(Rose)
I'm breathing heavily, eyes wide open in the damp darkness of the bushes. I can hardly think about what is going on and what can be these dangerous things. My mind remains stuck in a terrified daze.
Men or beasts, I'm not sure. I only caught glimpses of what they are. I don't know what I ran from, but I'm dead sure as to why. My breath is now back to normal but I don't move yet. I have a false sensation of security being hidden here. I only hear the rain and the wind up there. It feels normal.
I wait another minute. But I still feel scared, almost hopeless.
I slowly try to stand up. The sights of day are still so thin on the horizon. Another survivor is about to run just past me. But he suddenly stops, caught by something. I hear him scream in terror and blood suddenly filling his throat. The body holding him is putting him down.
That shape is a few steps from me in the shadow. It's so close to me, and all I can do is shake uncontrollably, before it does the same thing to me.
I'm losing hope as I see it turning towards me. I'm too scared to turn around. It's about to jump at me.
There is this half second when my heart seems to stop.
My mind breaks and panic. I scream, I hit it violently with my arm as I turn suddenly. I feel its fair skin, dirty with blood.
I know I don't have a lot of strength, and even if I want to hit it again, I'd better seize the chance I still have to run away while it's still surprised.
I run again. My legs move by themselves, I feel lighter, or rather running more nervously.
Through the forest, I don't know where I go. I don't know if I can make it. On left. On right. I run then toward the brighter side. The storm is maybe finally over?
I'm reaching the end of the woods on that side. A brighter light of a normal day appears at last.
A field is opening the scenery in front of me. I see rails not far ahead. I'm struck as I realise I might have come around toward that side were the gruesome things happened. I take a swift decision, and decide to follow the rails as the way looks clear ahead.
I trip over a body. It reacts, in pain. It has metallic pieces of the train stuck all over. He doesn't look human anymore. I can't manage to empathise and don't stop, I'm too scared for my own life.
I run at a softer pace while I reach the tracks to keep my stamina a bit. It's not raining anymore I just realise. I climb the small mound and reach the shining tracks. I don't look back just yet, and begin to run alongside toward the greener side, away from the stormy weather and away from the cursed train.
~
I've ran only a few minutes but I'm already exhausted. When I look back I see nothing pursuing me, but I hear them run too when I look around. I hear them inside my head.
I'm running in that open field along the rails. I manage to think logically for a few seconds.
Where should I go? The open fields and hills around me look mostly empty, or haunted. The closest buildings I can see are kilometres away. I see horses in the distance, escaping the area.
Behind me are the woods I'm scarred of now and the train shrouded with pain. It smells too much of death behind me, its nauseating. I see no escape...
I can't make it. I can't breathe and keep running along the tracks. The rails turn slightly toward the left, and slowly I discover that the small mound I've ran on top off is a small hill. I see a path and a small stream further on that side.
I see someone who noticed me and runs away immediately. Other people are following. They seem alright.
I know I'm being followed and likely bringing death to them, but I go after them.
I don't know what I'm supposed to do. As long as they run before me I'll at least know I'm not going straight into a death trap.
The day light finally gets normal as I run down that muddy hill. Maybe the madness ends here, but like them I'm not taking any chances.
I jump over the small stream of water. I slip and fall miserably deep into the mud. I can't stand up right away, my legs shaking.
I rub my eyes and look behind with worries. I still see nothing right behind me. But things move, and scream, in the woods behind.
I stand up, shivering.
I climb the muddy grass and reach the path. I still see nothing dangerous around and look around carefully. I hear the wind, and feel its coldness against my damp muddy clothes, pressing against my skin and freezing me as if we were in winter.
I wait, trying to think while nothing is running at me. I look carefully, and nothing seems to be coming after me. Maybe I'm safe for now? I don't feel safe... The clouds are being carried away at last over me, so there's more normal light now.
I turn back, and follow the path the others took, leading into now lighter woods I couldn't see behind the short hill. I'm walking as fast as I can but I'm unable to run anymore. My lungs are too painful and so is my head.
I'm walking through a forest path that would be charming in different circumstances. All my limbs hurt and feel cold right now.
After a few minutes I come out of these short woods.
Another opening to the fields of this county, but mostly a farm house just there, hidden from sight before. I hear horses being scared behind one of the smaller buildings of this domain.
My instinct also tells me that there is something else around here. I don't know whether I saw, heard or smelled it, but I know there is something wrong here.
I recall I was following other survivors, whom I can't see around anymore.
After looking around the house for a few seconds while catching my breath, I spot them.
From behind the windows, I see some of them as they look at me with worry. They hide from my sight.
I hear noises from inside as I go to the front door to take shelter like them.
The door is locked. The windows on ground floor are barred as well I begin to notice.
I'm walking to the other side of the building, beginning to panic.
I knock at the kitchen door. I call as kindly as I can for assistance. No one replies.
I'm sweating in fear. I'm convinced that the murderer is coming this way and that I have very little time.
I hear voices arguing inside the house. I can guess what comes as final decision.
I won't be allowed inside.
I'm alone.
I'm panicking again. The sky is dark and grey again, vibrating. I can hear sounds of wild animals in the distance, coming closer slowly.
I wipe my face from the mud. I have to decide.
~