Inktober 2022

I walked along the dusty narrow path, passing a street light around every minute of walking, the glow flickering above my head. I let my eyes wander around occasionally, scanning my surroundings actively. I was being more vigilant because I had never taken this way home before, and I doubt I will again.

I found this shortcut a couple of days ago when I passed by its entrance hidden behind the station. It seemed a lot more welcoming during sunny daytime, which was not the case right now. The taller grass and shrubs around the unpaved road rustled constantly, either from the night wind or some critters hidden inside. The light posts were too widely spaced, thus only barely served their purpose. There were also some abandoned things thrown around the path; an old tire, crumpled boxes, even an uprooted stop sign.

It was a straight road, barely even curving as it cut through a patch of untamed wild grasses, away from the subway station and the bigger, noisier roads. I had chosen to try this shortcut tonight since it was already past 10:30pm and I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. Thinking back, perhaps this wasn’t a good idea.

From some distance behind me came the sound of steps, slower and heavier than mine. I quickly turned around, but the sound disappeared and I faced the same empty road I had just walked over a few minutes prior. I frowned slightly, a bit worried, and I started walking again.

After a few more meters, I heard those steps again, a bit louder this time, as though it had gotten closer. I threw a quick glance back, finding and hearing nothing once more, and I walked faster. The gate to exit this road was just a short stretch away, so I should be able to get there within 5 minutes—

Just as I thought about this, the sound came again, closer once more, to which I decided to just run for it. Then I could cut the time needed to get off of this bloody trail by half. After one last peek at the concerning and still empty scene behind me, I got into a reasonably fast jogging pace. The gate and exit of the trail came into view as I jogged, my ponytail waving from side to side in a consistent rhythm.

At less than 100 meters away from the end of the road, I could hear the steps following again, the intervals between steps quicker this time. I didn’t even try to look back and ran as quickly as I could, closing the distance between me and the exit. But the distance between me and whoever was behind me somehow shortened as well, as I could hear the steps becoming faster and faster.

When I was barely a few strides from the gate, I suddenly felt something yank my ponytail hard, making a piercing pain run over my scalp. However, the grip must’ve let go almost right after as my head felt suddenly lighter, so I took the opportunity and ran, finally stepping onto well lit asphalt again after 5 strides. The steps didn’t follow me and seemingly stayed on the trail, only the sound of my shoes and breathing could be heard on the street. I didn’t stop running however and by some miraculous feat of endurance and adrenaline made it to my doorstep in record time.

I unlocked the door, stepped inside then locked it, panting heavily in the doorway. I glanced beside me at the full body mirror, seeing a reflection of myself with a flushed, distraught face and disheveled clothes, but also a much shorter, severed ponytail.