The Mist

She was unable to run fast enough. The world beat beneath her feet as saplings broke behind her, and the predator pursued her until they were satisfied. They had her smell as they surrounded her from behind.

Strange darkness fell over her, blocking off what was left of the scared sun as she was pursued by bellowing inhalations that appeared to touch the back of her neck.

She kept moving forward.

Even though it was futile, she continued to run. Even while it was obvious that she would be found and undoubtedly destroyed in some way, leaving her nothing more than a ragged husk of the robust young lady she was now in these final moments when innocence was being taken away with every frightened stride, she was still going to be captured.

"Go away! Give me some space!"

The words, thrown into the air and immediately whisked away by the wind and the growling behind her, were so pitifully pointless.

"Go away, please!"

She was already out of breath, and screaming them louder drained her v