A sharp crack of lightning split the sky, illuminating the forest for the briefest second before plunging it back into darkness. The thunder followed in an earth-shaking roar, shaking the very air around me. A tremor of fear slithered down my spine, but I had no time to acknowledge it.
My breath came in ragged gasps, my bare feet pounding against the cold, damp earth as I ran. The tattered remains of my chemise clung to my bruised and battered skin, soaked with sweat and rain. The night air was frigid, biting into my exposed flesh like tiny needles, but I didn't dare stop. I couldn't. But I knew one thing: if they caught me, I wouldn't live to see another dawn.
Survival was the only thing that mattered. The moon, half-hidden behind swirling clouds, was my only guide. I pushed forward, ignoring the fire in my lungs, the ache in my muscles, the overwhelming exhaustion clawing at my limbs.
Then pain exploded through my foot. "Shit!" I whined out of pain.
