The Moon Walkers

Escape

After I ate and hydrated myself, I got up to explore my area and find somewhere to stay for the night. I don't feel like staying in the cave; something might live in it. I also need to put more distance between my captor and me. My shoes were still wet from the river, so I decided to take them off; I tied the shoe strings together and hung them around my neck to let them dry. Walking out of the cave and looking around, I can see that the trees are much denser in this area. Clearly, I am not going back on myself so straightforward it is.

After maybe an hour or so, honestly, I have no idea how long I have been walking; the sun is starting to set, I have a splitting headache, my feet are definitely bruised and cut from stones and leaves. At this point, I'm starting to panic. I don't want to sleep out in the wild; I need to find somewhere I can hide out of sight from prey and maybe sleep, although I doubt I'll be doing any of that for the night. The trees are starting to thin out now, and there is more open ground; looking ahead, I can see a huge tree, and I mean it almost as thick as a house, and it reaches high into the sky, much taller than any of the trees around maybe I can climb this tree and sit on a branch for the night.

As I walked up to the tree, I noticed some planks nailed into it, almost like a ladder; hmmm… maybe the goddess is watching over me. I started to climb the makeshift ladder; it seemed to nearly go all the way up to the top of the tree. I looked down and instantly regretted it.

"Okay, so don't slip and fall, or I will break my neck."

Looking up, I noticed a hatch; I reached up and pushed it, heaving myself up into the hatch with great effort making sure I didn't drop any of my belongings; I threw them up first and then pulled myself up and instantly laid down. Catching my breath, I sat up and looked around; it was nothing special; it seemed to be some sort of a house. There is a window looking out into the forest, there is a chest in the corner, and a mattress on the floor. I closed the latch and found that it locks; that's good, one fewer thing to worry about. I went over to the chest and opened it. I found a blanket, a shirt way too oversized for me, and a jacket also too large; taking a sniff, they smelt of lemons, fresh rain, and burnt wood. I have never sensed something so lovely and appealing in my life. Well, I didn't really have much of a life, but damm, that smells nice, and it doesn't smell of me, so another thing to hide my scent. I took off my muddy clothes and put on the shirt and jacket; I laid out my trousers to get them to somewhat dry. I walked over to the window, and I took in the beautiful sight; I could see the river in the distance, far away I have put a reasonable distance between me and that hell hole. The trees are all a unique shade of green, some closer to each other, some further away there is some wildlife around roaming the trees and the ground, poking my head out a little and looking to the right, I can see a road in the distance the trees thin out a little but form a barrier further, but I can't see anything past it, turning to the left it's just more trees and mountains.

I'll go towards the right tomorrow and follow the road and hope it leads somewhere; for now, I need to lay down and rest.

I didn't get much sleep. I was in and out. I keep hearing growls; I think it's him. I tried not to make any noise and focused on slowing my heart rate down and prayed that he would leave; I heard a loud howl and snarling and something running away. I silently crawled over to the window and peaking my head up, and I saw a large dirty blonde wolf with patches of fur missing from it run towards the river.

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. He found me.

I'm not sure if it was my fantastic scent covering or something else that scared him of. I hope it wasn't the latter.

Taking deep breaths in and out, I heard some shuffling from outside, followed by pops and loads of cracks.

I held my hand over my mouth, and I tried to make my body as small as possible in the corner. I couldn't get my heart to slow down. What if they come up and take me back to him. No, I'd rather die than let that happen. It's too silent…. Looking at the latch on the ground, I willed whoever it was to just leave and let me be. I've been through enough I can't take anymore.

The hatch started to move... No... No, they're going to take me back.

I can't move; I need to move. I have to protect myself and do something.

There was a banging coming from the hatch their going to break in with one more loud thud. The lock was broken, and BANG, the hatch, opened along with it.

No, NO NOOO.

Getting myself together for a second, I quickly went over to the window I'd rather jump than be taken back to him.

"Who's there?" a deep voice said from the latch.

"You need to leave this hunting cabin doesn't belong to you."

"p-please l-eave me alone," I whispered in pure fear.

"I'm coming up. You need to leave"

"NOOOOOO DON'T YOU CAN'T TAKE ME BACK. I WON'T GO BACK"

I climbed up onto the window, not caring anymore. I'd rather die than go back to him.

"SHITTT don't jump DEREK SHES GOING TO JUM----

I didn't wait for him to grab me and drag me back as he advanced on me. I let go and jumped out of the window, closing my eyes and accepting death, it was warm actually, and comfortable this is nicer than life… finally.. peace...