Malcolm Richards - Next to Disappear

This book is written in UK English.

For Xander

Someone was following her. She was sure of it.

Hurrying along the winding lane, her flat shoes slapping on the tarmac, she glanced between the trees of the woodland that grew up on both sides. Long shadows snaked around the trunks, melting into each other, forming one amorphous shape. Only moments ago, shed heard twigs snapping and branches rustling on her left. Her first thought was that it had been a rabbit or a fox. But then her mind had started whispering terrible things in her ear. Someones there. Theyre watching you. They know what youve been doing.

She quickened her pace. Soon, it would be dark and she would be vulnerable. But if she could make it to the main road and the bus shelter, she could get to someplace safe.

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the grand old manor house in the near distance. The gardens lay still. A few vehicles sat on the gravel drive, all unoccupied. No one was coming after her. It was her mind playing tricks, that was all. The conversation shed had back at the house was planting seeds of paranoia. Shed been warned to stop. To keep her mouth shut. But it was much too late for that.

The path twisted to the left. The woodland shadows reached the treeline and stretched long fingers towards her. Fear pricked her skin. Fresh tears welled at the corners of her eyes.

How had she been so blind? All this time, shed thought shed been doing good. Helping. Supporting. Bringing peace. But now all she saw was the horror of it all. Shed been so nave!

Tears came, spilling down her pale white skin and painting black spots on the blue cotton of her uniform.

A loud snapsplintered the air. It had come from the woodland, just up ahead.

Maybe it wasnt her imagination after all.

She broke into a run. Above her, the sky was bruised purple and smeared with bloody streaks. Up ahead, the path twisted again, coiling like a snake.

She ran faster, risking a second glance over her shoulder, seeing only trees and asphalt and swarming shadows. Her lungs were burning, her eyes stinging. Panic was rising up inside her like an evil spirit.

But there was the mouth of the lane and the road beyond. Her escape.