~The ground smelled of spring; wet grass trees and flowers. But, it felt cold, in a comforting sort of way. I rolled from my stomach onto my back. I gazed at thee treetops covering the sky. They were familiar, yet so different than anything I had ever seen in my life.
~Slowly, I pushed myself up. I squinted back the way I had come to see what had tripped me. There was a root that had been pulled up, almost intentionally. Almost as though it was deliberately put there to make me fall as I ran through the woods. But why was I running in the first place? Was I going somewhere? Or trying to get away from somewhere, or someone?
~I slowly stood to my feet, my head throbbing. Confused, I strained to hear a tiny rhythm not too far away from where I was now. It was a steady rhythm, getting gradually louder. It was someone running. Running towards me.
~That pounding rhythm jerked something awake inside of me. Lucien. Lucien was coming. Of course that's why I was running! How could I have forgotten?
~I turned, abruptly, around and ran once more. I ran and ran and just kept running. I didn't stop, nor did I slow, even with the drizzling rain developing into something more sinister. Even though the rhythm, now far behind me, was almost inaudible, I knew I couldn't afford a break.
~Another root stopped my progress through the trees. This time, when I fell, I hit the ground hard. Mud encased me from my hands, all the way down to my knees. I let out a groan as I forced my scraped and bleeding arms to bring me to my feet.
~Then, the sound running came again. This time, the rhythm was faster, and more persistent. They were determined to find me. Why had I even tried to escape? I thought, hanging my head in defeat. I knew I wouldn't be able to outrun them.
~I jerked my head up, and sprinted forward. A new thought propelling me onward. My brother. I had to see him again, yet I knew Lucien would never allow it. If I wanted to see him, or the rest of my family, I would have to escape from this horrible world.
~The rhythm pounded louder and became more uneven. Soon, I could tell that someone else was trying to catch me. I didn't let that stop me, I pushed forward. The pattering rain against my skin turned into a downpour.
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