Isaiah

Another one?

What was happening?

I wanted to scream at him to avoid it, but I realized it was a streetlight.

My legs felt like I was running through water, but I pushed them harder with a goal in sight.

Gradually and painfully, the light drew closer, as did the clicking.

This thing could move like nothing I knew.

I saw Chris's figure pass underneath the streetlight, and then he was gone again.

Don't stop!

I yelled as I approached the edge of the forest, and my legs adjusted as the forest floor gave way to his solid footing.

I could see a row of more streetlights leading off to the right, and Chris's figure was passing regularly underneath each.

When I was sure I was completely out of the trees, I didn't stop.

I ran under several more streetlights, putting as much distance as I could manage between us and the edge of the woods.

I realized after a while that the clicking had stopped.

I needed to see we were okay.

I turned my head and looked back along the row of lights, keeping my gaze on the first light.

My pace slowed as the pain in my head and legs came back.

There was silence once more, and the lights revealed an empty pathway.

I jogged on and kept my eyes on the glow, expecting to see something at any minute, but it lit up nothing but concrete at the edge of the road.

Is it there?

The question pulsed in my mind over and over.