“Run”
Honorable Mention - CT Writing Project
By: Ayla Peterson, Grade 7
I could hear my heart in my ears, pounding out of chest. My breath made puffs of
white in the cold, night air. I ran as fast as possible, avoiding branches and rocks on the
ground. Her voice floated through the air, soft and light. It made the situation even
more terrifying. It took everything I had to keep running, but soon, it wasn’t enough. I
hid behind a tree, not daring to breath. I heard twigs snap as she got closer. She giggled.
“Come out Elana.” a shiver shook my body upon hearing my name. Once my heart rate
went back to normal, I jumped from my hiding spot and took off running. The girls footsteps
sped up. I couldn’t believe this. My mind became clouded, but when a large rock
landed next to me, survival was the only thing in my head.
I sprinted even faster, just trying to find a way to get out of this alive. She laughed
again, this time it had an edge to it, something I could go a lifetime without hearing ever
again, if I had that long. However, things got even stranger. My panting was the only
thing filling the silence. She had disappeared. I fell back against an old log cabin. The
wood creaked with my weight. I cringed, but the silence remained. I took out my phone
and looked through my contacts. I knew I should call my mother, but she had already
been taken. It was only an hour ago, I remember her scream when she was caught, the
smile on the child’s face. A rustle of leaves shook me from my thoughts. My head
snapped up. I couldn’t see anything, as the night had only gotten darker, but, just barely,
I could see a small black mass in the tree line.
My eyes went wide as I stumbled over my feet. My mind immediately went to
when my father and brother were taken. We had been catching our breath, but she
found us. Their eyes filled with terror as my father yelled for me to run. Now look at
me, running like a scared animal. I was almost home, just a few more steps, but something
grabbed my leg. I fell, dirt coating my knees. I heard that laugh again. I groaned.
“Chelsie, get off me” my mom and dad laughed. My brother just rolled his eyes. I stood
up and looked at my eight-year old sister. She giggled once more. I hate playing tag.