• When my eyes opened I felt cold all over. The stiffness in my legs made it hard to move, but not impossible. With a groan I heaved myself off the ground, standing on shaky legs. I peered through bleary eyes at the dark clearing before me. I couldn't think of the reason I was here. My mind was fuzzy, like a tv with no signal. I took a step forward, only to fall forward. I felt my leg give way and my face collide with the frozen ground. I cried out, the sound of my agony bouncing back from the wall of trees, replaying in my ears, over and over.

    I felt a warm trick of liquid down my cheek. I stopped it with my finger and regarded it curiously, before realizing it was my own blood. I closed my eyes and wiped it into the grass, swallowing hard. I was squeamish with blood, especially my own.

    I struggled to right myself and a pain shot through my arm. I dropped to the ground once more crying out. A tear trickled down my cheek as I writhed on the ground. I made one last attempt to stand, managing to do so without hurting my arm, stumbling across the grass to the wall of trees.I steadied myself against a strong redwood.

    And suddenly there were arms around me. I screamed, throwing my fists wildly. A strong hand covered my mouth, the other hand securing my flailing arms tightly to my back, causing the pain in my arm to flare sickeningly. I moaned in pain but continued to fight him. It did no good. It did not delay him or cause him pain in any way. I finally gave up, slumping against his cold body in defeat.

    I felt more blood trickle down my arm and shivered, wanting to wipe it away, but completely unable. My stomach churned and with all the strength I could muster, I tried not to throw up. Finally, He dropped me. I landed on m feet at first, but in my weakness, I collapsed on the ground.

    He bent over me, and I could have sworn he sniffed my hair. I swallowed hard. He noticed, oddly enough, and made a nose dove for my throat. His teeth sank into the soft skin. It didn't hurt, but I could feel the life slipping from me to him. I struggled with the darkness that threatened to swallow me. Suddenly I felt hopeless.

    There was no use. Even if I did survive the loss of blood, How would I get out of here? So, I closed my eyes and tumbled of the mental cliff I had been balancing on.