The stars had aligned perfectly in the sky, and the moon's reflected light was cast upon the earth surface. The cool zephyr blew across the trees, causing the leaves and the weak branches to dance in accordance with its movement, and with fluttering sounds made.
Though silent as it seemed to have been, the cooing sounds of an owl which echoed from a far distance disrupted the peace of the night, alongside the chirping and croaking noises made by the crickets and the frogs which laid in some putrid water.
Yet, those weren't the only ones which disrupted the quiet of the woods. From afar was heard the panting breath of a man whose footsteps sounded rushed, whose grunting sounds were caused by the ferocious swinging of his hands and the strength he inputted into leaping from the ground.
He was of a young age, running with his head turning back at regular intervals as though he tried evaluating the gap which he gave to the one who chased after him. He ran with sweat drops rolling from his face, soaking the very shirt he had covering his torso, breathing heavily as he turned towards another direction, avoiding who chased him.
As he ran, his right foot bounced off against a heavy tree branch which laid on the ground, and he fell face down to the ground, upon a stagnant water which splashed against his face, with some drops which entered into his mouth.
"Shit!" He muttered under his heavy breath as he slapped his hands against the ground and jumped from the ground. His heart skipped a beat at the very moment his ears picked the sound of leaves fluttering violently at some distance behind him.
He looked left and right, utterly confused on which part of the woods to take. He shook his head in his confusion, and ran straight on, running faster, and sliding towards the right with his hands touching the ground in a bid to maintain his balance on the ground.
He ran until his legs grew weary, and he hid against a tall tree whose width covered his body size. He stood with his chest moving in and out, grinning inaudibly at the squeezing sensation which he felt around his chest and his head, and rested his head against the tree stem.
He placed his hands on his knees, bending downwards as he spat out the muddy taste which he felt on his tongue, before he peeped slightly at the area behind him.
His eyesight was perfect, gazing from afar the mystery figure who chased him. This mystery man had stopped for a while, and had his eyes scouting the entire landscape searching for him. This man never felt so tired like he did, and still seemed energetic with dry skin while he hid behind the tree with sweaty skin.
But as he watched, and felt convinced that this figure never had a sight of him, and had looked in the opposite direction, already taking a step away from him, he considered it to be the best option to flee in a path which was opposite to where the chaser stood.
But his foot pressed against a twig, whose sound echoed in the woods, and drew the attention of the mystery man.
The chaser looked towards where he heard the sound, and sighted the one whom he sought for hiding behind a tree.
The other had fear written on his face, his breath shortened and his body shaken as he realized that his actions had exposed him. The chaser rushed after him, with a speed that could be described as thrice the other's, running after him while the other ran with so much fear gripping every bone in his body.
But his tenacity wore out, and his legs bounced off again against a tree, and he stomped on the ground. He turned around on the ground, looking and staring in the eyes of the one who now stood over him.
His eyes were widened at the sight of this mystery figure. It was a perfect replica of himself, what another would regard as his twin. But if this was supposed to be himself who chased and fought against him, then it was his doppelgänger, his alter ego which sought for his end.
He crawled backwards with the aid of his hands and his legs, trying to keep his distance from the man who never had a weapon in his hand, but had his eyes glowing blood-red, his skin looking pale and dead, and his canines protruded longer than usual.
"I told you I would find you, Ethan Grey" The other spoke with a depth in his tone, taking steady steps towards him, and wearing a smile that showed off his dentition and almost caused Ethan Grey to cry his fear out.
"Stay away from me!" Ethan yelled out with tears rolling down his eyes, still crawling with his hands and legs as he looked backwards.
His eyes sighted a gun which laid at the side of a random tree, quite far away from him. He turned around and crawled on his belly, stretching his hands, struggling to reach towards the gun for his defense.
But his legs were restricted, and he looked backwards to realize that the man behind him had grabbed his legs, and dragged him in the opposite direction to what he sought for.
He struggled, crawling and throwing his hands until the middle finger of his right hand reached the trigger of the gun. He turned around and pulled the trigger, pointing towards the chest of the man, and fired the shot thrice.
His lips were parted open to see that there was no adverse effect on him, as though nothing had touched his chest, and had his eyes widened as he stared at the bullets which had fallen to the ground. Suddenly, his hands were frozen, and the gun had fallen from his hands. His entire body was frozen, and he was unable to make a move.
Before his eyes, the other had wrapped his fingers around Ethan's neck, wrapping it tighter with a smile seated on his face while Ethan struggled with him.
Just as though he was about to give up the last breath, there was a piercing sound, a constant rhythm which filled his ears from afar, and then a bright light which shone on his face before his eyes were parted open into the real world. He leaped from his bed with sweat drops rolling down his face profusely, and his pillow soaked with it before he realized that all he had seen and experienced were figments of his subconscious.