The Chase

Chapter 1

The wind howls past me and the grass whips violently at my bare legs sure to leave burning marks across them. I sprint blindly through the darkness that has consumed the way, my foot twisting as I land unevenly on it. I do not allow myself to stop and sooth the searing pain in my ankle. I drag my shaking form up off the ground and continue to stumble on.

There is no safe way to cross such treacherous land as this without sustaining considerable injury but I must at least attempt to conquer this path; it is the possibility of death versus the certainty of death. I can't go back there, the events that took place in those walls were indescribable. They were enough to send one mad. How I ever managed to escape that place is miracle, I just hope it isn't a wasted miracle.

I have been running for what seems like hours but in reality can't be more than ten minutes since I slipped past the guards, the alarms began wailing and I started running across the grass lands towards the valley that is encased by a vast mountain range. I am running off pure adrenaline fuelled by the still audible screech of the sirens that must now be close to a mile behind me. I can hear the howl of the brutal dogs that will be starting to track my scent.

Those dogs always kept me awake at night during my eternity in that prison. We were always kept on edge, the threat of the dogs, or the guards, or the teachers or even him was always present. On occasion, there would be surprise inspections which usually resulted with a broken bone or a bloody nose; the guards would choose a cell to raid; a number of prisoners would be sent to the pit or even someone would be given to the dogs. But the worst punishment in my opinion was to be sent to the master.

We had to call him the master, he ran the joint. Failure to deliver would result in unimaginable punishment. It was often his pleasure to push our limits to the max, both mentally and physically. My dreams, few though they were, always were plagued by his face, cackling, drooling, with that unforgettable glint flashing across his steel eyes...a shiver choruses through my body at the thought of him. I push the memories to the back of my mind and focus on putting one foot in front of the other.

After several more painful minutes of running, I am at the valley. I take a moment to glance back and try to measure the distance between the flashlights of the hit team and my current position. I cannot see them though I know they will always follow me. I'm not safe yet.

Taking a deep breath I jog into the valley. I instantly feel the reduction of the force of the wind which gives my chapped skin a chance to recover. The temperatures must be below freezing. I have no idea what time of year it is, only that my minimal clothing is not enough to keep me warm. I am wearing the standard issue black shorts that are kept up by a couple of safety pins since they are massively huge on me and a thin cotton button up shirt in addition to the tatty scarf I managed to swipe from the drugged guard on my way out. Wishing I had stolen more of his clothing to keep me warm, I proceed with slightly more caution.

The steep valley walls loom over me, watching, as if waiting for possibly the inevitable moment of my recapture. This only makes me run faster, I will not allow myself to be caught. Too many years of my insignificant life have been consumed by that place, but no more. I'm not going down without a fight, not this time.

An hour later, my pace has slowed and my mouth and throat are dry. I desperately need water. My last drink must have been over twelve hours ago. Though I have lasted longer periods of time without water, those periods weren't spent running for my life over dangerous ground, and I have a huge climb ahead of me. My eyes scan the steep sides of the valley in search of a stream or even a puddle but none can be seen. Panic begins to surface in my thoughts clouding my judgement. Stopping to take a deep breath, I decide to climb up the side of the valley a little way to find something to parch my thirst, but still continuing to move forward all the while.

The sound of a stream becomes apparent and lifts my diminishing hopes. I scramble higher desperately searching for the source of the water, I will allow myself only a minute to search and drink and if I am not successful in that minute, I will go without the drink I so long for. It is that or be captured.

Luck seems to be on my side as my aching foot lands on the slippery stones that escort the water down the valley. The stream is only shallow but by cupping my hands together and catching the water as it falls from a small lip of rock, I manage to quench my thirst. The water is cool and calming as it slips deliciously down my throat, rehydrating my exhausted limbs. My mind relaxes as I sit on the soft grass enjoying the taste of the refreshing liquid as it passes through my swollen lips.

My state of relaxation does not last for long though as the thought of freedom urges me on. I heave my self quickly off the sodden ground and descend to the lowest, flattest part of the valley beginning to run at a fast pace yet again with my hopes renewed and a little more life chorusing through my veins.

However, twenty minutes later, my heightened hopes are quickly distinguished as I near the base of the mountain, it's sheer enormity knocking all rational thoughts from my mind, bringing me to a halt gasping for breath. As thoughts race through my mind, the distant, murderous howl of a hound spurs me into action doing the only thing I can; climb.