Run [UNDER MAJOR EDITING] ⏳

Chapter 2

⚠Disclaimer: This chapter has a slightly morbid scene, just wanted to put a warning. ⚠

My eyes fluttered open as the plane landed at Portland International Airport. I must have fallen asleep. I looked around and saw my classmates pulling their luggage out of the compartments overhead. I scrambled to get my teal suitcase out of the compartment. I was hurrying so I wouldn't be left alone on the plane, as most of the class had already come off of the plane and were walking on the jet bridge to the airport. I hurried out of the plane and rushed onto the jet bridge. I arrived in the airport building with all the gates and waited for everyone to assemble. The teachers put everyone into groups of four. Mine was Peter, Wendy, some boy I didn't know the name of and I. I turned my head to the expansive window and saw a strange shadow behind a large tree.

I went completely rigid when I saw that the figure behind the tree was wearing a black cloak, like Typhon. He ran and disappeared behind a concrete building. My eyes widened as I stumbled back. He followed me here. He is a stalker. I know that he is trying to kill me. But why? I pushed through the crowd that was my class to find Wendy and Peter. Once I located them, I pulled them aside and told them what I had just seen. Wendy lost most of the rosiness from her cheeks and Peter looked downright frightened. "So he really is a psychotic stalker," I said, shaking slightly.

"Well, we don't know that for sure," Peter said, going to sit. Suddenly, the airport speakers went off.

There was a lot of feedback, but I could still hear the robotic voice clearly through the speakers. "You can run, but you can't hide... I will get you, I will kill you!" Then, the voice erupted into maniacal giggles. I paled, ready to cry. The speakers went dead. In fact, the airport's power completely went out. Suddenly, I heard an explosion. In the distance, I could see fire erupting from one of the buildings. And It was spreading fast.

Peter grabbed Wendy and I motioned for the other member of our group to follow. We rushed out the door, only to run back in when we heard cries of distress from a child. I put my shirt over my nose to block out the smoke and looked around, searching for the child among the flames. I spotted a little girl, around seven years old, huddled in a corner. Ms. Bailey, one of my teachers, was already trying to quickly coax the girl out of the corner. I never thought that that mean lady would have so much of a heart. 

"I'm going to throw her to you! I don't think I can get out of here." Ms. Bailey said, sounding choked up. She threw the little girl and our classmate- who's name I learned was Trevor- caught her. "Go, leave. Be safe. I'll go to a better place." Ms. Bailey whispered. Then she screamed an ear piercing scream and was enveloped by the flames. I stood there in shock. I had just witnessed her death. Someone grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the inferno. I couldn't think about that now. That had almost happened to a child.

"What's your name?" I asked the frightened little girl when we were safe.

"A-Addie." she replied, sniffling.

" Where are your parents?" I asked as nicely as possible.

" I came on the plane alone, a-as a m-minor. They live here in Oregon and I went to see them." she told me.

"How old are you?" I asked. She held up six fingers.

"Okay, Addie, it seems like you'll be coming with us." I told her rubbing her back gently.

Then, it dawned on me. We had no idea where our class was, or where our hotel was to stay for the night. And that might mean that we were extremely vulnerable to Typhon.

-

We walked out of the airport and looked around. There was a stretch of road leading out to a highway, so there was no way we could just walk out into there without getting hit. Suddenly, my phone chimed. I looked down and saw that Mrs. Ramsey had forwarded everyone the address of the hotel we were staying in. Thank Goodness! I thought, sighing in relief. I extended my arm and stuck out my thumb, hoping a taxi driver would notice me.