Off the Beaten Path

CH.1

Veronica's POV:

'Run.'

My entire body is screaming only this word. Running is all I can do. A blur of trees and leaves pass around me, and it dawns on me that I have no clue where I am, or where I am running to. Crooked dead tree branches reach for me, stinging and snapping against my skin. My whole body feels like it's on fire, my lungs and chest being the source of the blaze. Just for a second I risk slowing down, desperate to gain my bearings.

My head is throbbing, and I can hardly see straight enough to take in my surroundings. Trees, trees, trees..not a single light, street, cabin, at this point i'd take a single shoe print; some sign of society. My blood turns to ice in my veins as my earlier thoughts tumble back around, the severity of the situation really settling in now. 'I have no clue where I am.'. The inferential weight hits my stomach now, and I'm grateful for the tree holding me upright as today's dinner comes back up.

SNAP

I freeze. I don't know where the noise came from, but he is here; Somewhere around me, he has to be. The forest around me must sense him here now as well, because it has fallen silent. Not even the crickets chirp as they consider the delicate game of cat and mouse before them. Trying to hold completely still, I peer around me, searching for any movement. I plant my feet, seeing nothing, I know it's time to keep going. I've been still far too long, even if that branch snapping weren't him undoubtedly he was not far. Before I can launch myself, his arm ropes around my throat, pulling my back against his solid abdomen.

I repeatedly try to throw my elbows behind me into his chest, yet catch nothing until the third swing. He makes a sound like a deflating balloon, and for one single second I thought I may be free. No sooner than the thought crossed my mind, my face hit the dirt. Holding my cheek to the cool soil, he begins fumbling with retrieving something from his pocket; and I am able to see his face for the first time. Conversely, maybe I should say his eyes; as the ski mask he's donned covers the remainder of his face.

They are dark as an ink blot, the smiling creases around them giving way to the indication of just how psychotic this man may be. 'Hes fucking laughing?' I am sickened all over again; and I'm not sure, at this point, my blood is even still pumping with how cold my entire body feels. Turns out frozen in fear is actually, not, just another overused expression.

I let out a whimper, spitting out little clumps of dirt and grass as he grinds my face further down into the earth. By some mystery I missed the bag finally breaking free of his pocket, but the fabric was unmistakable as it came down over my head. My chest constricted further with fear and I made my last ditch attempt, rolling to the side, throwing punches and swinging my arms; desperate to land just one solid blow on the monster on top of me. My face burns and aches from the rough ground, the hundreds of stinging cuts from branches and thorns almost forgettable in comparison. I try again to take a deep breath and fight him off me, but the syrupy smell inside the bag overwhelms my lungs. 'The smell?" Steely realization dawns on me then, 'Shit, chloroform.' is my last award winning thought before I lose consciousness.

Alex's POV:

The very first time I saw her I knew I had found my prize. It was a crisp spring day, the sky brimming with promise and sunshine. Coincidentally enough, she was the opposite, and that drew my eyes immediately. She had managed, on a day with sunshine rivaling the big bang; to locate the one shady spot in the park and lay herself out on a big picnic blanket in it.

She held in her left hand a book which looked like it may have been older than she was, and in the right a tumbler which I could only assume held some sort of coffee or tea. It was peaceful, the set up she had going for herself, and I knew better than to approach her, so I established a nearby spot with a great view.

For a while Rex and I sat and threw our ball at that park. Him doing all the work fetching, and me trying to look like I was searching for spots to throw the ball, instead of chancing a glance her way every other minute. I found myself grateful for Rex's constant return with the ball, because I'm afraid I may have stared otherwise.

Her beauty was subtle, but enthralling, and I found myself briefly wondering what she might smell like, what panties she was wearing underneath her tight, low-cut pants. We wait her out for what feels like hours, and I'm afraid I may have to leave soon for poor Rex; who's been panting and rolling around in the grass rooting for treats for thirty minutes now. Sigh. It would be mortifying to have to wait longer, to find another. I throw the ball again for him, harder and farther, determined to be the last man standing in our little sport.

Just as I'm certain this girl might, actually, live under this tree; she stands and begins collecting her things. From there, I watch her make the short trek to her jeep in the parking lot, haphazardly throwing her things into the back and speeding off. My smile is ear to ear as I make a mental note of the car, Grey Jeep Compass, plate #A5K32Q. I scoop Rex up, patting his head and giving him a good scratch behind the ears as we begin our walk home.

Later that evening..

The bitch was faster than I thought she would be, so much more willpower than I anticipated. I had planned for everything, save her outrunning me. I've run a mile a day for three years now to prepare myself for when I would finally capture my prize, my prey. My original plan of simply running her off the road and taking her from her car was now gone with the wind, thanks to the invention of seat-belts the crash did nothing but startle her; however considering what i'd be running after... I didn't mind a chase. I've waited so long for this, I can wait just a bit longer.

She darted straight into the treeline, weaving in and out of the trees and branches so gracefully I could've sworn she'd practiced this. I sprinted briskly to close the gap, and for a minute I was right on her; the smell of expensive perfume and sweat assaulted my nose each time I got close. I risked a prolonged glance at her beautiful body gyrating each time a foot hit the dirt, as a consequence I ended up tripping over a hidden bundle of roots.

When I regained my footing I found I had lost sight of her. I listened intently, searching for any noise or sound to indicate where she has scampered off to now. In the distance, a flight of birds rose over the trees, and I couldn't help but smile.

There was nothing out here at this time of year to scare these animals from their homes..nothing but an intruder. Creeping over the leaves, branches, twigs, I furtively approach the spot I watched the birds flee from.

'There she is.'

She was bent over, one hand on one knee and the other clutching some poor sycamore for dear life as she up-heaved the contents of her stomach. Ducking behind a nearby tree I go for the bag and bottle in my jean pockets, and step on what may have been the most obnoxiously loud stick in the history of the world. She jolts upright, and I can see her preparing to take flight once again.

It's now or never, I hurl myself forward and envelop her in my large arms, chuckling as she flails and tries to strike and buck me off of her. I'm certain I have her now, until a blow surprisingly catches me in my rib-cage. It hurts, but not much. I double over anyways, putting on my own little show, leading her to think she severely hurt me. I can practically see the accomplished feeling radiating off of her, so I settled on this moment to grab her by the back of her head and smash her pretty face straight into the wet soil, making sure I grind her in it thoroughly enough that she tastes it.

Shes whimpering, shes shaking, throwing her girly punches and crying; shes a fucking mess and I'm loving every second of it. She is wild now, but she will be tamed soon. I found myself chuckling again thinking about this. Reaching into my pocket I pull out my sack and chloroform, and in no time at all my muse lay sleeping peacefully in my arms. I shoulder her weight and start our hike back to the car, eager to get us home before the sun.