I open my eyes, but I’m not in my room anymore…

Someone comes up to me, “You have ninety seconds to hide, if you are found, you die, good luck.”

I start to panic but the stranger says, “I’m serious, you got this.” Then gently laid his hand on my arm.

Wiping tears from my eyes, I run in the opposite direction. At this moment, I felt like I was running forever.

I found a spot—a small cupboard—one prop to being small.

“We have found the first hider, we will only be eliminating two. If you get caught, there will be consequences.” Someone over the speaker said.

A gun sound rang out—and I covered my ears,

I silenced my cries and focused. I _can’t_ die. I don’t even know what’s going on.

What about my baby sister home alone? I have to survive.

I balled my fists up and slowed my breaths—my eyes _still_ blurry.

After 20 minutes I hear the buzzer. Someone else was eliminated. _I’m safe._

_ _Tears of joy escape… until…

“Our boards are requesting we find two more hiders.”

I felt a knife push on my chest. What about my sister? Was she safe?

Gunshots sounded, which made my silence impossible, and tears sprung from my eyes.

Shut up Eclacie! They’re going to hear you!

Suddenly, I don’t know why, but I ran.

I ran and ran and ran.

“Get back here!” A guard yells.

But somehow I make it out of the fence when I black out.

When I wake up I’m in a hospital bed.

“Do you remember anything?”

“About what?”

“About the games? About me?” A guy asks.

“I thought that was a dream?”

“It wasn’t.”

The guy was the same guy who assured me the first time. He was there with me. That was real.

“You were that guy?” I ask, clearing the fresh tears from my cheeks.

“Yes.” A sob arises from his chest, and he grabs my hand. “Do you remember me?”

“Who are you?”

“You’re boyfriend.”

I heard a doctor whisper, “She forgot.”

Forgot _what?_