I am woken by the sound of howling. My eyes snap open. Wolves! I rush out of bed and run to the window. It’s dark but I can still see that they’re at the back door, trying to get in. Wait! I can see the outline of a different figure. It’s on two legs and taller. Almost…human. It is human! And it’s walking towards the door. It opens the sliding door slightly (I locked it!) and points with a straight index finger, up to the window, at me. It then lowers the finger and walks away, back into the woods. I pull away from the window, frightened. I know I don’t have long so I quickly get dressed with something light. As I’m tying the laces on my runners I hear the wolves get past the door and make their way through my house. I hop up and look for something to defend myself with. All I can find is two rusted knives and a box of matches. I start to realize I won’t be able to outsmart the wolves. Instinct is driving me, and it will be until this ends. It’s the same for them too. It’s just a matter of whose is stronger. I can only hope mine is.

I can’t stand waiting. Just standing here knowing that any second a bunch of wolves will come up the stairs and try to kill me. I don’t understand why they’re here. It’s not because they’re hungry. Is it something that they want? Then I remember the human. None of this makes any sense to me. I hear the first wolf come hurtling up the stairs, barking. I make sure I have a knife in my hand. Showtime! It walks into the room and inspects its surroundings. After a few slow seconds it notices me. I’m frozen. I can’t move. It growls. A deep throaty growl that only increases my fear. As it moves towards me I watch its movements. Suddenly, it lunges at me. I don’t know why but a voice tells me to duck. As I do, I see the opportunity I have. I swipe at the wolf with my knife. There is a moment of resistance and a yelp from the wolf. Since I know I struck I get up and run for my life. I run out of my bedroom, take a running leap at the top of the stairs and land on my feet again. I see the shadow of a second animal to my left and I know this isn’t over. I find myself outside my house with nowhere else to go, except for the surrounding forest. I take one last look at my home, then flee.

Running. Moving through the forest at an incredible speed, knowing that if I slow down it will be the end of me. I think the wolf is catching up. The sounds of its feet on the moist grass seem to be getting quicker and louder. I’m trying to convince myself that it’s my mind playing tricks on me but my head has gone numb and my mind won’t work anymore. My legs are starting to give way. I can’t last much longer. I hear sound. Thoughts of the chase forgotten. It’s water! I see a river to my right. I know what I can do to lose the wolf now. It’s madness! But I jump. I jump into the freezing water. I look over to my left but instead of a wolf I see a human shape looking at me. This isn’t the end.