Page 8 of Severance

Reaching into my glovebox, I grab my pistol and quickly climb out of my car. I quietly close the door and make my trek through the overgrown grass to the fence buried in the thick hedges surrounding the property. It’s been years, too many years for the fence to be as deadly as it once was.

Thorns and branches scratch at my skin as I push my way through the overgrown shrubs until I find the fence. This place has been abandoned for a decade, so my chances of the electric fence being turned on are low.

And I have no choice, if I want to get Dahlia.

Bracing myself, I reach out and grab onto the wire. My eyes open as I feel nothing but the cold metal in the palm of my hand. Grabbing onto the fence, I climb over it in a rush and jump to the other side, officially entering hell.

As my feet hit the forest floor, a loud bang echoes through the trees. Freezing in place, my senses are heightened as the distinct sound of a gunshot rings in my ears.

Dahlia.

The gunshot was far enough away from me, but it was close enough to know that it came from the other side of these woods.

My heart rate kicks into overdrive and I take off, running farther into the deep dark forest.

Dahlia.

Her name plays in my head like a prayer, knowing that bullet was meant for her, but praying it didn’t touch her.

She’s out here somewhere… she has to be.

And I need to find her before it’s too late.

Dahlia

The trees hang overhead, blocking the moonlight as I sprint through the woods. Thorns slash at my bare legs as I run blindly through the thick brush scattered along the trees.

My heart pounds harder with every step that I take. My feet carry me farther away from the farm and deeper into the unknown. My footsteps are loud as the twigs lying on the ground break under my weight. I should be quieter, but it’s pointless. I know Stan won’t be far behind me and at this point, survival doesn’t include stealth.

Time doesn’t exist in this dark forest. Time doesn’t exist when I can’t breathe from running and my body’s screaming in pain. Time doesn’t exist when I can’t tell if I’ve run past the same tree a dozen times or if I’m simply running in circles.

I’m caught in a fucked up vortex with no sense of up or down and with no direction of how the hell to get out of here.

My pace doesn’t slow until I hear his voice. Until it’s no longer just myself and the trees lost in the darkness of the forest.

“I know you’re out there,princess.” Stan’s voice echoes through the woods. My body freezes as I abruptly halt. Ducking behind a tree, my back hugs it tightly as I struggle to catch my breath.

I knew he was coming, I knew he would be out here looking for me, but I thought I had more time.

“This is bringing back some good memories, isn’t it,princess? What a shame that no one else is here with us,” Stan chuckles to himself. My lips are sealed tight as I breathe rapidly through my nose, trying to stay hidden. “I’m sure you remember our little hunting trips out here. I mean, how could you forget?”

My senses are in overdrive as I take in everything. I can’t see him, but I can hear his voice crystal clear. The sound of his gun cocking rings throughout the forest and the sound bounces off the trees.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” he mocks in a sinister tone. “It’s time to play,princess.”

A branch from a nearby tree rustles and a loud bang drives into my ears. Covering them with my hands, I duck momentarily as I listen to the gunfire.

Whatever he’s shooting at, it isn’t me.

I don’t have time to weigh my options or my consequences. Time doesn’t exist. All I have are choices and whatever the outcome will be from them.

If I have any chance of getting away, now is the time, when Stan is on a wild goose chase after what he thought was me making noise.

Without wasting another second, I take off into the trees again. Stan’s laughter rings throughout the woods as I hear him toying with his revolver as he spins the loaded cylinder.

“We could make a fun game out of this,princess.”

Ignoring his words, I keep moving. I can’t let him get to me.I can’t let him get me.Rounding another row of bushes, I stumble, falling roughly onto the ground. The rough forest floor tears at the skin on my knees and I bite my tongue to keep quiet. Quickly regaining my balance, I push back up to my feet when I’m suddenly being hauled backward.

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