Run

Chapter 1

Running.

A is for Aardvark.

Breathing.

B is for Bat.

I haven't stopped for years.

C is of Cat.

I don't think I can.

D is for Dog

Why does my past keep coming back?

E is for Elephant.

I don't know if I'm drowning or just can't breathe. F is for Frog.

The world is spinning.

G is for Giraffe.

I thought I was done with this

H is for Hippo.

I thought it was all over.

I is for Iguana.

"I'M DONE!" I screamed, finally taking control of my body. At least, I thought I was at least until I fell to the ground in a heap of lost emotions. I did not know what I was feeling. I was drowning in my body, and I could not stop it.

"Catherine? Catherine, where are you?" That voice. I knew I had heard it before but could not find where. I longed to forget everything. To just keep running. I need to stop. It's too loud. When did it get this loud? I can't breathe.

"Catherine, there you are," I still could not place that voice. "What happened to you? You're right beside Aunt Ally one second, and the next, you're who knows where. I knew where you were going because I know you; you run to escape, and you always seem to run to the same spot. I knew I was running, but why was I out here? In the middle of nowhere. "Hey, look at me." I wanted to. I really did, but I couldn't. I had no control over my body. Luckily, I didn't need to, as this mysterious voice lifted my head by my chin. So, I finally had a face to pair with the voice. "You're okay now. No one can get you out here. You can calm down now." I would have. I wanted to believe him. I really did, but now I had a face to pair with the voice I had known all my life. As well as a name. Kyle.

He was my brother, and I don't mean just some friend I have known my whole life. I mean my living, breathing blood brother. He wasn't supposed to be here. He was supposed to be at Georgetown University. He was supposed to be anywhere but here. Anywhere but our crazy family. He had escaped. So why had he come back?

I didn't realize it, but I had started to shake again.

"Hey, calm down. You're okay. No one's coming. It's just me and you, Cath. Just me and you." I knew he was right. I knew that there was no way that anyone would find us. I knew that when I ran, no one had a chance of following me. That is except for Kyle. He was always able to keep up with me. That's probably why we got along so well because if I ran, he ran after me. That's just how it went. "Hey, look at me," he said again. I knew I had to listen if I ever wanted to stop this adrenaline in my body. So I complied.

"That's it. It's just you and me. No one else. No one is going to hurt you." Hurt me. If only he knew half of it. He had only been gone for two weeks, but in those two weeks, the attacks got worse. I ran three times as much, and to top it off, the right side of my torso was covered in bruises.

"Hey, do you think you can talk to me?" I nodded. He gave me the look that all the older brothers have. He knew that something was wrong. How could he not? He had chased me all the way out here. So, I did the best that I could.

"Ya"

"Okay, that's good." He thought for a second, realizing he wouldn't get much out of me except yes or no. "Was it mom? Was it Aunt Ally?" I wanted to tell him the truth but knew the risks. They said they would hurt our little brother, Michael, if I told anyone. We had done our best to keep him out of this. So I shook my head, but he knew better. He knew what they would do so they wouldn't get caught.