Footsteps in the Midnight Forest

This is how my stalker nearly kidnapped me. I was walking home through the forest

at midnight when I first heard the footsteps behind me. I stopped to listen.

They stopped too. My stomach dropped. I started walking faster and the footsteps matched my pace

exactly. I could feel my pulse in my throat. I risked a glance backward but saw

nothing except darkness and twisted tree branches. Just shadows playing tricks.

Or so I hoped. I broke into a run. The footsteps behind me turned into heavy pounding thuds.

Branches snapped. Leaves exploded under his weight. He was getting closer. I could hear his

breathing now. Ragged. Desperate. Hungry. My lungs burned