Hunted

I can feel it behind me and it’s getting closer.

It is always there these days, just behind me and always quick to hide when I spin to see. I never will see it and I suppose that is a blessing.

During the day and surrounded by people I feel the safest. As I sit in my cubical and busy myself with the day’s work I almost forget that it is there. It seems to know when I have forgotten it and that’s when it sneaks in close and breaths hot rancid breath on the back of my neck. It frightens me so that I jump every time. Often, it times this prank so that my jump is noticed by a coworker walking by. My humiliation is another of its joys.

It is quiet unless I am alone when it likes to scrape its long nails on the wall. Mostly at night as I walk the hallway to use the bathroom. I never see it follow me in, but it is there just the same. Sometimes I move quickly to try to fool it but it delights in the chase and it is always one step ahead. At night when I am in that place between awake and asleep it sometimes reaches out and strokes my hair with its long jagged nails. I try not to jump, but I always do...well...not always.

Tomorrow will be different though. I have a plan and I think I know a way. I have hidden it deep in my mind because it can sense what I am thinking. Last night when it reached out and stroked my hair, I dammed my fear and moved my head towards it until I felt its foul nails on my scalp. I gave a small groan as though I liked it and then I actually felt it shudder as it drew quickly away. It drew back far enough so that I could not smell it anymore and indeed I almost could not feel it staring at me.

I think I know how to beat it. I think I tricked it, fooled it. I think I scared it.

And so tomorrow I will chase it. Tomorrow I will become the hunter and it will become my prey. Because whatever this thing is, it is not all powerful and I think that it can fear me, more than I have ever feared it, because I am greater than it.

I am alive. I feel and I can feel that it is afraid. The beat of my mad, mad heart and the feel of my warm, live skin are hateful to it.

I have hidden it deep. I have a plan and tomorrow, it will feel me behind it, and I will be drawing closer.


The End