The crunching of footsteps on the gravel as she was pursued relentlessly was like a primal drumbeat, filling my ears along with the gasps of her breath. Run, I screamed inside my head. Run!! She was going to make it. She had to make it. I willed her to make it, trying to give her my breaths through sheer power of will. She glanced behind her, her face twisted in horror as if she was looking at the face of pure evil. I wanted to scream at her to not waste any precious time or energy looking behind her, but I knew it would fall on deaf ears. She ran fast, but her pursuer was still in chase, their strides almost becoming synchronized. I couldn't see who was hunting her, but I could hear their ragged breaths and footsteps alongside hers. Just as I thought there might be a chance, she tripped over a branch on the path, falling face forward with her arms outstretched to break her fall. She turned around, propelling herself with her hands and legs like she was a crab, scrambling back as her pursuer approached her.
