"Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat."
― Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man

"You won't escaped us!" a voice screamed after me. I kept running, further and further into the woods. I didn't look back, fearing that the Skitters and Mechs were right behind me. Leaves crunched beneath my worn-out sneakers that hardly looked as white as they used to. I navigated through the trees, veering left and right. I shivered in my jacket; it was far too cold and this jacket was far too thin. I stumbled forward, emerging from the trees and into an open field. My heart sunk when my hazel eyes scanned over the clearing. The grass went just up to my knees and with the full moon out, there would be nowhere to hide. Sinking to the ground, I felt defeated. I escaped from them only to run to a dead-end. Was this it? Was I going to be captured again? Would I be forced to return to a life where I couldn't control my own body? A life I couldn't live? How many months have already been lost? How much time have I lost?

I remember learning about Murphy's Law in science class. 'Anything that can go wrong, will.' I choke out a bitter laugh. "What are you laughing at?" the voice questions harshly. Tears are streaming down my face. I don't want to go back. I don't want to be stuck in my own body. "I don't want to go back. You'll have to kill me." I whispered as a chilling breeze barreled past me.

"You will come back with us." the voice spoke fiercely.

"No! I won't go back!" I turned and roared. My eyes swelled as voice traveled through the emptiness. I whipped my head left and right, stunned that I was alone.

After that, I must have wondered around for hours. I didn't know where I was going, but I decided that I needed to get as far away from here as possible. My feet ached, sporting blisters in several spots. By now the sun was rising, painting a perfect picture in my head. Light blues and shades of purple blended together as the sun peaked out from behind white fluffy clouds. I admired the view for a few seconds before my ears heard running water. Dying to quench my thirst, I followed the sound. A small stream ran alongside of a road. I staggered to my knees, dunking my head in the stream. I could care less about how the water wasn't clean as I took big swallows. Finally filling my thirst, I looked up at my reflection. A glow in the water captured my attention. It was coming from my back. I twisted, straining to see.

There on my back was a harness, glowing and shimmering as if I was still under it's manipulation. "Drink your water now. Relish in the fact that you may have temporarily broken free, for this will not last." the voice from earlier returned.