Prologue

The rain pounded down on me. It felt like needles falling from the sky instead of water. They tore at me and numbed me at the same time. I didn't care. I no longer jumped at the sound of thunder crashing through the sky or at the lightning that lit the world. The violence of the storm was not what frightened me. I could no longer explain what frightened me. I no longer knew. All I knew was the fear.

I didn't know where I was or where I had been. All I knew was that I needed to keep running. This was a race. The only places, first and last. I could not afford to lose.

Blood ran into my eyes, giving my vision a red haze. The trees tore at my skin and clothing, creating new wounds. My bare feet were bleeding but I could no longer feel the pain. All I could feel was the fear that was choking me and the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

I was weeping but did not notice. The salty tears running away with the rain that poured relentlessly. My legs shook under me and my determination wavered for one instant. I could not give up. All I wanted was to curl up and weep but I knew that if I did I would end up right back where I started and I knew that I could not survive it again. That left one place to go: forward.

I had no idea how long or far I had run. It could have been one mile or one hundred. That didn't matter. I was blinded by the tears and the blood that ran into my eyes. Finally, the trees cleared and there was soft grass under my bloodied feet. I could see lights in the distance. I tried to call out but my raw throat wouldn't allow it.

I stumbled and saw the ground rushing up at me. Then, I only knew the darkness.