I felt like I had been walking for hours – it could have been minutes, though. I kept blacking out. I was sure my arm was broken from the crash. My right leg wasn’t doing too well either. I wasn’t even sure I was going the right direction anymore. The light had faded a while back, and I was beginning to think I imagined it. I hoped not, I couldn’t go back – I didn’t even know where “back” was.



I was starting to get drowsy. I wasn’t sure if it was blood loss, shock, or the cold. Maybe all three? My memory was still fuzzy – I could now remember bits of laughter at the party. But why was I there? I wasn’t sure.

I collapsed against a tree, brushing water from my eyes. I couldn’t do this. There was no way I was going to find my way home now. I would die here, alone. Nobody would find my body. Maybe I just needed rest. Yes, that’s what I needed. Maybe if I just closed my eyes for a second……

Lalala….

Wait – what was that? Had I imagined that? No – there it is again! Someone was out here with me!

“Hello?” I yelled. No response. “Help! I’m lost!” I quickly drug myself to my knees. “Hello!” I yelled again. “Please! Is anyone there?” My voice became more and more frantic with each yell.



I strained to listen against the wind and rain. I was sure I had heard it! There was someone out here! “HELLO!!!”

Hahaha….

My head snapped to in front of me. Yes! There it was! I was sure of it! Quickly, I scrambled to my feet. Maybe they couldn’t hear me? I must have gotten closer to the road. Maybe it was somebody stranded like me! I didn’t care. I needed to be found – NOW.

“Please! Help! I’m lost!” I looked around wildly, hoping to see someone. There – in front of me! There was someone there!







They had a glow around them – a light maybe? The laughing and singing picked up again, and the person turned away. I quickly lost sight of them in the forest.

“NO! Please! Come back! Help!” I ignored the pain in my body and began to half run, half trip through the forest. They were just up ahead, I was sure of it. “Help!”



There! Again! I staggered faster. If I could just catch them, I’d be okay. Every time I would get close, they’d vanish again, only to reappear further ahead. I wasn’t sure if I was chasing my own delusions or not, but I had to try. I owed it to myself. I would NOT die out here. I wouldn’t.



Lalala….

After a while of our strange game of hide and seek I came across the top of a hill.

I collapsed under another tree, panting. They couldn’t have gotten far. I looked around for my next clue. I hadn’t seen the strange person for a while now – only heard their earie singing over the wind. I braced myself against the tree and stood. Where were they?



“Hello!” I yelled again.





Hahaha…..





There! I looked down into the valley, scanning frantically. I nearly missed it the first time. It was only the second pass over the valley that I saw the light. A town! I could see the lights of a town!



I was saved!







Hahahaha…..







I began to stagger down the hill. By now the wind was settling – I think the worst of the storm had passed. With each step I took the storm quieted, allowing me to move faster towards the town. I hardly dared to take my eyes off of it. What if it vanished like my strange guide?

No – this was real. And I would make it. My excitement grew. I would make it! I became clumsy, careless with my staggering. I knew I should watch my footing as I went down the steep hill, but I didn’t care. Safe. I would be safe.

I was about halfway down when it happened. My foot landed on a loose rock. It slipped out from under me, taking me with it. I fell down the hill and began to roll, each rock poking a new wound in my arms. I screamed until I slammed into something. A tree, I think. I gasped in pain. I was so close. So close. But the pain was just too much. I couldn’t move anymore. I couldn’t breathe. I was… Fading.









I closed my eyes and welcomed the darkness.













AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is a rough draft. Over the next two weeks or so it will undergo heavy revision with updated pictures if I can find time!











PS. Now we get into the real story.

