Fiction:An Eternal Chase

An Eternal Chase is a short story about a casimin, fleeing from an enemy in a forest. It was written by AKtheKing on November 3, 2013.

Story
The night was viciously cold; a quick wind plunged through the forest, violently shaking the branches and howling loudly. While the forest floor was almost completely covered in darkness, the high branches caught the moon's light and lit the tall trees. All creatures of the woods were quiet, and although the wind continued to roar, the evening was mostly tranquil.

These observations were ignored by the man. He had only one thing on his mind: "Run". He knew not where, how far, or even why. In this moment, he knew nothing else. He could not remember his name or his age. He only knew that he was being chased, and that his predator, a dark silhouette behind him, would not stop.

As he glided through the forest branches, his ancient instincts kicked in. His arms knew what branches to grab, and when to grab them. He did not have to think. His ancestors had evolved this very way. He never stumbled or tripped; if he came close, his mind told him what to do and his body responded. As a watcher, this escape was almost graceful. To the man, it was terrifying.

The opponent, the predator, the enemy, could not be lost. However much the man tried to deceive it, he could not trick his follower. No matter how quickly he fled, he could not outrun it. Cold sweat dripped from the man's head and his ears were on fire. Every time he looked back, the enemy was there, only a few dozen meters behind him. When he looked behind him, so did the enemy. It was like a corporeal shadow.

SNAP!

A branch broke under the man's feet. His body began to tumble until he landed, upside-down, on a thick branch fifteen feet below. Pain shot through the man's body, and he let out a yelp. He struggled as he tried to get up quickly. Suddenly, a voice appeared in his head. He knew the thought was not his. It felt alien, unnatural, and distant.

"There is a way to escape," the voice whispered. Its clarity frightened the man, but at the same time, it felt reassuring. In that instant, the man clang to that last hope.

"How?!" screamed the man's thoughts.

All of a sudden, the man was aware of a new enemy. A few dozen meters in front of him, another shadow climbed the distant branches. In that moment, the man knew what to do. To escape, he had to catch that man. He did not know why hunting that man would free him from the one following him, but he was certain he was correct.

The man became refueled with energy. He strode through the forest almost supernaturally, quickly even for a casimin, as he began this new quest. His prey was nimble, but the man knew they were equal in speed.

Minutes passed, although to the man they felt like hours. The man hated his quarry, just as he hated his follower. The target had not gotten any closer, but not any farther either. The man became so focused on hunting that he almost forgot that he was being hunted. Not knowing if his enemy, his shadow, persisted, he looked for an opportunity to look behind his back. The moment soon came.

SNAP!

His prey dropped towards the forest floor as a branch cracked beneath him. The man ceased the chase as he immediately turned behind him, scanning for the once-close enemy. For a second, the man saw nothing. He could not find his opponent in the trees. Then, the shadow was there. It fell in the distance, about fifteen feet. The man was relieved, as his predator did not see him.

As he was about to restart the chase, he noticed his opponent glance up. It had seen him. He knew in that moment, that he had to flee. He knew not where, how far, or even why. In this moment, he knew nothing else. He could not remember his name or his age. He only knew that he was being chased, and that his predator, a dark silhouette behind him, would not stop.

In that night, that eternal twilight, the man did not know that he was only chasing himself.