The Chase (Criminal Minds)

Intoxicated

Cant. Breathe.

As Reid continued to run, he could feel his body involuntarily slowing down. Before he could fully stop himself, his knees buckled out from under him, causing his burning limbs to collapse. It was too dark to see anything, but he could feel the crisp leaves blowing around him as he sat on the forest floor.

He tried to steady his breathing as he laced his fingers through his sweat-drenched hair.

It was times like these when he wished he'd accepted Morgan's past offers to help him get in shape.

"When I'm done with you, you'll have all the ladies checking you out, Pretty Boy!"

Reid couldn't help but smile as he thought back to some of Morgan's humorous commentary.

Feeling a bit more energetic, he lifted himself off the ground and looked around.

Where am I?

It was getting cold and the only thing he could see were trees and shrubbery. He tried to find Dallas' house, but there was no use.

He was officially lost.

He was officially lost in one of the biggest forests in Kansas without a map, food, water or backup. He would probably die of dehydration or a gun shot to the head before anyone would find him.

I pretty much just signed my death certificate.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone. It was his only chance of getting help.

Pressing the Power button multiple times with no results, he angrily threw the phone at a nearby tree, causing the screen to shatter as it fell to the ground.

He was about to start running again when he remembered something unusual after taking out his cellphone.

I'm screwed.

He looked down at his waist, instantly spotting the empty holster.

Where's my gun?!

He tried to think back to the last time he saw it, but he couldn't concentrate. The unsub could be anywhere in these woods by now. He had to find Prescott before it was too late.

Adrenaline quickly coursed through his veins as he ran, full speed, further into the forest. While running, he had a sudden feeling of Claustrophobia as the shadowy trees seemed to get closer and closer together the farther he ventured. He had only been running for three minutes, but he felt an extreme ache take over his calf muscles. Was he really this out of shape?

If he actually made it out of this alive, he definitely knew what his New Years Resolution was going to be.

He stopped running as his lungs begged for air. He stood, hunched over, with his hands on his knees. Staying in that stance for a bit, he was caught off guard when he heard something disturb the bitter silence. Slowly standing up, he tried to figure out the direction of the sound.

He heard it again.

Instinctively, he reached for his gun. Soon realizing its absence, he blindly felt around the forest floor in search of a weapon.

Finding a broken tree branch, he held it out in front of him as he followed the small, yet audible sounds that originated from the West.

Carefully tiptoeing over twigs and leaves, he crouched down behind a bush and peeked around it.

He didn't know whether to feel relieved or scared when he saw the muscular figure.

Hunter Prescott.