Requiem (A Writing Burst)

(Whilst doing this writing burst, our lecturer Jo played the main theme to the film Requiem For A Dream - link here - as a source of inspiration. As a fan of classical music, I really enjoyed this technique, and hope to be able to compile a soundtrack to accompany my book - watch this space!!)

I'm running. Where to matters not to anyone, not even me right now, the only goal to me: my only significance is that I keep going. Keep going until the friction in my body reaches a peak and my lungs burst out into a scarlet flame with the heat of overwork. I risk a glance behind me. I can't quite see them, but fuck, I sure as hell know they're behind calculating my every move.

Things escalate. Dingy dark back-streets morph into a hall of mirrors. Everywhere I turn, I see the sick reflection of myself: beaten, bruised and exhausted contained within a thousand silver framed walls. A noise signals that my time to pause has been cut short. They're here too. I dart down into the path of the maze and plunge into the heart of what could be one of the most dangerous decisions of my life. There's no time to think however; I have no choice.

Each turn promises a new way out, and with each turn I'm disappointed. They're close now: I can feel the soft thrill of the chase that lingers on their breath hot on my neck. I dare not look back for fear that that single moment of a pause could lead me imminently to my doom. This thought catches me unaware. I stumble. The ground looms up towards me, and I feel the sharp stab of defeat piercing my thoughts. I've lost. This is the end.