Run - Michael Clifford

Chapter 1

"Run! Go while you can!" she hisses at me, pushing me away.

"But-"

"Please! Or he'll get us both..." she whimpers, hiding behind a tree trunk.

The cold night air whips through my hair and I tug my hoodie closer around me. "Who? Who will catch us?"

She shushes me, her hand shaking as she brings her finger to her lips. She looks around nervously before leaning closer towards me. "Him."

"Him?" I ask. "Who's 'him'?"

Leaves crunch a few metres away. The girl gasps, giving me a sorrowful look as she holds her breath. 'Go,' she mouths to me.

And I run.

I hear a scream behind me and pray that my feet could take me away faster. My breathing becomes ragged and I risk a glimpse behind me to see a flash of the girl's blonde hair, and then silence.

I was the only thing moving in the entire forest.

I let out a sigh of relief, pressing my back against a tree trunk.

I was safe. He couldn't get me.

I didn't even know who 'he' was, but the girl made him sound terrible. Terrible.

"Who are you running from?"

The voice makes me jump out of my skin. I look to my left to see a boy of around 20 standing there, his skin pale as a sheet.

"I-I don't know..." I stutter, my voice shaky.

The boy reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, smiling. "I'm running, too," he whispers.

"Who from?" I ask, not able to look away from his piercing green eyes.

"Myself."

I frown. "Y-Yourself?"

The boy laughs, tilting his chin back to reveal perfect teeth. His bright red hair glows, standing out against the greenery of the forest. He was beautiful.

"I can help you get out," he says, suddenly serious again.

My heart beat speeds up. "You can?"

"Of course I can. Just stay with me. You trust me, don't you?"

I hesitate. He looks at me again with those bright green eyes of his. I nod.

He bites his lip before holding out his pale hand for me to shake. I take it cautiously, his hand cold against mine.

"I'm Michael," the boy says.

I breathe out. "I'm Hayley."