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I couldn’t stop

I’d be captured—raped, tortured, drugged I didn’t know I’d be interrogated for sure

They’d be cruel, too My heart pounded its way out of my chest

The guy was in pursuit behindwest,” I heard him yell

Fuck

Damn

I changed course, spotting a path through a backyard, and I took it, going east now

There was

I had to keep going

Damn, damn, damn Why hadn’t I kept y reserves I’d forgotten the reason I kept up on that shit

I’d gotten lazy, soft

I’d been lulled into a false sense of safety because of Raize

I was alith hi he’d always protect me That was a joke

I sprinted through the backyard, veering past a picnic table and around to the front of the house I spied sorabbed them on the way

An elderly guy came out the side screen door It slammed shut behind him “Hey!”

I whipped past him

The other guy was right behind me

“Oh hey! Stop!”

“HEY!”

“Why are you chasing that gi—” He stopped talking, and I heard the sounds of a tussle

The house owner had waded in and gotten involved

I couldn’t think about that

I had to keep going

When I hit the street, I didn’t see anyone followinganother house that didn’t have a fence I went around the side to the backyard A dog was chained up I couldn’t tell the breed, but he was big and dark, and he looked hungry

A surge of anger burst through me

I didn’t have a dog, but we used to beg our parents for one

The dog started barking at uy was co his ar The house ownerto slow him down

I started around the dog Shit I eyed the house Were these good pet owners?

I couldn’t tell My heartbeat was pounding so loud instraight

I had to make a decision

I ran over and reached for the dog’s collar He started to turn and bark at me, but I unclipped him from the chain

He tore off, going right for the guy

“Hey!” The guy stopped with a bloodcurdling scream