The Race Against Time

Chapter 21

Brooklyn

My legs moved as fast as they could. The distance was all that mattered because if he got close enough to me, he could surely grab me or even shoot me. I wasn't stopping for anything and I sure as hell wasn't going to look back because when lot's wife looked back, she died and I am not going to be anywhere near dying today.

I run, feet kissing the land. Perhaps a little while ago I would have backed at the idea of running so fast because of my usual short breath but now, I relish the prospect.

These feet were made to travel at speed and as light as the paws of a lioness. I had to admit that I was getting tired and fast. Running at this high speed was tiring even for me. The springing graceful steps from early now disappeared. My heart pounded against my chest as I began to slow down. I couldn't help but look back.

Nothing met my eyes in return. The boy who was just trailing behind me just moments ago was now gone. It was like he vanished in thin air. I completely stopped running and hunched over out of breath. There is a tightness in my throat. My lungs feel as elastic as old underpants, just sagging instead of contracting for the next breath. The exertion brings on more breathlessness, like the air around me is devoid of oxygen. My ribs heave up and down but no benefit comes.

Dizziness. I slump down on a tree sitting there until I feel like my body has come back to normal, sickness passing. I scanned my area seeing nothing but trees everywhere. There was not a sight of the boy.

I rendered enough strength to get back on my feet. I was totally lost, I had no idea where I was and this worthless watch that was on my wrist was blank.

In this wasteland of white, there was nothing for my mind to hang onto. There was no familiar sight, no sound other than the howling. Even the light I needed to warm me was no match for the wind. I whirled around to at least see the tracks I had made, there was none.

In the cocktail of endorphins, I have wondered too far, now the closeness, the sameness, the noises are like robbers at the door banging for entrance and the phone line is dead. My eyes-wide-open move with pointless speed. I would run but I don't know which direction to take.

It was strange how the boy suddenly vanished. I wondered if he didn't actually just disappear and he was simply waiting for the right time to shoot or did I really run so fast to lose him. But he wasn't far behind me, how could he just not be there all of a sudden. These thoughts entirely flooded my mind.

I continued to look around even though I knew there was nothing there. I just had a bad feeling that I wasn't alone and just thinking about it brought shivers down my spine.

Holding my gun up. I spun around pointing everywhere and at everything. He could be right here just waiting for the right time but I'm prepared for anything that comes my way. I looked closely between all the trees making sure that there was no one there. Just when I was about to give up, I found him. Crouched down behind a tree with his gun pointed at me.

He looked me in the eyes with a smirk and pulled the trigger. The bullet whizzed past my face almost hitting me. I quickly dropped to the ground using my elbows to move. I went behind a tree with my gun aimed at the boy.

He opened fire at me from where I was behind the tree. Bullets flew everywhere. I brought myself down to the lowest I could go and placed my head inside my arms praying that I don't get shot. All of a sudden there was silence.

I looked up in confusion. Why did it just stop so suddenly? I looked at where the boy was and once again, I was met with nothing. Panic rose in my chest. Where did he go this time?

Not wasting any more time, I sprinted away from the scene. I didn't run full speed to tire me out but just enough speed to get me out of here as soon as possible.

As I fled, I felt a presence come up behind me. Looking around I came face to face with the boy who's been after me this entire time. He took his gun and swung it at my head making me fall to the ground.

I groaned in pain. I could feel my blood pulsing in my head. I looked at the boy only to see that he was going to shoot me. Just as the bullet came out of the chamber, I rolled to the side avoiding it.

"Just give up already, stop fighting it because I'm not going to stop until there's no one left on your team."

His words only angered me to the core. Despite my aching head, I stood up.

"Well, I'm never giving up because I was chosen to be the leader of my team and I am not giving up no matter what. And I will not let anything stop me from winning this game especially not you"

I ended my speech with a hard kick to his front. He fell to the ground moaning in pain. That'll teach him who's boss. I didn't misuse any time. Instead of simply shooting him I ran. I don't know if that was a good idea.

I wonder if the perspective of the chaser if they can fathom the fear of the chased. For in this need to escape my head and heart go to the place that is crushed and without light or match to bring a comforting spark. As I ran incessantly, I started to feel enervated but I couldn't stop, not now.

I feel the screaming of my lungs and the will of my muscles to go far beyond what exercise could ever demand. I'm sure by now he was running after me. A little kick wouldn't do him much harm. 

Being chased was nothing like the movies. The actors look heroic, sexy, and in command of the situation. This was far removed from the pretty version of running to save your life. I have been running in a scattered way. Now my heart beats like it means to explode and my mind is a scattered mess.