Love Finds You - Even If You're On the Run

Chapter 5

Just a quick authors note... There's a brand new chapter 1, so check it out. Sorry it's in first person and these chapters are in third... but I promise I'll fix that by the time the next chapter comes out! Sooooo... check out the new chapter 1! (It's much better. :D)

The fog hurt. It burned like fire on my exposed sin. I let out a gasp of surprise at the sudden pain and instantly regretted the action. The gas filled my mouth and pushed its way down my throat, burning my insides. Imminently I shut my mouth and held my breath, my eyes watering with pain. What on earth was this fog? Some new weapon the police were using? Tear gas? It couldn’t have been tear gas… this seemed so much more dangerous.  It almost seemed like… Acid! The thought caused me to stop running. Acid. This cloud was made of acid that was slowly eating away at my skin. No wonder Jake said not to breathe it in!

Jake tugged my arm, causing me to wince. I couldn’t see his face through the thick cloud of acid, but it was obvious he wanted us to keep going. How long can I keep going for though? Already I was trembling, my legs felt startlingly unstable. I stumbled after Jake, letting myself be pulled along.

Suddenly Jake stopped. I could feel him turn and feel his muscles tense. Puzzled, I was about to ask what had caused them to stop before I remembered that I couldn’t speak. Or breathe… My lungs were on fire. I doubted I could hold my breath for more than another ten seconds. My trembling grew worse.

I felt Jake tense again, swing around, and hesitate. Then we started to move again faster this time.

I stumbled as spots danced across my vision. I can’t hold my breath anymore. I need air… My grip on Jake’s hand slackened. I can’t let go of him, or I’ll never get out of here…

I could hold my breath no longer. I gasped inhaling the fog. Pain exploded within me. The fog clawed its way into my body, lighting it ablaze with pain. I crumpled writhing as the pain overwhelmed me. I can’t… I can’t keep going… I’m going to die here…this fog will suffocate me.

My vision blurred and blackened. I need air… The last thing I was aware of was arms encircling me and the ground fading away.

-x-x-x-

When I came to,  I was on a bed. For a second, I thought I was at home, in my bed in my own room. This isn’t my bed. The thought caused me to panic. I sat up and looked around frantically. I was in a small bedroom.  Piles of paper cluttered the floor and small desk in the room. A guitar leaned against the wall. Other than that, the room was void of anything else.

Suddenly my lungs froze; unwilling to draw in another breath. What’s happening? Why can’t I breathe?! I doubled over gasping. My body heaved as I fought for breath against the sudden attack.

A hand grasped my chin forcing me to look up. I saw a flash of blue eyes before something was pressed over my nose and mouth. I pulled back, trying to wrench away but an arm wrapped around me; holding me captive.

I breathed. Whatever had been pressed to my mouth was emitting a cool gas that released my lungs and calmed my frantic thoughts. I sucked the cool air in greedily, enjoying the sensation of breathing.

“Slow down, sweetheart. You look like a fish out of water.” The familiar voice tickled my ear. Jake was holding me, pressing to me chest. His arms wrapped around me. One arm pinned me to him, the other pressed a breathing mask to my face.

My cheeks burned at how close he was. I pushed his arms away from me and stepped free from his hold, leaving him holding the breathing mask. Jake shrugged, dropping his arms to his sides.