The sun slowly began to set as I made my way through the pine plantation and into reserved bushland. The loamy white sand beneath my feet made it difficult to walk on when it seeped into my shoes and socks. I try my best to walk on the bits of limestone and over the leaf litter to reduce the amount of time I spent emptying the fine powdery sand from my shoes. Along the way I snapped off broken branches, collecting a nice supply of sticks.

I tried to think of creative places to stash them, but both back pockets were already full and I had one in my hand. Whatever these women were, wood didn’t seem to have much of an effect against them last time. Apparently neither were kitchen knives, so I figured I’d just have to get creative.

Were they chasing me before I lost my memory?

Would they tell me if they were?

Probably not.

I trudged through the woodland and the dense undergrowth, feeling slightly relieved when I saw a clearing up ahead. Then came the foreboding, the anxiety, the fear. Clearings meant that I could be seen. Perhaps I’d get lucky, maybe they’d split up to look for me. Maybe I would have a chance if I took them one at a time.

No fear, just adrenaline.

I know what I have to do.

I entered the clearing and realised it was a road. Housing edged the street from one corner to the other, a park was in the distance. The sun sunk below the horizon as I followed the edge of the bush reserve, watching the road for any silver cars. I can’t keep running from them. The problem is, when will they find me?

It took me an hour, but I found a place where I felt confident I could out run them long enough to split them up. The only problem was the size of the area. It was small, which meant I needed to be smart. Considering it was the middle of summer, I had to keep in mind that there would most likely be people walking around as well.

The sound of crickets chirping and frogs croaking echo through the tunnel. Pictures of clouds and a blue sky were painted inside the tunnel, earning it the obvious name of ‘Sky Tunnel’. The wooden stake felt light in my hand. If staking wasn’t enough, then I’d have to go to my back up plan. The hardest part would be hiding the bodies when I was done.

Footsteps echoed through the tunnel, I watched as a figure walked down the path towards the tunnel. No red hair, but yellow eyes. I pushed myself to my feet and braced for pursuit. Checking the other end of the tunnel, I started walking towards the lake. The hairs on my arms prickled as I sensed someone watching me, and I didn’t mean yellow eyes.

I briskly walked through the tunnel and checked the edge above, then behind me as I left. No red hair yet, was she looking somewhere else, or was she hiding. Either way, there were too many houses nearby that would hear any screams.

Yellow eyes followed me through the winding path, following the stream that connected the small lakes. When I rounded the corner, my nerves got the better of me and I broke into a light jog. I glanced behind me but the yellow eyes isn’t there yet. I slowed my pace so I didn’t lose her, checking my surroundings for other assailants.

I crossed the road, then another. When I glanced behind me, yellow eyes still wasn’t there. I briskly descend the wooden steps and wait on the board walk over looking the lake. I could see a few people gathered on the limestone steps of the amphitheatre. Their chatter echoing in the distance.

“Hello, sweetheart.”

My skin bristled at the words. I carefully turned to see yellow eyes standing at the top of the steps. The trees surrounding the path shrouded her in darkness which made it difficult for me to discern her features. I stepped away from the edge of the deck.

“You wouldn’t happen to know where my friend got to, would you?” She purred as she tilted her head to the side.

“I can only hope she tripped and impaled herself.” I flipped the piece of wood in my hand for effect and earned a growl from the woman.

“So,” she growled as she took a step down, “what’s your plan, little girl. You’re going to stake me again?”

“Maybe,” I replied with a shrug as I backed away from her along the board walk.

She descended the steps, “because that worked out so well for you last time.” She stepped out from the shadow of the trees. “I’m a fairy,” she drools, “wood doesn’t hurt us.”

“A what?” I scoffed as my mind agreed, almost like I already knew.

“Seriously, you don’t remember?”

“Actually, no, I don’t. I’m assuming you and your friend have something to do with that. However, if you could fill me in on why you’re chasing me, that would be great.” The reeds rustled beside me, I could see them moving and stretching from the corner of my eye.

“I’ve been ordered to collect you, we had nothing to do with your memory. I found you about a week ago in that apartment, and that’s all I can tell you.”

Yea, that’s about all I remember. Waking up in an apartment to the sound of someone breaking in. No memories, just the knowledge that I had to run. Damnit!

“You couldn’t, like, expand on the whole ‘collecting me for someone’ part, could you? Like who you’re collecting me for?” I walked backwards towards the amphitheatre with the hope that the presence of others might have deterred her.

“Come with me and you’ll find out.” Her yellow eyes flared as the reeds whipped against me. I flinched, jumping back and then staggerred away as the reeds rustled and retreated.

“Shouldn’t you be looking for you friend?” I asked in an attempt to distract her for a moment.

“When I’ve captured you, I’ll call to the earth and find her.”

“Is that how you found me?” I asked curiously and continue walking backwards.

“Indeed, I’ve been tracking you since our little encounter in the woods.” Her dark hair bobbed on her shoulders framing a scowl of displeasure. “Enough of this, if you want answers come with me willingly. If not, then I will take you by force.”

“Are you certain this person has the answers?” I stopped in place as the fairy closed the distance between us.

“Yes, now will you come with me?” The fairy stopped a meter away, watching me with cautious eyes.

“I really wish you had just asked me that the first time we met, instead of chasing after my like a psychotic murderer.”

That earned a snort of laughter from the fairy, and the opportunity I was looking for. As quick as I could, I jammed the piece of wood into her stomach, pushing it up under the rib cage. Her scream cut through the night air, causing the few people at the amphitheatre to shout with panic.

Twisting on my heels, I sprinted across the boards as the fairy wailed and fell to her knees. I tried to go for the heart, but I must have missed. Although the stake didn’t kill the fairy, it was causing her a lot of pain. The fairy was bleeding, which meant she could be killed.

As I approached the amphitheatre I heard the words, “should we call the cops?”

“It’s a game and I’m winning!” I shouted as I sprinted across the theatre and onto the next section of deck. Confused murmurs followed as the distant thudding of feet began. The fairy coming after me.

Good.

The wood deck ended and a red path began. When I rounded the corner I realised my mistake. As long as I was standing on earth, she could find me. The second I left the path she would know where I was. If she could use the reeds to attack me, then she could probably use any other plantlife.

I heard her growling from behind me just before branches began swinging at me. Ducking and weaving through them slowed down my pace. The fairy closed the distance between us again. I hopped across the grass to jump onto a section of limestone retaining without reeds. The water was just behind me, lapping against the limestone. It’s only a few inches deep, but it’s enough to drown in. There were houses nearby, but no lights were on, no one was home.

“Enough running, little girl,” the fairy growled as she stalked towards me.

The grass began to grow over the edge of the limestone. I gasped and jumped into the water to avoid the creeping grass. The fairy glared and the reeds began to swim through the water like snakes. I stepped back into the water as the fairy jumped off the limestone wall, joining me in the lake.

“Come here now, you cannot out run me forever, girl. I will find you no matter where you go as long as you live on this earth.”

My hands hung loosely at my sides, watching her closely to anticipate when she’ll attack. There was only the two meter high limestone wall to my left with the houses above, and a wall of reeds and shrubs to my right. The water was getting deeper as I stepped backwards into the lake. The water is now up to my thighs. The fairy trudged through the water towards me, as she reached towards me, I let her grab my left arm. With my right, I stabbed her with another stake.

This time I held on to the stake, pushing it up through her rib cage towards her heart. The fairy gasped and her grip on my arm loosened. I pushed harder as she tried to pull the stake out. The fairy let go of my arm. With my free hand I grabbed the back of her head and shoved it underwater. She started thrashing about under the water, the reeds began snaking their way around my ankles and up my legs. I panicked and tried to free myself by stepping deeper into the lake, but they only tightened around me.

No, she shouldn’t be able to control them while drowning?

They pulled tight, threatening to pull me under. The fairy was still thrashing against me. Sharp pains shot through my wrist and up my right arm. With a scream, I let go of the wooden stake and pulled my arm out of the water. Red marks in the shape of a bite began appearing on my arm. I tried to hold her under with both go my hands, blood trickling down my right arm. I felt her hands grab my wrists. The reeds ripped my ankles out from under me.

I went under. I barely had the time to take a breath. Water went up my nose. My hand release the fairy and I tried to claw my way to the surface. More reeds wrap around my wrists and waist pulling me to the bottom of the lake.

She wouldn’t kill me, would she?

I had counted on the fact that she couldn’t kill me, and never considered is she would. Air begins to escape me. Thrashing beneath the water I try to claw my way to the surface. My hand broke through the surface and I could feel the warm air on my skin. With all my strength I tried to lift my head, but I the reeds held me down. I couldn’t lift my head out of the water.

I’m going to drown, she’s going to drown me!

I thrashed against the reeds in an attempt to free myself. My lungs burned as the last of my air escapes me. Black spots started to appear, some in the shape of a dark figure. I began choking on the water.