The tension was thick in the air. I didn't care. The shadows were alive, hands reaching out to slow my progress. But I couldn't stop; I had to keep going. I had to get to him. My lungs burned as if I were breathing pure fire. The sound of my boots pounding over the wooden slats of the bridge merged with the rapid pounding of my heart as the only sounds I heard. I noticed a moment too late that there should have been a second pair of footfalls resounding through the air.
I spun around and saw him on the other side of the bridge. Shadowed hands were clutched around his shoulders and chest, dragging him backwards. He was struggling with all his might against them, but seemingly losing the battle.
"Toby!" I screamed. My voice was colored with pain and indecision.
"No, I'm okay. I've got this. Go get him," Toby called back to me.
I didn't look back. I turned and resumed running following the feel of his energy. Out of the corner of my eye I could see flashes of light that signified Toby stepping up his game fighting the shadows. I tucked my concern for him in the back of my mind. He was weaker than I by a good little bit, but he could hold his own. He had to. I couldn't save him this time. So, I ran.
The chill in the air cut my skin like little needles. It was a sharp contrast to the burn in my muscles from over exertion. I didn't know how much longer I could go on. How far could they have taken him? The path here was uneven. Obviously it wasn't used for hiking, we had wandered deeper into the woods than most people ever dared to go. I had to slow down. Even with my impeccable balance, I was finding it difficult not to trip over tree roots and stray rocks on the forest floor.
My caution proved to be pointless, however, as a pair of spidery fingers wrapped around my ankle, effectively tripping me and leaving me sprawling on the forest floor. I knew I was done for. Looking up through the curtain of red hair that hung in my face, I saw the shadows descending on me.
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