Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion as we ran. Their presence was apparent even without having seen them. The sudden panicky fear that demanded to be felt tore through our bodies. The wind whipped and howled as lightning and thunder threatened a storm that never seemed to be coming.
We'd gotten somewhat of a head start, which was fading quickly as the night riders advanced on us. It was hard to see anything through the dark especially each other, but even through all the chaos I could hear them. Their horses, just as dark as they were, neighed and whinnied with each gallop closer to us.
Stiles's hand was laced in mine as we ran, Lydia only steps behind me. I didn't know where we were even running too. The whole point of running seemed futile as it didn't matter where we ran too, they would take him. I tried not to think about that, pushing it aside as I used the painful emotion to fuel my speed.
We were being chased around the school. We'd known this was going to happen and tried to plan for it. But the plan hadn't worked. Scott and Liam had dressed in Stiles clothes and we'd all scattered around the school. Hoping that if they got confused, Stiles would have a chance to evade them.
But Stiles was marked. They weren't fooled by the decoys. The three of us, Lydia, Stiles, and I, quickly and quietly headed towards an exit when we were greeted by a hatted figure on a midnight horse. We all stood frozen as we stared at threat before us, a plan trying to form in any of our heads. Stiles stealthily curled his fingers with mine, before turning back down the hallway.
"Run!" He yelled, and Lydia and I didn't need a second to think.
We followed him, the night rider hot on our trail. We zigged and zagged down hallways and into classrooms that lead out into different hallways. But somehow the dark entities behind us seemed to be gaining on us.
"We need to get to your jeep. We might be able to outrun them if we do." I panted, as we rounded another corner.
"The gym!" Lydia breathed from behind me. "If we can make it to the gym, there's a door that leads outside."
Stiles didn't respond but switched gears immediately. We were heading for the gym now. My heart skipped when another night rider seemingly appeared out of nowhere in front of us. We skidded to a halt, frantically trying to figure out a different way to go. Only a second past, when I felt Stiles pull me to the left. I'd been momentarily mesmerised by the creature in front of me.
The Night Riders seemed bigger than they should be. Floppy cowboy like hats sat on their heads while long brown trench coats burdened their shoulders. They seemed to be straight out of a western movie that was taken over by Albert Hitchcock. Their faces were barely visible in the dark halls of a the school but every time a streak of lightning hit, a sliver of their features could be seen.
It looked like their faces were covered by masks, which gave me a spine chilling recollection of the dread doctors. But their masks, unlike the dread doctors, were made of cloth, with strange shapes cut out where the mouth should be. Their eyes looked like you could see them, but if you looked long enough, you could tell they weren't there at all.
We all clambered into the cafeteria. We quickly scanned the room for the exit.
"There!" Lydia pointed.
About to white double doors was a little sigh label 'exit'. The letters were blocked out in red and glowed in the darkness. I pushed Stiles forward and felt his arm wrap around my waist and he pulled me forward with him as we ran. I looked back to make sure Lydia was okay. She was barely a step behind us, but even closer the Night Rider. I spotted a large group of stacked chairs off to the side and idea hatch in my brain.
