Hah… hah… hah."
The sound left her chest before she could stop it."
"Her chest ached, each breath harder than the last. Wet leaves touched her legs, cold and greasy yet she kept moving without looking back."
A small gasp escaped her mouth as pain flared through her side. Warmth soaked the fabric clinging to her ribs, sticky and dark.
Blood… too much blood.
She tottered, nearly falling as the forest blurred around her. The fog grew heavier. The rain had yet to come, but the air was cold and thick, making it harder to breath. The sky was already covered in darkness.
"Please…"
"The word came out in a soft whisper. Her arms tightened instinctively around the tiny weight pressed to her chest."
"No… no," she murmured, her voice trembling. "Stay awake"
Her legs screamed in protest, trembling beneath her. Her vision blurred; each step felt slower, heavier, but she forced herself to keep moving.
Suddenly, she stumbled over a root, catching herself against a tree. Pain spread through her body.
She swallowed it, making no sound.Warm blood rolled down her side gently.
Her wound had opened again.
"She moved again."
Running.
Just a little bit farther, she told herself.
She ran through the forest with no direction, the wind brushing fiercely against her skin.
Then her legs gave out.
Her arms locked as she twisted her body, hitting the ground hard. Pain spread up her spine and down her limbs—but she kept the baby pressed tightly to her chest.
She lay there, eyes fixed on the dark sky above, vision blurred. The first drop of rain fell—light and cold—mixing with the tears rolling down her cheeks.
Then she heard it.
Footsteps.
They tamped over the wet leaves.
Panic streamed through her. She forced herself up immediately,"Her body weak and trembling, as she staggered behind a thick tree trunk."
The steps came slow, calm—unhurried. They stopped right beside the tree.
Her breath seized, her body stiff as she struggled to stay silent.
Her arms tightened around the baby, heart pounding.
Then—silence.
"You can't run forever," a voice said calmly "He'll find you sooner or later."
The footsteps moved away.
Relief washed over her. She knew that voice well enough to know who it was.
Please… help me," she called, her voice trembling, barely a whisper. "Take the child with you."
"The footsteps stopped."
"And why should I help you?" the voice asked, low and cold.
Pain flared sharply through her body. She leaned her back against the tree, slipping down until she hit the cold ground.
"Please…"
The word barely reached the voice before her strength finally gave out.
The rain came immediately—pouring hard against the leaves, filling the forest.