Page 7 of Run, Little Rabbit

The exit of the carnival was to my left. There was a long stretch of woodland the city owned to my right. Instinct told me to stay with the crowd, to blend in, and hide. I started walking, not sure where to go, my mouth dry and my lips sticking together as I kept searching for something… anything.

Since being in the haunted house, more people had arrived, congesting the walkways. The carnival-style music was both too loud and muffled background noise, producing static in my head. Sweat covered my palms, and I wiped them continuously on my skirt, making me all too aware I was naked underneath it. So I ended up just holding it in my tight grip to keep it down as I walked.

Every part of me was on high alert, the fight-or-flight instinct so powerful. It told me to get the fuck out of there.

To run. To survive.

My shoes sported two-inch heels, which wouldn’t have been an issue if I weren’t literally running for my life.

“Help,” I finally spoke in the middle of the horde, but with the noise of the patrons, the music, and my terror, that lone word came out as a strangled whisper.

There was no doubt my assailant, who’d forcefully touched me—caused my body to react to him in disturbing ways—was coming after me. I stumbled more than once and contemplated taking off the heels. But the thought of stopping caused panic to rise in me. That little voice inside my head told me to keep moving.

I felt this tightening in my body, a tingling on the back of my neck. Those tiny hairs stood on end, and I chanced a look over my shoulder.

There he was.

Standing in the center of a crowd of people, towering over everyone as they parted for him like oil from water. Theyfeltthe menace pouring from him, no doubt.

He lowered his head slightly and lifted his arm, crooking his finger for me to come to him, but I shook my head and took a step away from him instead. Everything in me told me to do what he said inside the room—run.

He started walking toward me, his movements fluid, lazy even. It was as if he had all the time in the world to terrorize and stalk me. It was like it didn’t matter to him if I ran because no matter how far or how fast I got away… he’d still find me.

I needed to lose him. I couldn’t make this easy for him. So I feigned left, heading toward the bouncy house. It was a large castle, with a setup in the center that had a DJ, bubbles, and a foam machine. On a whole other level than the ones people rented for parties.

I tripped again and finally said fuck the shoes. I reached down and haphazardly yanked them off before throwing them to the side. And then I ran faster and harder.

When I reached the bouncy house, I glanced behind me but didn’t see him.

I weaved my way past the people in the inflatable obstacles as the DJ blasted the latest hits. The bubble machine was going as kids screamed in happiness and yelled in competition while they tried to pop them.

The bouncy house was known as one of the biggest ones erected in the state, so there were many activities to pick from. Slides, ball pits, and an array of beach balls and other items strewed all over the place.

I picked the ball pit that was off to the side and sunk into it, sitting on the bottom so the balls covered me to my nose. I was breathing so hard, but it didn’t matter because it all melded with the chaos of the festival.

There were several kids playing in the ball pit, and I felt a little safer. The announcer called out for a dance party in the center, and everyone went wild. I could barely see the DJ with all the inflatable shit around him, but a second later, the foam machine kicked on, and everyone scurried out of the ball pit.

I didn’t move, even held my breath as I sat there alone. I closed my eyes and exhaled, telling myself I would just stay here, and hopefully, the asshole would lose interest or, at the very least, not be able to find me.

I was feeling more confident when I opened my eyes, but that evaporated when I saw a massive, dark figure standing in a small entryway that led to the ball pit.

Dark hoodie and jacket. Black pants and boots. Skull mask aimed right at me.

How the hell did he find me?

Everything else faded away. I couldn’t move as I stared at him. It was only a second that went by before he took a step forward. I scrambled up, knowing I couldn’t stay in the ball pit.

When he took another step forward, I climbed out at the other end, keeping my focus on him, never turning my back. The cool air brushed my legs and my exposed ass and pussy, reminding me yet again I was pantyless. I knew he could see all of me, probably even the gloss covering my inner thighs.

I felt a rush of adrenaline fill me as I found myself in yet another standoff with this masked psycho. My hands shook, and all I could hear in my head wasRun, run, run!

But he blocked the only escape, so we just stood there.

Until he came closer, and I screamed as loud as I could.

“Help!” I cried out loud and long. “God, someone help me!” I was panting, those words coming out of me so forcefully my throat felt raw.

He was in front of me before I could even blink, my back pressed to the mesh wall that faced the woods, his hand around my throat once again. I gasped as he squeezed, cutting off my airflow. I clawed at his gloved hand, feeling my nails catch his exposed skin where his hoodie and jacket rose up his forearm. He was so huge and strong he seemed as if he could lift me by my throat with just that one arm, like something out of a superhero—or horror—movie.