Creative Writing - A Story About Anything

Pursuit

The small child's footsteps reverberated throughout the narrow hallways as she wove her way sharply around corners, heading deeper into the darkness. Once a playground for her during the daytime, this vast labyrinth-like ruin which she now maneuvered in a frightened stupor was her only escape. There was no telling where it would lead; she had never ventured so far beyond the entrance, warned numerous times over the danger and instability of its structure. Fully aware of this, she ran anyway, ignoring the sharp pain of the jagged rock floor cutting against her bare feet. She gasped and breathed heavily as she made her way; however, she knew she could not stop for even a moment. They were closing in on her, their own footsteps loudening and getting closer and closer.

The further she ran though the ruins, however, the thicker and darker its hallways became. Feeling for the wall, she sped around another corner only to catch her foot in a crack in the floor. In an instant, and with a loud thud, she made painful contact with the floor, cutting her knees as they skidded across the rough ground. A soft cry escaped her lips and she lied still for a short moment, frozen from both the sudden pain as well as the fear that welled up in her stomach and throat. Meanwhile, her pursuer's footsteps grew closer. Clenching her teeth, she gathered the energy to climb onto her hands and knees and blindly, she felt the wall once more. As she slid her hand down the jagged rock, she found a hidden gap – a very minuscule alcove in the wall. She felt blindly on the floor for her rabbit, finding it only inches from where she had fallen, before crawling weakly into the alcove and curling up as best she could. She hugged her knees tightly against her chest, burying her face in her now dirty white nightgown.

As the young girl listened once more for her pursuers, she could feel her heart beating, hard and fast, within her chest, her entire being shaking with every pulse. She gulped as she fought to catch her breath, her throat dry and sore from the case. For a brief second, relief began to wash over her – she could no longer hear their footsteps. Yet, this brief moment of respite was fleeting as the running footsteps returned, clearer and louder than ever. As they approached, she could hear the loud, hurried murmuring of the strangers speaking to one another. She jumped slightly as a light bounced across the wall on the other side of the hall from where she sat; she was instantly filled with dread – they had been smart enough to bring illumination. She shut her eyes tightly, hugging her knees and stuffed rabbit against her tighter than ever.

Her heart skipped a beat. In what seemed like a flash, they had made it to the hall in which she now hid. She held her breath as they now, slowly, walked past her alcove, flashlights waving wildly across the hall.

“A little girl!” One of them growled, “You incompetent morons. How could you screw up something as simple as capturing a child?”

Another snapped back, “Watch yourself! You're just as much to blame for all this as we are.”

“Stop your petty arguing. She couldn't have gone far,” the third man muttered, walking closest against the alcove in which she hid.

Her eyes, now open, watched the movements of their feet – the most she could see with the help of their flashlights. She was now breathing heavily and as quietly as she could, her fingers digging deeply into her stuffed animal as she grasped it against her tightly. It seemed like they remained there for an eternity before they began to retreat further into the maze-like halls. An inexplicable combination of emotions washed over her. For a moment, she lost herself and the slightest whimper slipped between her lips; her eyes shot open even wider.

“What was that‽” came a surprised cry from one of the pursuers.

In an instant, all three flashlights were pointed her way. She cried, shielding her eyes from the blinding light. Gulping, her heart fell deeply into the pit of her stomach.