1000 steps

1000 steps

1000 steps from door to door didn't seem far for a young man. But on this winter day the vespers creeped by unnoticed and night had surreptitiously appeared. The moon at perigee had exposed most shadows for what they were but distant objects cloaked with the ambiguity of darkness still found their way into his mind. The howls of the night wind seemed ominous creating an unsettled fear deep inside. Each step closer seemed to draw him farther from the safety from where he came. His feet grew heavy and his steps rang out against the ice and snow in which he trod. The sounds of wind and falling leaves had all but ceased when something new made its way to his ears. Another set of steps not far behind. It was just an echo he reasoned as his gate became more purposeful, not fully believing his own excuse. A sudden stop to quell his fear and prove himself paranoid only furthered his horriplation when the other steps did not hault. His heart raced as he ran towards his door, climbing the snow covered steps, slipping he could feel his assailant's icy hands grasping for his coat. Quickly running inside and slamming the door he turned to see the evil which had burdened itself with his demise only to spot a little red fox curiously trotting down the niveous lane.