Perfect Places

Run

There's a certain feeling in this world that's hard to explain. Do you know when you're in the pitch black dark, and your climbing up a staircase? Then, when you think that there's another last step ... there's not. And your foot is sent crashing down, and it feels like your heart dropped all the way down to your stomach.

Yeah. That's what it felt like.

Betrayal is one of the worst feelings in the world. It's a mixture of confusion, sadness, and uncertainty. In that moment ... it felt like I had just been punched right in the gut.

Everything I had been freed of ... everything I had escaped was then put in front of my face again, taunting me.

And I couldn't do anything about it.

Everyone's eyes were on me at that point. Including Zane's. I knew how this was going to go. If I wanted to live, or at least try to ... I would need to run.

But, if I wanted to just get it over with, I could just throw up my hands and tell them to take me away. That seemed tempting.

   "Still stupid I see." Connor smirked at me.

   I glared up at him, "Still arrogant I see."

   Zane's eyes widened, "Your playing a dangerous game."

  I let go of his hand, and slightly pushed him away, "You need to run."

   His lips parted, "What?"

   "I said you need to run. Go get the others and run." I had thought this through.

   They were only here for me. I couldn't afford to let Zane get hurt. Not again.

   "No way-" He replied, grabbing my hand.

   I let go of his hand again, "Please."

   "I'm not just gonna leave you." He looked straight into my eyes.

    Something was going to happen soon. Ashley, Kyle, Victoria, and Connor weren't just going to stand there for very long.

   If he wasn't going to leave, then I needed to run. Now.

   "Fine." I practically whispered, "Zane, if something happens ... just remember that ... I didn't want to do this."

A thin glossy layer covered his eyes. I couldn't look at him like that for very long. I just couldn't bare it.

"Aw, look at them." Victoria sneered sarcastically, "They are so cute."

I glared at her. Instead of saying anything, I turned around and ran. I ran into the Target that was behind us with no regrets.

"RAE-" I heard Zane yell.

Instead of looking back, I looked straight ahead. I bust through the front doors and ran straight forward.

Weird looks were all I was getting from the people around me. I didn't care.

Then, I finally spotted Jessica and Nick. They were bye the women's clothing. I sprinted to them, gasping for air.

"Rae?!" They both asked in perfect unison.

"Guys, you gotta get outta here." I was struggling to breath, "We gotta go."

"What ...?" Nick asked in confusion.

"I said WE GOTTA RUN." I explained again, getting nervous.

It was then that I heard rapid footsteps from somewhere in the store.

"Why? Rae, WHATS GOING ON?" Jessica wondered frantically.