Week 431 – Come out come out whenever you are

As he said the words, Liam’s gaze scanned the forest before them for a place to hide. If he didn’t find something quickly enough Cara was going to pay the price.

Even though he knew they might not have survived, he was starting to wish they’d just waited out the storm in Cara’s wrecked car. The freezing temperatures could have made them hypothermic, but with their combined body heat they could have made it, and at least they wouldn’t be running from a criminal now.

“There,” he said, pointing to a broken tree, obviously struck down in the storm. The trunk was large, and the way it was positioned meant they could wriggle between it and the ground. It would be a tight fit, and uncomfortable, but at least they’d be shielded from view.

Dragging Cara along with him, he kept low to the ground, and they reached the fallen tree just as the sound of pounding footsteps reached them.

Pushing Cara under first, he didn’t know what the man had seen, he might know there was two of them out here or he might not. If he didn’t and they got spotted then he’d play things out like it was only him, do whatever he could to protect Cara.

Even if meant sacrificing himself.

Just as they shuffled under, his body offering another layer of protection for hers he spotted the man. Well the man’s feet anyway.

Praying the man just ran on past them, Liam held Cara’s trembling body close to his chest, and counted the seconds.

One.

Two.

Three.

Footsteps continued to pound the ground.

Four.

Five.

Receding as the man kept running.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Definitely fading.

Nine.

Ten.

Gone.

“He went past,” Cara whispered, relief evident in her voice as she pressed her face against his neck.

“Let’s wait a bit longer,” he whispered back, rather safe than sorry.

After a full minute had passed and they didn’t hear any more sounds, Liam decided it was safe, and he carefully climbed back out, then offered a hand to help Cara.

No sooner had they both straightened than he heard the slight crack of a twig.

“Come out come out whenever you are. Well, well, well, what do we have here?” a cold voice chuckled.