Chained to You

Run Rabbit Run

"Donny, the cops are back again." I peeked into the dumpster cautiously. "Grab your bag and let's get moving." A knobby, almost skeletal hand reached out and missed my face by a few centimeters. I flinched back and scoffed. "Fine, get caught."

An elderly man scowled out from the small opening. "Damn redheads," he muttered. "You're a walking highlighter. You attract those rats wherever you go." I yanked my old duffle bag from between two rocks and wrinkled my nose.

"Maybe you're attracting them with that stench," I retorted. Instead of getting offended, Donny gave me a toothless grin.

"Not all of us get to take showers at that fancy little school of yours."

"Public school," I corrected. "Now hurry up they're gonna be here any minute - shit, they're already here!" Years of running from the police had taught me to identify them before they got within half a mile. That wasn't the case this time. They were right around the corner.

"Donny, just stay in there and don't make a sound. They'll think it's just me," I explained breathlessly and started closing the dumpster. The old man sunk down to the bottom without saying a word. I heard men calling to each other and dogs barking as if they were excited to sink their teeth into my flesh. Instinctively, I stomped on the pile of leaves that had been my bed for the past few days and ran like all hell had broken loose.

The dogs were getting closer. I could hear the pounding of heavy footsteps close behind. My breathing was frantic, the muggy summer air was hitting the back of my throat and I felt like I was choking. Part of me knew I was going to get caught this time, but if I stopped here, I would be putting Donny in danger. I had to keep going.

"There! There! I see her!" I didn't bother to look behind me when I heard the officer's cry.
He was too close and the dogs were even closer. I held back a desperate sob and pushed my legs faster.

I couldn't go back there. It was cold there... and lonely. No Donny. No crude jokes. I was just a kid, they couldn't take me back there.

There was a vicious growl to my left and then a sharp pain in my elbow. It was such a brutal force I almost didn't believe it was a dog at first. It snarled again and I could feel it's saliva soaking the fabric of my shirt. Or was that my own blood?

My knees buckled under me and I was thrown to the side like a ragdoll. The ground collided with my left ear and the gravel started to pulse right before my eyes.

There was another dog there, maybe two. I could hear them growling at me - warning me to stay down until their handlers arrived. It's not like I could've gotten up and bolted even if I wanted to. My head was throbbing and my eyes were watering.

No, I won't cry. I don't cry anymore.