“Your time is up. Better run!”

Her words echoed in my ears as I ran blindly through the dark woods, hands out to defend against the clawing branches and leaves, desperate to trip me up.

My breath was coming in ragged gasps, my heart was thumping wildly. Thoughts raced through my mind, my brain struggling to come to terms with this situation. How had this day gone so pear-shaped? One moment, we were enjoying a romantic picnic, the next, I was being chased by a potential psychopath.

“Ugh!” I was almost knocked off my feet by a large branch striking me across the chest. Leaves slapped across my face, stinging my skin. I stumbled backwards a few steps until I regained my balance. Concentrate. This is not the time to be analytical. That can come later, after you survive this. If, you survive this.

I looked around me, trying to quieten and slow my breaths. Trees surrounded me. Everything loooked the same, various shades of brown and green, closing in, offering nothing, no path of escape.

“Your time is up. Better run!” Her words, loud in my thoughts, continued to taunt me as I tried to decide which direction to head. A laugh. “Better run,” she repeated. Ice filled my veins as I realised her words were now coming at me live, from somewhere scarily close sounding, rather than my crazed thoughts. I willed my heart to silence its thumping so I could listen for sounds to indicate her direction.

A sharp crack filled the air. From my left? I hesitated a moment then took off towards my right. Running again, knees high to avoid the dead branches and animal holes that littered the ground, hands out to protect my eyes.

A searing, stinging pain sliced across my right arm. I turned, searching for the culprit whose sharp end had pierced my skin. I froze, my heart stopped. The hunting knife was held out in front of her, dripping with my blood. Her eyes were a cruel steely blue, calmly assessing the situation. This was no crazed maniac, she knew what she was doing. She had planned for this.

“And here I was thinking that you were different,” she said. “A mature and emotionally developed man, not intimidated by my success and fame. You embraced the public scrutiny, took it in your stride. You paid your way, not expecting me to pick up the bills, to get you freebies, to do you favours. You never name dropped to get in, to get ahead.”

I stayed perfectly still as she ticked off my positive personality traits, not wanting another slice. But inside, I was trembling, waiting for what I knew was coming next, what this was all leading to.

“But then, I couldn’t find my Tiffany charm bracelet. Or my sapphire ring. At first I thought it was my cleaners so I raked them over the coals, supervised their work. But things kept disappearing. And then I realised, the last time I could remember seeing each item, I was out with you. And then I watched. And waited. And now I know. Shame. I’d really liked you.”

“Sienna, wait-,” I started, hoping to buy myself some time to think.

“Oh I’m done with waiting Johnathon. Your time is up.”

Sienna lunged towards me. I raised my arms defensively, the knife slashing against my forearms again and again. I screamed, the pain was intense. Sienna was strangely calm, not screaming or crying. Just slashing with intent. I tried to turn, to run, and felt a red hot burning in my side. Then another, in my stomach, and another in my side, until it all became one hot mess of pain.

I dropped to the ground, writhing in anguish. Sienna stood over me watching, enjoying her moment. A chill enveloped my body and my limbs stilled. My vision was darkening at the edges, going fuzzy. I tried to speak but my body wouldn’t obey. Done with waiting, Sienna lunged closer, the knife plummeting into my chest in her final move.

“Goodbye Johnathon.”