Anastasia was limping to keep up with her new friend. Robin was like a cheetah, zipping through the trees with a smile on her face even though they could hear the attackers on their trail. She put her hands out and giggled a little. Anastasia smiled and shook her head, wondering if the mysterious girl thought this was a game.
Robin, you know this is real life, right?
Of course I do. Why would I be thinking any differently?
Because you're laughing. I mean, we're practically in a do or die situation here! Come on girl, get a grip!
Ana meant it completely jokingly, but from the look on Robin's face, she definitely didn't think it that way.
I was joking.
Ana had a flat tone, sounding suddenly mad.
It's okay, Anastasia, I know. I know.
Okay.
They continued sprinting until they reached a little clearing. It wasn't a huge space, but it was a lumpy hill, curving sharply downward.
Come on, we should probably get out of this part of the forest. It's wide open space. They'll catch us.
Robin stopped dead in her tracks as soon as Ana rolled her shoulders back and started moving again. At first, Anastasia didn't notice that the other girl wasn't coming. But soon, she peeked over her shoulder and saw the girl looking up at the treetops, in the dead center of the mound. Ana kept moving, motioning for Robin to move along and join her. But Robin mustn't have noticed, or cared, because she stood their with her head straight up, looking in awe.
All in one sudden snap, she jerked her head forward and quickly pulled herself in the direction of Anastasia. Neither of them said a word, but they both had the same thought process: Who is she? Is she the attacker?
Regardless of the voices in the girls' minds, they kept their pumping arms in time with each other, staring like a deer at headlights. They eventually arrived at the opposite edge of the forest and looked out. There were houses...and so many people. It was like they were on the top of the world. They could see every little speck of a person, each hopping into a car or stepping up into a doorway. Every single stoplight, glowing and changing in time with the traffic.
The girls looked at each other, gleaming and bright, with twinkling eyes and shimmering hair. Their thoughts were in sync again: Let's do it.
They tossed their arms back and ran into the city, stopping just beyond the first street they saw. As they slowed their pace, they laughed a little, forgetting all of their previous, life-threatening worries. As their attackers arrived at the edge of the forest, on top of the hill behind them, the girls strolled effortlessly in the middle of the alleyway, taking everything in. Anastasia suddenly frowned as the sky opened up to reveal the beautiful, sparkling sun that took up the entire horizon. Although it was only just past noon, the sun already looked as if it was setting, but it was calming. Robin was completely at peace with the world and the atmosphere. Anastasia, however, was not.
What's wrong, Ana? You look...troubled.
Oh! No, no, it's...nothing. I'm fine. I just have a...I don't know...weird feeling about all this. However, she plastered a faux smile on her face, showing perfectly straight, white teeth.
Are you sure? I don't want you to be upset!
Of course! But thank you.
No problem.
They continued their walk, arriving at the end of the street. Turning left toward downtown, they slowly made their way to the right side of the street so as not to block cars. They walked with arms swinging for a little while longer, passing a block or two.
Without warning, Anastasia gasped, and Robin snapped her head toward the noise. Straight out from behind Ana, an attacker was holding her neck. Choking her. Suffocating her.
