Breathe

White streams of breath blind me. The field never ends, never ends, never ends. Legs running, pushing, burning, stretching to their limits. No stopping, don't want to die.

A girl runs beside me. Faint memories cross my mind, but it doesn't matter who she is; just have to run. Hot breath on the back of my neck! Run faster, faster! Please don't die, don't want to die, legs go faster!

"The school." "What?" "Go to the school." Inside is safe, school is safe. Field becomes concrete. Girl is ahead now, and my feet follow. Runs past doors. Want to see if they're locked, but it will get me, choke me, mutilate me, ravage all that is left once it has torn me to pieces. Run, run, run.

Something touches my back and a scream claws its way from my throat. Can't breath, chest hurts, legs hurt, dying, dying! Dying, dying, DYING! Can't breathe, can't breathe S U F F O C A T I N G! Everything fades in and out, light then dark, dying.

Calm. Deep breath. In, out, in, out. Still running, still breathing. Run, breathe. One step, one breath, two steps, two breaths. Girl goes through open door, my feet follow. She shuts the door; roar filled with monstrous anger sounds. Run, run, hide. Glass shatters down the hallway, girl pulls me into classroom. Classroom safe. Hide under the teacher's desk, wait.

"What was that thing?" "Don't know." "Should we go out the window?" "Don't know." She is crying, tears rolling down her cheeks like blood. Heavy footsteps in hallway! Hold breath. Heart pounds, palms sweat. Heavy becomes light and then nothing. Deep breath.

Back to the hallway, have to escape. Careful steps, careful breaths. Quiet, quiet, don't let it hear. Take a few steps, look, listen. Take a few more, look, listen. Near safety, girl looks at me. "Why are you breathing so hard?" I wasn't.