The dried twigs on the ground cracked under the weight of her bare feet. Rocks jutted out
from the cold and damp soil, sinking into her tender skin, making each step more painful than
the last. Running as fast as her legs would carry her, the unexpected light blurred her vision as
they struggled to adjust. She traversed through the trees realizing that something was tied
around her neck; it was a blindfold. She recalled yanking it off her face at the time of her escape.
Over her shoulder, the shadowy figure quickly approached and soon everything appeared out of
proportion. The trees seemed to reach up to the clouds. The silhouette loomed closer and larger
as the giant trudged after her. His faceless body was shrouded in darkness, but he was gaining
on her and she could not run any faster. The pain from her bloodied feet slowed her pace. He
was right behind her now as the earth trembled beneath each step. An extraordinarily long arm
and grotesque hand reached to grip her tattered t-shirt. She lunged forward, pulling her
shoulder away from the scrap of fabric he managed to grasp. The force of the lunge caused her
to stumble to the ground. The sound of cracking ribs filled her ears as she landed on a jagged
boulder and a chilling scream clawed its way out of her throat.
“Wake up. Katie, wake up!”
She bolted upright in bed and reached for her side. One look at her hand and she expected
to see blood, but there was none.