she cowers down
her cape draped around her shoulders
holes litter the shawl
allowing the snow to chafe her

the raw air punches her face even as she attempts to cover it
she dreams of invisibility
that the cape was transparent and white like the snow and the forest
that the darkness could encompass her
but it doesn't

she still hears footsteps breaking branches
deafening in her ears
her fear is palpable
it feels heavy and suffocating
her eyes are clutched tightly shut
afraid to see what will develop or appear

louder now
the footsteps
a branch nearby snaps
the wind slows down
quiet for only a few moments
but she knows that's what she should fear most
the silence before the storm

fingers swiftly scratch at her cape
rip whip marks through her backside
so severe she can feel the blood before it comes
she wails but nothing comes out

the hand snatches her
his long slate fingers pulling her towards him
his nails stabbing her skin
too much pain to even cry