Chapter Eight ★ Chased

｡☆✼★━ Daniel ━★✼☆｡

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I pumped my arms in and out and my legs matched the action. Weird, right now I would be tiring out… what gives? With each quick breath I lengthened my stride and inside a feeling of warmth spread throughout me. Using this second wind I gave it my all.

Turn here. Keep going. Is that dude still following me? I snuck a glance. Shoot. He’s still there and gaining on me. Augh. I leaned into the wind and tried to run faster.

Another turn and jump. I leapt over my neighbor’s white picket fence and hopped over his several pink flamingos that littered his yard. A resounding splash caught my attention as I landed in the kiddie pool.

Wet socks told me that the pool was still full up to the ankles. Keep going feet. I climbed and leapt over the other fence in the back of my neighbor’s yard. Behind me another splash sounded. The guy grunted.

What is his deal? Why is he following me?

I landed onto the ground and somersaulted into a kneeling position. Gracie my other neighbor’s doberman wagged her nubbed tail and greeted me , “Woof!”

“Not now Gracie.” I hustled across the backyard to the next fence and begun climbing. Gracie let out a loud growl and bark as the guy who was not far behind landed in the yard. I was almost over when I heard her yelp.

Looking back I saw her on the ground, “Gracie?”

The guy’s dark eyes narrowed as he stood back up. His one hand bloodied with extended claws. He said in a foreign accent, “Stop.”

Tears brimmed in my eyes. He hurt Gracie. She wouldn’t harm a fly. Why did he do that to her? Nothing I can do at this moment to help her. I need to get dad.

The guy continued towards me. I pushed myself over the fence and ran.

He yelled, “You are only making things worse, child.”

My hands dashed the tears out of my eyes as I ran to the front of my other neighbors yard. They didn’t have it fenced in like the others. I heard the man jump the other fence. He’s not going to stop.

Two more houses. Just two more houses then dad can help. Maybe we can call an ambulance for Gracie. Maybe there’s still time for her.

Another surge of warmth spread throughout my body and I lengthened my stride even further. The two houses flew by me as I turned on the driveway to my house. I yelled, “Dad!”

He was waiting in the doorway but he had something in his hand. I ran up the porch to the screen door. He opened it and came out. Dad looked down at me and my blood ran cold.

His eyes. They were the same liquid gold from the other night. He frowned and readied the rifle in his hand. Dad said in a stern voice, “Get inside.”

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – TO BE CONTINUED… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙