#popcorn?

Lyra ran into the cornfield, knowing that she could never outrun her hunter. That hiding was the only option left. But if she wanted to hide, she needed to calm down, her panicked gasping for air was way too loud. She ran deeper into the field, and within seconds, she had lost any orientation. It was the middle of the night, and the corn was in the harvest season. After a glance over her shoulder, Lyra made sure that the beginning of the field was lost in darkness before she collapsed to the ground. Trying to make as little sound as possible while filling her lungs with fresh, corn-scented air. She had to calm down, maybe with a breathing exercise? No, not enough oxygen, not yet.

“I know that you’re in here.”, sounded a luring, all too familiar voice through the corn.

Close. Way too close! Dammit, breathe! She thought to herself. She couldn’t be caught especially not like this. Come on; this isn’t one of your nightmares. Here you’re not destined to lose. You can do this, remember?

“Do you really think the corn can protect you from me? Or are you hoping that perhaps…the darkness will hide you from me?”. The voice gave off a little laugh. “You know that won’t help you. I can hear you. Smell your fear. Plus, the corn will betray you whenever you move.

I could catch my breath a bit, but they were right. I would be too loud. And they’re faster than me. So yes, I am betting on the darkness to hide me. Lyra thought as she continued to focus on her breathing. Calm it down. Be quiet. Don’t make a sound. Don’t let them know where you are. Good, good, we’re getting there, just hang o-… A familiar sound cut through the silence, but she couldn’t put her finger on what it was. Then approximately one meter in front of me a corn stalk catches fire. Before she can even move another one burns bright lights. Lyra jumps up, matches! In front of her the fire that devours the dry corn stalks at breakneck speed, behind me, him. Rushed she imagines the field. Tries to predict if she could escape the fire and Ad…-him by running sideways. But she took too long. Her sudden movement was too loud.

Suddenly a hand comes over Lyra’s mouth from behind and a shudder travels through her body as Adam’s voice whispers into her ear: “Now, don’t make a sound, and let’s just get away from the fire.”

Lyra’s instincts agree that right now letting Adam drag her out of the field is the better option, so she doesn’t try to break free. At first. But as soon as they stumbled out of the cornfield, she tried to fight her way out of the Adam’s grip. Tries to bite the hand covering her mouth but can’t manage to.

Adam chuckled as he restrained Lyra’s arms behind her back.

“No biting, I learned.” His voice becomes more luring “Don’t you remember last time…? I do…”

She freezes, mind being flooded with memories of the last capture. With words, images, and pain, all wrapped in paralyzing terror…

Adam shifted his hand from Lyra’s mouth to her shoulder, knowing that for a moment he got her under control. He leans in to whisper something in her ear: “Why are you even trying, hm? Even if you do break free, you know I’m faster than you. I can find you, just like I did tonight. So, might as well give in and spare yourself some trauma.”

This last sentence shakes Lyra up again and she raises her head, trying to sound as confident as possible as she answers: “You’re faster, true. You might be able to find me. But who would I be if I didn’t even try?” His hand falls off her shoulder, doing something else behind her back. Then the distinct smell of chemicals fills the air. She begins twitching again, afraid of what he was doing.

“Inhale!”. An order followed instantly by a cloth pressed over her nose and mouth.

Adam pulls Lyra towards him and with a kick into her kneecaps gets her on the ground.

Now she “sits”, with his left arm around her torso and his right hand pressing that cloth into my face, still somehow trying to break free. But without success and creepily fast her limbs are starting to feel weaker and weaker, and her mind more and more clouded.

“Shh, shh. Don’t worry that’s nothing bad. Just something to help you sleep. Aren’t you tired? And so scared. This will get you away from all this, just breathe in. Deep breaths. All is well, all is good, you’re safe. When you wake up all the bad things will be gone…”