Chasing Shadows

I was always an evening runner. The park that was right outside my apartment was always well taken care of and in the spring when the trees were in bloom it felt like I'd found a new world all my own. There weren't many others out at that time, but there was two or three park officials that were always on duty, and self defense classes were also on my side so I never had any problems in the well lit, park.

I was pretty sure I was living my ideal life.

Then I started having to work late.

It was fine at first, but then I couldn't get to sleep. My life felt off without my evening runs. My boss said it would just be until they could get a temp into to help for the busy season. But it had become so engrained in me, those early evenings in the park, and nothing I tried could fill that 'me time' at home after work.

I tossed and turned, it was late. But I strapped on my running shoes and went across the street to the park.

The gate was still unlocked, the street lightes were still on and I could see someone in the guard house at the gate. I waved at the familiar face and went off down the path. Just five minutes, I'll take a quick five minutes down and turn back. I was already feeling more relaxed just with the sound of my shoes hitting the pavement.

The song of insects and frogs filled the air, the sweet crisp air in my lungs. It felt like coming home. I glanced at my watch, I was a little surprised at how much time had passed. I paused, bending over to catch my breath before going back.

My shadow ran on without me.

It was instant vertigo. I rocked back on my heels to keep from falling head first onto the concrete. I fell to my butt and stared, I could even still see it retreating in the lights of the streetlamps. It was only a moment more before I got to my feet and ran after it. As strange as it sounds I felt abandoned, alone, and even a little afraid. Was it running from something? Abandoning me to the darkness it was born from?

Any time I looked down and my shadow wasn't there I would stumble. My mind couldn't understand what was happening. This kind of thing didn't happen in this part of town! The news was full of strange stories, but it was always out in the country side, not in the city.

I only just noticed my shadow had stopped at a streetlamp. I stumbled to a stop and stood directly over it. It didn't move, neither did I. I waited and did a little jog in place.

It copied me. I sighed in relief thinking whatever had happened was temporary.

Then it motioned to the left, off the path, to a dirt path that led to the hedge maze. I felt my blood drain from my face, there wasn't a hair that wasn't prickling my skin. I didn't move.

It motioned again. I quickly looked around the park. The insects were still chirping, the breeze was still blowing gently through the trees, giving off the sound of a thousand voices whispering, but there was no one in sight. I looked down at my shadow, but didn't move.

It shrugged non-commitally and walked out of the ring of light, and I suppose it went into the hedge maze.

I should have turned back. I should have gone to the offical at the gate. I should have just gone back home and gone to the police in the morning.

After the third time the branches caught hold of my pant leg I had to wonder when the last time the hedge maze had been properly trimmed. I could still see a bit from the park lights, and there were a few of those solar lamps along the dirt path so I could still catch glances of my shadow. It would wait for me at corners, cast up on the leaves, hands on her hips tapping her toes impatiently. Then it would take off in a direction.

And I followed.

I'd come here with my father when I was younger, so I knew that at the center of the maze was a fountain. It had been designed by someone named... Tersou? Tresmon? T...something, he had disappeard some a year or two after he'd completed it. It was beautiful, full of mermaids, fae, other magical creatures that a child could dream of. It was one of the reasons I'd always loved the park.

The closer we got to the fountain I started to hear singing.The soft glow of the lights of the fountain lights made it easier to see my shadow.

It wasn't human. Whatever it was at the fountain it wasn't human. I wanted to run, but as soon as I had stepped into the center of the maze I couldn't move.

My shadow walked, yes walked, it was on the ground, there was shape, definiton to it. It walked up to the being at the fountain and touched them.

When the figured turned around I was fixated, by the pure beauty, elegance, and inhumanness of this being. She, I couldn't think of it as anything but a female, whatever it was, smiled and stood gracefully. She took my hand, I felt myself smiling back and following her clumzily to the side of the well.

My shadow took my other hand and helped me into the water. I looked up, I was looking back at myself.

It was like a horrifying mirror, it tilted its head to the side then smiled.

"Don't worry," it said in my voice. "I know everything you know, we're going to make this world better, perfect even."

The other creature smiled a perfect smile, elegeant, gossimer wings fluttered at her back. How hadn't I seen those before? She was watching, holding my hand calmly.

I scrambled to grasp her hand and that of my dopplegangers, because I was sinking. The water seeped up my shirt then over my shoulders.

"You'll be a hero to all kinds. You'll open the worlds to new possiblities." It said in my voice. "I will make sure you will always be remembered."

The water went over my head. They both released my hands beneath the surface. I couldn't break the surface, something pulled me deeper. I held my breath until I felt I would burst.

I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream. I knew it wouldn't keep my alive, nothing would, but I inhaled the water to let out my final anguished moments of life.

I didn't drown.