Elizabeth's heart threatened to beat out of her chest. Sunlight flashed between the branches overhead illuminating the path only occasionally. The thickness of the forest left murky shadows. The brightness only made it more difficult to see in the twilight left by the absence of light. After one flash of light, she stumbled and fell to her knees. A frantic whimper escaped her as she dragged herself back to her feet. Incredibly, every horror film she'd ever seen flashed into her memory taunting her. She refused to be one of those wimpy women who fell while being chased and lay whimpering and crawling until the predator caught her.

 

Branches whipped against her face and torso. One sharp branch pricked her naked breast. When it pierced her skin, she clamped her lips shut and screamed behind a clenched jaw. Any noise would bring him down upon her.

 

With renewed energy, she fought her way past trees and bushes ignoring the slap and pull against her skin. A low whistling panic seemed to squeeze her lungs until she thought she might pass out. Her wild running was without plan, without reason. She had to stop and assess the situation. She saw another beam of light ahead. The first thing; she needed to avoid those beams. They might as well be shining a spotlight on her.

 

She left the path, which she should have done as soon as she entered the woods. Crouched low in the bushes, she crept forward, each branch caressed her skin instead of slapping, tugging and poking. In the depth of the woods, she felt less exposed. Leaves shielded her, branches covered her body. It was tempting to stay hidden until he passed. The thought had some appeal. After only a second thought, she knew it would be impossible to hope he'd stop chasing her. He had all the time in the world to search these woods until he found her.

 

Making herself even smaller, she held her breath. Worse than hearing the taunts behind her, she heard silence. No taunts. The woods were deathly still.

 

Ever so slowly the bushes directly in front of her parted and bright blue eyes pinned her in place. "Look what I found."

 

Her heart skittered dangerously in her chest. She bolted to her feet and turned trying to run but the bushes, which a moment ago had been shielding her, now thwarted her escape.

 

His iron grip closed over her upper arms and yanked her backwards. Pressed against her backside, she could feel the hardness of his arousal. He scooped her up while she kicked her feet and screeched at the top of her lungs.

 

Chuckling softly against Elizabeth's ear, he whispered, "That got my blood flowing. You led me on quite a chase." He inhaled deeply as if trying to drink her in. "But I smelled your fear from a mile away."