Terror. It was all I could feel as I paddled. I had no other choice. I couldn’t stop no matter what. Although I had a head start, I felt like they were in the canoe with me. Almost like they were whispering words I couldn’t begin to understand in the moment. I was panting, sweating, almost hyperventilating. I knew this was my one chance and if I didn’t leave now, I would never. The terror was crawling over me, nearly paralyzing me in fear. The water was harsh and I couldn’t really see anything below me. I tightly gripped the paddle as I heard their yells behind me. I can only imagine them scrambling behind me to get into the other canoe at the dock. My heart sank as I heard an electric motor start. I had to think fast. There was no way this little canoe could outrun them at this point. To make matters worse I was wearing a bright yellow jacket. I stuck out like the sun in the sky with my jacket and the river. I looked to my right and saw the treeline in the distance. It was my only hope and I was desperate for anything. I rowed as fast as I could, even faster than I had before. My arms were going numb and growing tired but I couldn’t stop. I had to make it. Somehow I managed to make it to the treeline. I wanted to lay down and kiss the very ground I tried so hard to escape, but I couldn’t. I practically rip the jacket off, my hat falling off in the process. I didn’t have time to grab it as they were coming closer. I run into the forest once again. I didn’t even know where I was going. I just ran.i ran until the water behind me was a distant memory. There was a log up ahead of me and I knew I couldn’t run anymore. I crawled inside, hoping it would hide me from my captors. I tried to control my breathing. It was dead silent apart from the sounds of the forest. It would almost be peaceful if were any other circumstance. I held my breath as I heard leaves crunching around me. How did they catch up that fast? It felt like they were taunting me as they got closer. Crunch by crunch I held onto some kind of hope that they wouldn’t find me. “We know you’re out here!” They yelled. I bit my lip to contain the sound of fear that threatened to spill out. They were right next to me. I just knew it. I had a glimmer of hope as their voices eventually became distant. I let out a sigh of relief at the same time I heard a branch crunch…. “There you are!”