𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐌 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 || 𝟏𝟖 +

4

She is 16 years old.

I dash through the forest. It was broad daylight, but in here - it looked so fucking dull and dim like a life-threatening thunderstorm just passed by.

Thick canopies loomed in every direction, the soil beneath my feet was musty and uneven, making each step a challenge. The wild chirping of birds filled the air, their frantic calls echoing my panic. I was out of breath, my lungs screaming for relief, but I couldn't stop.

But I wouldn't stop.

I'm not letting that fucker win. I was a fast runner anyway - at least I hoped so.

I ran faster and faster as my heart pounded worse, not even looking behind me once. If I looked, he would catch me. I was tenfold sure of it.

Branches scratched at my skin, and the uneven ground threatened to trip me with every step, but I kept my focus forward. I couldn't afford to fall. I couldn't afford to fail. The fear of being caught drove me faster, adrenaline surging through my veins.

When I thought I had put some distance between us, I finally stopped, my back slumping against a rough tree trunk. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath, each inhale feeling like fire in my lungs.

The forest around me was eerily quiet now, the only sound was my ragged breathing.

That was not good.

"I can hear you, Alex!" His voice echoed through the trees, bouncing off the thick trunks and reverberating in my ears. The taunting tone sent a shiver down my spine.

"Fuck," I cursed under my breath, pushing off the tree and taking off again.

My legs protested, muscles aching and burning, but I ignored the pain. But this time, I could hear his dashing footsteps behind me, pounding against the forest floor like a relentless drumbeat. He was getting closer.

I veered sharply to the left, hoping to throw him off my trail. It didn't.

If anything, the ground was uneven throwing me off my balance.

I stumbled, my foot catching on a hidden root, and I barely managed to catch myself before my whole body hit the ground. The delay was enough for his footsteps to gain on me, the sound growing louder and more menacing.

I shrieked as I immediately placed my hands on the rough ground, preventing my face from slamming into the canopy-filled soil. "Oh my, god." I breathed out, staring at my scraped hands.

His footsteps reached me as he lowered to my level.

"Killian."

He reached out, his hand hovering uncertainly before he gently grasped my wrist. "You could have hurt yourself worse," he said, his tone softening. "Let me help you."

"You won," I whisper, tired.

He chuckles, "Like always."

Despite the situation, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Don't get cocky."

His grip on my wrist tightened slightly, but it wasn't painful. Instead, it was reassuring, a reminder of the bond we shared. "You know I worry about you," he said, his voice low and sincere.

He smiled a rare, genuine smile that made his eyes light up - flexing those dimples. "We'll see about that," he said, his tone teasing but affectionate.

I felt a small smile tugging at my lips. "I don't think I can move my legs."

Killian chuckled, his eyes softening as he looked at me. "Then it's a good thing I'm here." Without another word, he bent down and scooped me up in his arms.

"Killian!" I protested weakly, but there was no real resistance in my voice. The exhaustion and the pain from my scraped hands and knees had taken their toll.

He carried me effortlessly, his strong arms supporting me with ease. "Relax, Alex. I've got you."

I sighed, resting my head against his shoulder. The steady rhythm of his footsteps and the warmth of his embrace were comforting. "You always do," I murmured.

When we reached the edge of the forest, Killian paused, turning his head to face me. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "I wouldn't mind if you won next time. As long as it means we keep playing together."

I laughed softly, the tension easing. "Deal. But don't go easy on me."

He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Wouldn't dream of it, Alex."

"My mom's gonna kill you when she sees me." I joked.

Killian chuckled, a knowing glint in his eyes. "She's killed me around six hundred times in the last years or so."

He shrugged playfully. "Comes with the territory of being your partner in crime."

As we approached the neighbourhood, I glanced at Killian. "You can put me down now."

Killian looked down at me, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Oh, right." He gently lowered me back to the ground, his hands lingering for a moment before releasing me.

"Smile for me?" I urged him.

"No, Alex!"

I give him my best puppy eyes, that should do the trick. "I wanna touch your dimples!"

"No, you've been doing that enough for the past few years," he replied with mock exasperation.

"Six," I respond, a huge smile coming on my lips. "Anyway, do you even know how fucking adorable those dimples are?"

He rolled his eyes, but I could tell he was trying not to laugh. "Poor me suffering for the past six years!"

I laughed, nudging him playfully. "Admit it, you secretly love it."

Killian sighed dramatically, but his eyes twinkled with humour. "I guess I've grown accustomed to your dimple obsession."

"It's a sign of true friendship," I declared with mock seriousness. "Dimple inspections and all."

I almost miss it but his eyes darken in a blink.

The sudden change caught my attention, and I paused, just letting it go for now.

"Fine, just this once."

I cheered quietly, watching as his expression softened and a small dimple appeared on his cheek. "See? Adorable!"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Now let's get you home before your mom sees those knees."

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♡'･ᴗ･'♡