I bounce into something stiff and fall to the ground. I look up and manage to see through the dim light of the skyline, a shadowy bear’s face.
I’m in the shooting range. Another shot is fired, and I jump up and continue to run into the forest. I manage to not hit any trees or brush by some miracle. I focus on trying to find my way through the treeline and out of this hell.
I hear Chase yelling in the near distance. “Elle! Are you okay!” More shots echo through the air. “When I get more bullets, I’ll kill whoever is shooting at us! You better not hurt her you are fucking animals.”
I think about calling out to him. I stop and rest a moment catching my breath and lean against a tree. My hand feels a weird edging on the tree. I run my fingers through it. I move around and manage to get a good look through the dim moonlight.
A monster symbol, again.
A shot rings out and strikes the tree right above my head. If I had raised my head a few inches, it could have hit me. I run more, deeper into the woods. This time I take no breaks, and for once in my life I’m happy that I enjoy exercising from time to time. I have no clue how long I run for, but it feels like forever. When I feel I’m a good distance away from whatever was happening, I slow my pace, and try my best to not step on any twigs or make drastic movements that would give away my position.
By the time my adrenaline wears off, the sun has begun to rise, peeking on the horizon. I have no clue what time it is, but I can now see most of my surroundings. I find a fallen tree with a low bush covering one side. I hide under the low bush and wait, barely breathing.
I feel if I let out a breath, whoever is looking for me would find me.
Was someone even looking for me?
I try to calm myself and think rationally, but it’s difficult. I’m hungry, smell terribly bad, and wet myself.
I would rather be anywhere than this place, right now. Take me back to the ghetto, please!
I hear the distant sound of dogs and think of Chase. He must be looking for me.
In my paranoid state, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.
The sound of the dogs is getting closer. Chase owns hunting dogs; they must have my scent and are on to my location. I peek through the bush and in the near distance, see two large hounds running my way.
I jump up and run through the forest, but knowing I can’t outrun the dogs, look for anyway to get out of their path. The dogs sound vicious, bloodthirsty even. I find a tall tree with a low enough limb. I jump and pull myself onto the sturdy branch. I start to climb high enough and think the dogs may just run past me.
Wrong.
The two dogs circle the tree, and I’m trapped.
Chase runs up to his dogs. “Elle! Are you up there? Say something.” I say nothing, scared for my life. “Elle, my dogs are trained well. I know you’re up there. Are you okay?”
I sigh and can feel a tear forming in my eye. “No! I want to go home!”
The dogs continue to bark at me. Chase says something sternly and they both stop. He makes a clicking sound with his mouth and points into the forest. Jack and Jill run back through the forest.
“Elle, can you come down now?”
“Fuck no!”
“Elle, seriously, why? Look, I still have my guns on me. I could just shoot you down if I had wanted to.”
“Why do you still have your guns on you at all?”
“Why do you think. A person, or people, were shooting at us last night. I reloaded and tried to find you, to protect you- and myself for that matter. You seriously think I tried to kill you last night? Why would I?”
“I don’t fucking know, okay?”
Even up high in the tree I could hear Chase give an audible sigh. “Okay, then. Hey guys! She’s over here!”
“Who are you calling to?”
“My hit squad.” Chase says sarcastically.
Jaxson and Lance run up to the tree from different directions.
Jaxson looks up. “Are you okay?”
“Did you get hit or anything?” Lance says in a serious tone.
Principal Aldridge runs up in his nightwear with a flashlight. “Ms. Maven, are you hurt?” His wife runs up beside him, out of breath.
“No, I’m okay!” I yell back. “I’m going to climb down now.” I make my slow descent. When I put both feet firmly on the ground, Mrs. Aldridge runs up to me and hugs me tightly. I start to cry and let myself fall into her.
Thomas Winters walks through some bushes and is the last to join us. He has a flashlight in his hand and looks at Chase. “Is she hurt?” Chase waves his head no.
I pan my head around at all the faces looking at me. All of them look sincerely worried for me, except Thomas Winters. For some reason he looks mildly annoyed, as if he stepped in some more scrambled eggs.
It takes an hour for me to calm myself. The Aldridges allow me to shower and Mrs. Aldridge lays out a change of clothes for me. She apologizes that her clothes aren’t as hip as I might like them and manages a small smile. I thank her.
When I’m ready, I walk into the living room where everyone is waiting for me. Chase is pacing the room, until he spots me and stops. Jaxson is sitting beside Mrs. Aldridge on the couch. Lance is leaning against a wall in the back of the room with a
