Sunbound, chapter 1: the eternal hunt

Instructions

To him, it’s a constant game—tag, hide-and-seek—all twisted amusements where I am the target, the ultimate prize he is determined to claim. I have done nothing throughout my existence but run. I don’t know how to pause, sleep, or truly live, because the moment I hesitate, he wins. My name is Selene. I have no idea how this game he so thoroughly loves began, or when it will finally end, but my endurance is fracturing. I don’t even know how I managed to steal a moment to write this, considering my feet are always in motion, but this journal is my solitary confidant. Perhaps, one day, someone will uncover these pages and avenge me. Though, I highly doubt it. His name is Aiden. He is a predator born for the chase: stubborn, selfish, and short-sighted. The three traits that define a hunter like him. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to flee. I wish I could simply stop, inhale the crisp air, smell the wildflowers, and lose myself gazing up at the stars. But that has never been my destiny. That’s alright; soon I will break away, claim my freedom, and finally halt this endless sprint. The moon and sun will no longer stalk each other across the sky; they will finally rest at peace among the stars and the clouds. One day, I will shatter this curse and live peacefully among the trees and the wild animals. But for now, I must keep running. ─ ✧ ── ☼ ☾ ── ✧ ──── ✧ ── ☼ ☾ ── ✧ — My bare feet hit the damp earth as I sprint through the thick covering of trees. I can’t see him, but I know he’s close behind; the back of my neck prickles with an unnatural warmth. Overhead, the moon seems to follow me, as if it’s pitying my exhaustion and doesn’t want to leave me alone. This thought is comforting. I don’t dare look back, for if I do, I fear the worst. Shifting my eyes to the dark path ahead, a sudden chill echoes through my bones, urging me to run back—to my old home, my family, my life. But those no longer belong to me. They belong to the girl who came before. The girl who dared to dream of adventure and freedom, of running through the woods with only the night sky as company. It seems that girl got her wish. But at what price? My feet are raw and sore, and the entire world feels slow and weak around me, matching my own fading strength. Looking up through the canopy, I see the moon resting peacefully in the dark sky, a silent companion to my misery. I finally stumble upon a small hollow, collapsing into the lush, soft green grass that feels like a luxury compared to the rough trail. As my heavy eyelids close, the moon is the last thing I see before I drift off, daring once more to dream.

Notes & Credits