The Race

Tabitha ran as hard as she could, trying to make it before they caught up with her. If they did, she was as good as dead.

How could I have been so stupid, she thought to herself. These people where not the type you normally associate with, you idiot. And now look at yourself.

She was penniless, hungry, and cold. Her last sanctuary had been a 200-year old Catholic church, but the church now lay in ruins – a bomb had brought the beautiful old building and most of a city block down to rubble. Her heart raced, her pulse pounded, and she didn’t know how much more of this she could take.

If only I had listened to him, she thought. If only I had taken David’s advice at face value instead of scoffing at him. I would not be in this mess right now.

And a mess it was. She heard hounds baying in the distance and the constant hum of suv’s getting closer. Hastily, she turned into a thickly populated forest and ran – ran for her very life.

A shot rang out through the chilly night air. “You can run, but you can’t hide, Tabby,” a voice called out. “You know we’ll find you like we found your friend Davy.” The voice was mocking, purposely trying to goad her into making a mistake. “You know, Davy’s head will look real purty hangin on my wall next to your daddy’s.”

Tabitha bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, biting back the comment she had want to throw into his face. She continued on, determined to keep her location a secret when she was so close to the border… so close to being free from their tyranny.

Thud! Her foot struck an outreaching branch, and she tumbled to the ground. Trying to move, she realized the fall had broken her leg and she could go no further. Trying to slow her erratic breathing, Tabitha laid there on the cold, hard ground and waited… waited for the men who were hunting her.

She heard them drawing closer, almost right on top of her. The dogs they were using were sniffing the air and leading the bastards right to her. Breathlessly, Tabitha waited for the moment they’d find her… the moment she would cease to exist.

“Good evening, Tabby,” the voice mockingly greeted her. “I told you that you couldn’t hide from us.” There was a pause as he let the severity of the moment wash over her. “And now you know what we have to do. Such a waste really. If you had only agreed to his terms, he’d have left you alone.”

Tabitha heard the hammer of a gun being pulled back. The barely audible click as it locked into place made her tremor with fear. The man placed his finger on the trigger and aimed, looking down. Sweat poured down Tabitha’s ashen face, despite the chill of the night. He stood there, sites locked on her for what seemed like hours even though she knew it was only moments. Then, he started to swear.

Tabitha looked at the ground and grinned. She had made it across the yellow border after all – that border that signified the end of the course – and was now free and clear. She grabbed a long, sturdy stick that had been lying next to her and got to her feet, supporting her aching leg with the stick.

“When will you ever learn, Vlad? When will you learn that things aren’t always what they appear to be?” With that, she limped off into the moonless night.