Chapter VI:

I remember something was following me in the woods. I heard the footsteps crunching in the snow. When I turned around, there was no one there. Did one of them find out that I was still alive? Did they come back to finish the job?

I kept my eyes to the ground. I hadn’t seen any game around for miles. Silence made it that much worse for me. It’s like something is waiting to happen. I didn’t want to find out what. It became motive enough to keep moving. How could something hide so well in these dead trees? Best not to think about it. I pushed myself to keep going.

It didn’t take long to heard water running. The stream! I had to be close. I ran towards the sound. It started to sound closer. I tried not to think about the footsteps behind me. My pace quickened. The snow crunched at my feet. I could finally have something to drink and maybe catch something to eat. I clutched my stick at my side.

I made it to the water. I knelt down and dipped my hands in the water. So cold but I didn’t care. It felt good to drink up. I didn’t have anything to trap the water in. I couldn’t stay by the water too long. I could just follow the stream to the road. From there, I didn’t know what to do.

I heard the footsteps again.

I froze and looked around.

“Hello?” I asked. No answer. I frowned and puffed up my cheeks.

“I know you’re here,” I said. “Just come out and show yourself.” No answer. But I did hear something run away. Something told me not to let up on my guard. Somebody was following me. I didn’t know what they wanted. I would have to keep an eye behind me as I kept walking. Speaking of which, I took one more look behind me before I started walking along the stream. I couldn’t feel my hands and feet by this point. I still hadn’t eaten again. I couldn’t see the fish in the water yet.

The stream gave me some since of comfort as I walked. At least the sound of water was there. My knees were soaked through my trousers. When I get into town, I need better clothes. I could have water to drink. I still have the small stones in my pocket. I had picked up another stick along the way. I shivered as I kept walking. The body heat that I built up from running in to the stream started to die down. How long had I been out here? The weak sun was still in the sky. I reached around into my cloak. To my surprise, my pocket watch was still intact. I listened to the ticking of the small watch. I probably could trade it in for some money.

There came more footsteps.

I gritted my teeth. I clutched the sticks by my side as I clenched my fists.

“Enough already!” I shouted. “I know you have been following me! Who are you?! What the hell do you want from me?! Stop playing games with me! Come out and show yourself!” I turned around. As predicted, there was no one in sight. I wanted to scream.

“Stop playing with me!” I shouted.

Then I heard that damned song in my head.

“Ladybird, ladybird. Fly away home. You house is on fire and your children all gone. All except one. And that’s little Ann. And she has crept under the warming pan.”

That was all it took to make me run further down the path of the stream.