A little faster
Sep 2, 20:00
The uneven rustle of tall pines blowing in the wind made her even uneasier as she proceeded toward her destination. Clouds that had earlier cast shadows and showers across the crooked road had drifted off a few hours before, giving way to clear skies and muddy puddles. Amber liked the way it smelled after a storm. There was something extra clean and inviting about the forest tonight; it was as if the moisture falling from the sky had scared off some sort of evil presence that normally hung in the air. She checked behind her again and stopped walking to look around. On either side of the pavement there were tall elm trees, guarding the vast black expanses beyond them. Their stalky branches extended far above her to create a deciduous canopy, hiding the sky in most places, replacing the emptiness of the night sky with fading leaves and an occasional birds nest. Through the tangled mess of limbs above her she could see a few stars, shining valiantly down on the insecure world below. They were gigantic, violently burning and yet magnificent. It was like looking up into the rafters in an old abandoned Catholic Church and seeing God peering down through holes in the shingles and boards, reminding those below that He was still watching over the world. Amber felt very unimportant when she considered how tiny and insignificant she truly was.
She started moving again. Continuing on her way for a few minutes or perhaps miles, she passed a lone street light, placed high upon a cast iron pole. It looked as if it had been though more winters than she had, a few flakes of black enamel all that remained of what could have at one point been a lustrous exterior finish. The pole’s light cast her shadow onto the ground beside her, and as she moved past it her shadow seemed to move forward faster than she was, as if it was trying to get away from something. She looked back at the road behind her, saw nothing, and continued on her way. She walked a little faster.