to see if I’ve managed to shake him.
I don’t see or hear him, and pride settles in my chest as I dive behind the rocks and press myself against them. I’m breathing hard, but not from exertion. I’ve barely covered any ground, but the fear and adrenaline from being chased are tightening my chest and making my heart race like I just finished doing uphill wind sprints.
The snap of a twig in the distance catches my attention, and I put both hands over my mouth to try and quiet my breathing.
Did he hear me? Is he closing in on me again?
What’s he planning when he catches me?
My cheeks and neck flush hot, and my entire body tightens. I’m crazy. There’s no other explanation for why I’m doing this—or why I like it so much.
What the fuck is wrong with me that being chased through the woods by a stranger who’s been stalking me is the most exciting thing I’ve ever experienced? What does it say about me that instead of being terrified, my dick is half hard?
The crunch of leaves under a heavy foot pulls my attention away from my wayward thoughts, and I instinctively press myself even tighter against the rocks behind me.
Another heavy step, then the snap of a twig tells me he’s getting closer, but there’s something about the sounds that feelsoff. Like he’s deliberately making noise to let me know where he is.
Carefully, I peek over the top of the rocks, then immediately duck back down as more of that adrenaline and fear combo rushes through my veins.
He’s only about ten feet away and closing the distance between us with long, sure strides that are even more terrifying than when he was running after me.
For a second, I’m frozen, then my instincts kick in, and I jump up and take off, running away at full speed.
The trees are closer together now, and the ground is littered with fallen logs, exposed roots, and protruding rocks, forcing me to slow down so I can slalom through them without falling on my face.
It’s fully dusk now, and the woods are getting darker, making everything that much more dangerous. The shadows and dim light amplify my excitement and fear as I spot another cluster of large rocks to my left.
I do another hard pivot and race over to them. Once I’m safely behind them, I clamp both hands over my mouth again and try to get as small as possible as I listen for any signs that he’s around.
A gentle rustle filters through the trees, and I focus on the sound, trying to pinpoint where it came from.
The woods around here don’t have any predators in them, but there are smaller animals and birds and other things that make noise.
Was that something harmless, or was it him?
