Page 24 of Arseni

The lighted path suddenly makes me feel exposed as I search for the man.The fog makes the shadows too hazy to make much out, but I don’t have to wait long.His voice sounds to my left, just a little ways down off the path.

“Margot,” the man sings out, his voice playfully menacing.

Arseni.

Itmustbe Arseni.

“I’m not afraid of you!”I yell into the fog.I’m not sure if it’s a brave or stupid thing to do, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.

Laughter gives away the man’s location as he approaches from the dark.I force myself to stand strong, my phone in my back pocket feeling bulkier than it did before.

I could call the police.

Ishouldcall the police.

But then…

My eyes pop as I seek out a second figure.Him.

What will he do if he sees Arseni approach me?

Would he kill him?

I stand still and try to decide if I hope it happens.It would take care of my Arseni problem for good…

“Get the hell out of here, Arseni,” I say, nearlywhisperat the black form mere yards from me, hiding just beyond the light of the lamp.I don’t know who I’m protecting fromhiswrath, me or Arseni.

The man doesn’t say anything, just stands there ominously until I think I’ve made a grave mistake.

I start to back away on the trail, never taking my eyes off the mysterious figure.

It isn’thim.Itcan’tbe him.He doesn’t break the rules.

But if it isn’t Arseni, then who else could it be?

“Wh-what are you doing?”I ask as I slowly backpedal.Swallowing, I make my voice more assertive.“You aren’t supposed to show yourself.You swore to me you wouldn’t.”

I stumble as the man begins to approach me, still keeping to the side of the trail.

When he pauses again, he speaks so ominously, I startle.

“It’s time to run, Margot.”

My eyes popping wide, I spin and break into a sprint toward the parking lot.My lungs burn as my legs soar over the pavement, panicked breaths drowning out the sounds around me.I think.I don’t hear him, but I don’t dare waste a moment to turn around.

I barely slow down to rip my keys from my pocket as I reach my car.A frightened cry escapes as I jab the unlock button on the fob, flashing lights my greatest comfort.

I’m moving too fast to control my momentum when I make it, so I wind up slamming my palm on the driver side door to stop, nearly cutting myself on the jagged shards of glass sticking from my newly busted window.I give it zero attention while I jump into my car and fumble with the keys.

I jab at the ignition with shaky hands I can’t get control of and curse when I drop the keys altogether.As I reach for the floorboard, my head jerks to look where I came from.I expect the man to appear at my window, but he isn’t there, and I don’t hear him.

When I have the keys in my grasp, I pull in what I’m hoping will be a steadying breath but is more of a stuttered sob.I fit the key into the ignition and cry as the car roars to life.

My hand is on the shifter when a gloved hand covers my mouth and yanks me back against the seat.I instinctively slam on the gas pedal and try to scream, but the car whirs in park.Something sharp presses to my throat when I go to move the shifter.

I meet Arseni’s gaze in the rearview mirror, his crooked lips an inch from my ear.

“Gotcha, Mommy.”