She ran through the darkened forest, her arms flailing and reaching for a handhold to draw her away from the ravenous beast stalking her. Her pale fingers remained outstretched as her toes lodged themselves under a tree root and her body lurched forward.

There was no way to catch herself, no way Tanya could survive. The thing was close now, so close behind her she could hear its soft footfalls and feel its hot breath. She closed her eyes, tensed and waiting.

Elen sat back from her latest Ficlet, admiring the story on the computer. Oh people would love this, she knew it. She began writing again, plunged deeper into Tanya’s struggle in the woods. She glanced at her laptop’s clock, completely unaware of the time. She laughed a little when she realized two hours had passed. Two hours? She’d been writing for that long? She was missing school for this! Oh well, at least she wouldn’t get beat up on today. At least she would be safe here at her laptop, writing her story. One more day wouldn’t hurt…