Bare feet pad through the wet underbrush, each step thumps thumps along rhythmically with my pounding heart. Branches claw at my coat, my arms batting absently behind me - the force forward is enough. They will not keep me here, no, no one will keep me here. It is not where I belong.

Not anymore.

I haven’t heard them in awhile. That unsettles me more than their shrieking wails. Keeping quiet meant they were done playing with their food. Done playing with me.

I shove the thought down, between the leaves and twigs that try to cling to my toes. No, I would not fall to them. Never again. I was not meant to stay here, be part of their game any more. They may have lured me here, but they would no longer hold me.

A rock stutters my scurry, pain shooting up between my toes, the sensitive skin bruising. I pick up pace as soon as I can. I will not let them catch me. I will never be theirs again.