Mark ran through a field and a small wooden glade; he fell a lot, over roots and rocks. His head was pounding like a kettle drum, and his lungs were threatening to burst. He clumsily climbed a wooden fence, and fell to the ground on the other side. He pulled himself to his feet, and tried to keep going, but his legs were tired, and his energy was spent. Ahead of him was a quaint little church, the kind you find all over the area, wooden, built by pilgrims, colonialists, or puritans. Used as a place to worship, but also as a meeting house for the town. The lights were on, but Mark didn't try the door, instead he rounded the side and sagged in a shadowed corner near a shaft of light coming from inside. He hugged his knees to his chest. Maybe it was his fatigue, or maybe he was finally cracking up, but he started to laugh. He started to remember something not too long ago.
Mark had invited Danny Glick over to watch a bunch of horror movies, Ralphie had tagged along like he always did. They were watching their third thriller, Mark was laughing at the stupidity of the would be victims in the movies. How they just ran like idiots and eventually got ripped to shreds by the monsters. Danny was a little freaked out, but Ralphie was scared. In one of the scenes the girl was running from a masked killer, but instead of running out of her house she ran upstairs.
"That is such bullshit; no person in their right mind would do that!" Mark commented.
Mark looked around glad that his Mom hadn't heard him swear; she was scarier than all the monster movie villains combined.
Danny laughed. "Yea but she a girl, and they panic more than guys do."
"If I was her I'd arm myself, stop acting like such a chick and FIGHT!" He shouted at the TV. "Big house has to have lots of junk that can be made into weapons, same with those ones in the camps. Grab a tree branch, or a fence post, or something and wail on their asses!" Mark said and grabbed more popcorn.
Mark's Mom filled the doorway, "Mark Petrie I KNOW I just did not hear you say what you just said, YOUNG MAN!"
His laughter became sobs as he remembered how the Glicks had bailed, and his Mom gave him such a tongue lashing.