I didn't know who or what I was pushing against but my god were they strong! My hands were already bleeding after the glass incident, as a last attempt to shut them out, I thumped my shoulder hard against the metal door. Thankfully it did the trick, and gave a metallic groan as I securely did the lock. I knew they were still out there, the sound of their hot breath rattling out of them was still apparent to me. It was all too easy to imagine their gleaming teeth that wanted to tear out my throat, to see claws as they scratched at the door. It had all happened so quickly. I had been completely prepared. How in the world had I ended up trapped inside a dark room, with an ever hungry enemy only on the other side of the door?

The cold wind had pressed against the windows, a hot fire danced feverishly in the grate and my old, faithful dog had been asleep by my feet. So warm. So safe. So fragile. I had expected them to come, that being why I had a knife in my left hand and a pistol in my right. With eyes closed I sat, my keen ears listened intently to the hollow whisper of the winter wind, it blew around my small wooden cabin that was in the middle of a small clearing of a seemingly endless pine forest. Though as the windows began to fill up with snow like the bottom half of an hourglass, I couldn't help but wonder - how much time did I have left? The answer?

None.

"Damn it," I snapped as every window smashed like ice inwards, and two dark and sleek shapes slipped in through each. They moved like ghosts, no not ghosts: they weren't moaning, ghosts always moaned. But these things didn't. In fact they didn't even seem to breathe as they surrounded my arm chair in a tightly packed circle. Shoulder to shoulder they stood rigidly before me. The dog gave a slumber swamped snort and I couldn't help but smile at his little pig like noise, how in the face of eight murderers he snored without a damned care in the world. Yet it occured to me that I wasn't exactly panicking, even whilst looking from face to face, keeping the same soft smile on my face all the time. In return though, they glared, scolded and one even gnashed his razor like teeth at me. Though the last was the worst. The left corner of his thinly lipped mouth curlled into a cruel smirk that sent a shiver down my spine. Well come on, I may be brave, but I'm not a fool.

"Good evening Robyn."

"Jason." I greeted to the smirking creature, "I hope you're going to replace those windows."

"Indeed we will, wouldn't want to appear rude now would we?"

"Good." I chirped cheerily as I jumped up from my seat with a jolt, they had all tensed as I moved, then becoming still to stand in the middle of their sadistic circle. It was easy to tell that their dark eyes were looking me over, sizing me up in ways I'd never understand, but didn't really care about. I gave a shudder as the cold wind rushed through the North facing windows, nipping at the bare bronzed flesh of my arms. Silly to wear a T-shirt I know but - never mind. Yet one thing I was unable to ignore, was the way when the wind ruffled my long dark hair, sending my scent around the room and over to Jason, he had taken in a deep breath and gave a hungry smile. His dark eyes sparkling menacingly. I couldn't help but grimace.

"Well my good woman I believe we have come business to attend to don't we?" he mused, I really couldn't stand it when he spoke to me like that. It had always driven me crazy, he knew it too.

"Is it really necessary for you to talk like a pompus Jason? Anyway, we have no business to attend to... you however do." you see, I am merely a pawn that that he had used. I hadn't known what he and his cult were going to do to that girl. That woman. My sister.

He glared at me, all humour gone from his chiselled face.

"It was you who tried to stop the... proceedings, and therefore she died without even helping us, she died by your hands for nothing!"

"I know that." I hissed through celnched teeth, my entire body rigid with anger as he sneered at me, enjoying seeing my obvious pain. Suddenly he cocked his head to the side slightly, the two men to my left moved off to ramsack what I had called 'home' for the past six months. This was a small chance, but a chance all the same. With a flex of my right hand the pistol went off, alarmed screams pierced the air, I dived over to the window and scrambled through. The glass cutting mercilessly into my hands as I fought my way out. ONce clear I ran like the wind- if not faster than that. A pang of guilt for my loyal dog throbbed in my mind, but they would kill him quickly at least. I hoped. The dark trees streamed past me and I could then hear them coming. Sensing that they were catching up my desperate eyes darted about, luckily spotting an old barn through the thick screen of trees. Or was it an outhouse? Not really caring by that point I turned quickly and ran straight for it.

"You can't run forever Robyn!" bellowed Jason from somewhere off to my right, fear filled tears streamed down my face as I lunged through the open door and closed it with my last bit of strength. For some reason, as the stillness seeped in around me and my limbs were still, I had been in the resolution of being safe. Though was quickly awoken from this frame of mind as the door on which I leaned gave a tremendous tremble, then another as someone - or something - hammered on it relentlessly. I could hear the others coming, they gave shrill cries as they ran towards the barn. I knew they were gathering outside the door to try and open it because each time I tried to lock it, the door would jump out of the way.

"Come on Robyn, don't make it harder for yourself!" he jeered as I pushed against him and his horde. The rust scratched at my hands and the dark lingered silently as I wept tears I didn't understand.

"Let us in Robyn, she would have. After all you assured her it was safe didn't you?! Ha!" I could hear them all chuckling darkly. Completely unsure whether it was fury, fear or absolute desperation that feuled the sudden burst of adrenaline I threw my shoulder against the door and it closed with a thunderous bang which continued on like a great storm. With the lock slid into place I slid to the ground, my aching body slumping over as I fell to my knees.

All their jeers and sneers meant nothing to me, it was my own guilt pressing down on me as I wept feebly on the disty ground. Though as my sobs slowed I then came to realise that I had no where I had ended up. Taking my lighter from the back pocket of my jeans I flicked it on and peered about. Along the back row of my cell was about ten if not fiteen barrels with 'oil' printed on them, to their right was stack after stack of hay. Other than that my prison was sealed shut and empty.

I knew then and even now that I can't have been certain about those things which hunted me so willingly. But somehow I knew they were never going to stop. Even after destroying me. They'd keep luring in naive girls and hurting them as they had me and my sister. I couldn't let that happen. With a cold sweat on my forehead I walked over to the back corner, a mad grin slowly creeping over my chapped lips. My plan was utterly insane, suicide if you will. But I knew it'd work. As quickly as I could, I moved each barrel into a circle directly below the roof windows, they were so murky that they let in little light and were probably invisible from the outside. When the barrels were all set I bunched the hay around in between each, dousing it in a spare barrels contents. It was clear to me that they would have to eventually break in through those roof windows, once they'd discovered them, this barn was like a fortress, it was their only way in. Yet when they did I would end it all. I would vanquish them with a fire fuelled by hate, guilt and hopelessness. It would engulf me along with them but as I stood in the middle of my arena, with my pistol aimed at one of the barrels, my lighter sitting just below with it's tiny though useful flame flickering, I smiled softly to myself. I would be at peace, having repaid my debts in full. A life for a life. This would be my pound of flesh forefeit repayed with interest. A dark chuckle bubbled to my lips.

Finally, as the tell tale sound of breaking glass reached my eager ears I let out a slow breath, waited for the final smash of ice and pulled back my forefinger with a gracefull slowness.

They were gone.

I was gone.

The guilt was gone.

I didn't even feel it.