Emily

My legs were burning, and I didn't know where we were going, just away from him. The woods were getting darker, and I could barely see the path in front of me. Then we hit a fence, old and rusty, blocking our way. There was nowhere to go. To our right, a tall cement wall marked the edge of the gated community. I shoved Jen towards the wall, yelling at her to climb.

She scrambled up, her fingers digging into the rough cement. I threw my phone and pocket knife over, then tried to follow. My hand slipped on the cold surface, but somehow, I managed to pull myself up. I could hear the man behind us, closer now, and he was yelling. An angry, ugly sound that made my stomach twist. We tumbled over the wall, landing hard on the grass.

She scrambled up, her fingers digging into the rough cement. I threw my phone and pocket knife over, then tried to follow. My hand slipped on the cold surface, but somehow, I managed to pull myself up. I could hear the man behind us, closer now, and he was yelling. An angry, ugly sound that made my stomach twist. We tumbled over the wall, landing hard on the grass.

I looked up and there was an older man, walking his dog, staring at us like we were crazy. Jen tried to explain but the words wouldn't come out right. I grabbed my phone and told my uncle we made it over. I could hear him yelling somewhere on the other side, his voice echoing through the trees, telling the man to back off.

I looked up and there was an older man, walking his dog, staring at us like we were crazy. Jen tried to explain but the words wouldn't come out right. I grabbed my phone and told my uncle we made it over. I could hear him yelling somewhere on the other side, his voice echoing through the trees, telling the man to back off.

The older man with the dog led us to a gate in the wall and we slipped through, finally meeting my uncle. He had his shotgun with him and his face was tight with anger. He put his arm around me and we started back down the trail towards his truck. Every sound made me jump, the wind, the branches.

The older man with the dog led us to a gate in the wall and we slipped through, finally meeting my uncle. He had his shotgun with him and his face was tight with anger. He put his arm around me and we started back down the trail towards his truck. Every sound made me jump, the wind, the branches.

my uncle kept looking around the shotgun ready but the man was gone when we got home i tried to tell my aunt what happened but the words wouldn't come out right i couldn't forget the way the man looked at us the way he chased us through the woods i used to love the nature reserve Now I couldn't even think about it without feeling that fear all over again.

my uncle kept looking around the shotgun ready but the man was gone when we got home i tried to tell my aunt what happened but the words wouldn't come out right i couldn't forget the way the man looked at us the way he chased us through the woods i used to love the nature reserve Now I couldn't even think about it without feeling that fear all over again.

The older man with the dog helped Jen and me find the gate out of the community. We slipped through and there was my uncle running towards us with his shotgun. His face was full of worry and I could tell he was ready to do whatever it took to keep us safe. He put his arm around me, pulling me close, and we started back down the trail towards his truck. Jen stayed close, and we didn't say anything.

The older man with the dog helped Jen and me find the gate out of the community. We slipped through and there was my uncle running towards us with his shotgun. His face was full of worry and I could tell he was ready to do whatever it took to keep us safe. He put his arm around me, pulling me close, and we started back down the trail towards his truck. Jen stayed close, and we didn't say anything.

There was nothing to say. Every sound around us made me jump. The rustling leaves, the crack of a branch, even the sound of our own footsteps. My uncle kept his eyes on the trees, his shotgun ready. I knew he was trying to keep us safe, but it didn't make me feel any better. I kept looking back, expecting to see the man again, expecting him to come out of the shadows and chase us all over again.

There was nothing to say. Every sound around us made me jump. The rustling leaves, the crack of a branch, even the sound of our own footsteps. My uncle kept his eyes on the trees, his shotgun ready. I knew he was trying to keep us safe, but it didn't make me feel any better. I kept looking back, expecting to see the man again, expecting him to come out of the shadows and chase us all over again.

But he was gone. The woods were empty. When we finally reached the truck, my uncle opened the door for us, and Jen and I climbed in. I sat there, my hands still shaking, as my uncle got in and started the engine. The ride back felt like it took forever. Nobody spoke.

But he was gone. The woods were empty. When we finally reached the truck, my uncle opened the door for us, and Jen and I climbed in. I sat there, my hands still shaking, as my uncle got in and started the engine. The ride back felt like it took forever. Nobody spoke.

I just kept staring out the window, watching the trees pass by, wondering if the man was still out there, hiding somewhere in the darkness. When we got home, my aunt was waiting on the porch. She rushed over as soon as she saw us, her face pale. She pulled me into a hug, and I tried to tell her what had happened, but the words wouldn't come out right.

I just kept staring out the window, watching the trees pass by, wondering if the man was still out there, hiding somewhere in the darkness. When we got home, my aunt was waiting on the porch. She rushed over as soon as she saw us, her face pale. She pulled me into a hug, and I tried to tell her what had happened, but the words wouldn't come out right.

Everything felt jumbled, and I could barely think straight. My uncle told her what he knew, and she let us inside, her arms still around me. That night, I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the man's face. I saw the way he looked at us, the way he started running after us. I could still hear his footsteps, still hear the way he yelled when we climbed over the wall.

Everything felt jumbled, and I could barely think straight. My uncle told her what he knew, and she let us inside, her arms still around me. That night, I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the man's face. I saw the way he looked at us, the way he started running after us. I could still hear his footsteps, still hear the way he yelled when we climbed over the wall.

I kept thinking that he was out there, that he knew where we were. I kept thinking that he might come back. My uncle stayed up all night, sitting by the front door with his shotgun. I could hear him moving around, checking the locks on the doors and windows. My aunt stayed with Jen and me in my room. She tried to calm us down, tried to make us feel safe, but I couldn't.