Six months later.

Andy crouched next to a tree. His legs ached. He was tired. He had no idea how long he had been running. He breathed hard. He breathed fast. He breathed into his hands, trying to dissipate the fog of his breath. His breath would give him away in the cold night if he wasn’t careful.

“SShhsssst!” He heard the arrow in the instant before it struck the tree where he crouched. Snow rained down from the vibration caused by the arrow’s impact. His pursuer had found him. He dragged himself to his feet. His pursuer was playing with him.

Andy cursed the black night. Cursed his pursuer, the snow, the cold, the wind, and this whole damned world he had created.

He formed a plan in his mind. There was no way he was going to escape by running. The only thing he could do was put enough distance between him and his pursuer so he would have time to open a portal and get through safely.

He pressed forward with renewed vigor. He ran faster for shorter periods. He rested for shorter periods. He hoped, all the while, increasing the distance between him and his pursuer. He searched for a clearing or the edge of the forest. He needed a clear space to open the portal.

The occasional arrow still struck the trees around him as his pursuer let him know that he was behind him. Hunting him like an animal.

Then he saw it. The forest ended on his left. It was barely discernable but the snow was brighter without the cover of the forest. Andy removed the book from his coat. With the briefest of glances behind him, he charged for the end of the forest.

When he broke from the cover of the forest he expected the snow to be thicker here without the cover of the forest but was surprised to discover that it was hard rock covered by just a thin film of snow.

He almost screamed with joy as he broke into a sprint. His pursuer would be slowed by the trees and now was his chance to put distance between them.

As he ran he felt in his coat pocket for the bookmark. Where was it? He panicked. It wasn’t there! Another pocket. Nothing! It had to be with him. It couldn’t be lost! He flipped through the book as he ran. Not there! Without it the book was useless!

And he was dead.

He reached inside his coat, checking the inner pockets…. There!

He pulled it from his coat and flipped the book open to the back cover.

“SShhsssst! SShhsssst!” Two arrows flashed past his head. He guessed his pursuer had realized what his plan was.

He saw a dark line appear in the snow before him. Rock swept clean of snow by the wind. Andy slowed. He realized it was the edge of a cliff.

He was going too fast to stop!

“SShhsssst!” Another arrow. The next one would not miss.

A cry from behind. Inaudible. Swept away on the wind. His pursuer.

Andy pressed the bookmark to the page.

The ground before him lit up instantly as the portal opened.

Instinctively Andy dodged.

“SShhsssst!” The arrow tugged at his coat as it passed.

The portal was beyond the cliff’s edge.

Andy swore.

He was afraid of heights.

He had no choice….

Leap or die.

He increased his pace in the distance he had left then, with his last stride; he pushed off from the cliff’s edge……

Into the air.

Leaping……

Falling…..

Silence…. but for the swirling snow in a storm of wind.

Then he passed into light. The cold diminished. He had made it.

He crashed onto the floor of his study and relief flooded through him.

He stood quickly and opened the book removing the bookmark. The portal through which he had come closed with a “Pop!” and cut off the freezing night air that rushed through from the world he had just come from.

Pages blown by the wind settled on the floor and furniture around the room. Andy dusted himself off and removed his jacket before sitting down at his computer. He put on his glasses and turned on his computer.

He was still breathing heavily from the exertion of his escape but at least he was safe. He stared at his computer screen but his thoughts were still with his pursuer in the other world.