Chapter Three: Unexpected Things

Chapter Three:
Unexpected Things
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I gritted my teeth as the bushes and branches I ran through slashed my skin, making cuts all over my body.
So much for avoiding infections.
'Gah!' I said as I almost tripped over for the 5th time.
The wind rushed past me, stinging my eyes.
I could still see the figure
running parallel to me
and getting closer.
I pushed myself to run faster, into a sprint.
I hate running.
Wait.
Why am I running?
I'm the one with the stick,
that should be running from ME.
As I turned to run towards the thing,
my foot hit a rock,
which put me off balance
and sent me falling,
headfirst,
down the hill.

* * *
I got up, dazed.
I was at the foot of the hill.
I must of tumbled all the way down.
I tasted hot, salty blood in my mouth; I could also feel it running down my cheek.
Something was shouting,
But....
It was like I was hearing and not hearing at all.
Like I was out of body.
I looked down.
I was covered in mud, twigs, and leaves.
It didn’t matter though
because
I knew I was being chased
so, still dazed, I continued running.
* * *

* * *
A lake.
I must have tripped over a million times,
but I picked myself up
and kept running.
I don’t even know if  I’m still being chased.
Everything is so foggy.
But,
there’s a lake.
I don’t know why,
but I feel like I should run towards it.
So,
I am.
Maybe, I should jump in.
I can hide underwater until the whatever-it-is goes away.
I can hold my breath
and also,
the water seems like
it would feel good on my
Sore, scratchy skin.
* * *

I took a huge breath and walked in, letting the water submerge the cuts on my legs, arms, then finally my face as I went under.
I didn't worry about the whatever-it-is, I hadn't seen it in a long time.
I made sure to hide my bookbag and stick, just in case.
The water felt nice and cool on my skin as I swam under, I thought for sure the cuts would burn,
but it was like they weren't even there.
I shut my eyes, but could still see blue water all around me,
becoming a haze.
A shine caught my eye,
I turned my head to see
what appeared to be
a glimmer
floating downwards.
It looked just like a star.
All around me everything became a blur,
and all that mattered was the glimmer.
Like a spell.
I swam down and down
but
with every stroke,
every attempt to grab it,
every time I got a little closer,
it would just drift farther and farther away........