Term of Probation

Malachi’s life now depended on the lightening swift decision she had just made. Having left the cabin she now stealthily moved toward the darkness of the forest glancing back frequently. If she could just reach the cover of the trees and make her way to the road she might have a chance. Malachi fingered her purple cell phone that was shoved into her coat pocket. Dare she try and use it now? No – too close. Sound carries in the night and so does evil.

A faint noise back by the cabin alerted her senses and Malachi strained in the inky blackness to see. But the lights of the cabin, which were on when she stole out the lower level door, were now extinguished. He too must have left and now stood outside the cabin searching for her. Malachi stilled her breathing and forced her muscles to let go of their tense stance.

“Yashmea.” She breathed the name.

Silence and darkness braided themselves together as a net into the night. She could hear nothing and she could see nothing. Malachi bolted into the tree line and as she did the sound of swift movement came from behind her. She ran with every fiber of her nerves taunt and her muscles pushing forward. Trees slapped her and pricked their pine needles into her face and hands. Biting cold now lapped at her skin and the snow was wrestling with her feet. Still she ran.

But the footsteps of the horrifying evil were catching up.