The Chase
by Eryk White '18

Weary and dreadful, she resigned herself to sit down and accept the shelter of a nearby tree. Violently shaking from the howling breath of God, she curled up to preserve what little warmth was left. She dreamed of being graced by the heat of a fire for just one minute. She dreamed of having something to eat, no matter how simple it was. She dreamed of home. And then, hearing the distant crunch of leaves, her mind returned to her pursuer. In a matter of seconds she packed what little belongings she possessed, and started to run. The crunches got louder, and thus she ran faster. The wind howled even harder as adrenaline coursed through her veins and carried her through the woods. She heard the cackling that signified her impending doom. She saw the faint glow of a mysterious object. She didn't, however, see the low hanging branch that knocked her to the ground. With blood trickling from her forehead, she watched the glow get even brighter as her captor closed in. With her mind fuzzy and seized by terror, all she could see was a piercing aura of light. Starting to cry, she accepted her fate and waited for the inevitable. Prepared to face the enemy that had turned her life upside down, she opened her eyes. "Tag!" joyfully shrieked her little brother. "Now you have to try and find me!" he sung, skipping away, softly illuminated by the glow of a burning marshmallow on a stick.