Chapter 3: Run

May 14th, 1987

01:45 P.M.

San Ángel, Mexico

—

It'll escape. It'll come back. It will come for her.

Sarah Connor felt her lungs begin to burn and close up as she pushed forward, her feet slapping against the dust and dirt underneath her. Her heart was pounding so fast she found it hard to breathe. Her entire body was exhausted. Her legs ached, begging her to stop but she continued to run just a little longer. She had to.

No, she needs to run. She needs to get away as fast as she can.

Sweat beaded down her forehead, stinging her eyes as she ran under the bright, hot sun.

You don't have to believe it, Sarah. You just… you have to run.

Sarah squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, shaking her head as she tried to force herself to keep moving forward.

You're the one that started the movement.

Sarah's heart lurched inside of her as her mind flashed to the last time she had seen Kyle. That machine had killed him pursuing her. She remembered the dead look in his green eyes and the blood seeping from his chest. He didn't die so she could stop when it got hard. But as she ran, she thought of the emotionless red eyes and metal endoskeleton haunting her every step of the way. She shook her head, speaking amidst her heavy steps.

"Come on… Sarah… you… you can do… this."

She thought of her son. He was her entire world. He was the reason she worked out two hours every day. He was the reason why she learned the ins and outs of guns, studied military plans, and involved herself with local guerilla armies. She had to do it for him. As she continued to exhaust everything she had, a vivid image came to the surface. She imagined that Terminator with its dull metal body and bright red eyes coming after her baby.

RUN, SARAH!

The terror closed in on her and her legs instantly gave out. She gasped with pain as her knees hit the sandy dirt road, slamming her hands down to catch herself. Her lungs burned for oxygen but found none. She was taken back to 1984 as she had stared at the machine, watching as it sucked the life out of her. Her head hung forwards with her blonde ponytail, licking the sweat on the back of her neck.

She let out a low growl, lifting her head up to see the Salceda house a couple hundred feet away. She had failed… again. She could see the twins, Franco and Paco, running away from their little sister, Juanita, and Sarah's son John, screaming with delight. As she watched her son stumble away, she drew in one deep breath and slowly rose to her feet.

Sarah's legs screamed at her again but she ignored them, grunting once as she began to run the rest of the way. She kept her eyes trained on her young son, motivating her to finish. She eventually slowed to a jog as she drew closer. Her two year old boy grinned when he saw her and began running toward her as fast as he could with arms out. Sarah returned the smile and ran to him, falling on her knees into his small embrace.

His arms clasped around her neck, squeezing tight and Sarah lifted him up into her arms as she rose back to her feet. She swayed gently from side to side as she held him, walking to the back of the house. John shifted and Sarah kissed his forehead quickly and then moved so that he rested on her hip. She noticed Jolanda sitting with Juanita on her lap and smiled as she sat down on the bench across from them.

"Hello, Jolanda."

"Hello! How was your workout?"

Sarah knew her face was flushed red from exertion as well as the likely sun burn. She straightened her blonde ponytail and let out a deep breath.

"It was alright."

She adjusted one of the straps of her black tank top before she set John down on the bench beside her. Jolanda nodded slowly, understanding Sarah's disappointment.

"It's okay to be human sometimes, Sarah."

Sarah let out a small chuckle as her blue eyes shifted to her toddler, clapping Juanita's hands across the table.

"I can't afford to do it now… not while he's still small."

"He will always be small to you."

Sarah ruffled John's wispy brown hair, smiling softly as she looked into his pale green eyes.

"I keep thinking about his father."

Jolanda's brown eyes widened a little bit as she watched Sarah, remembering her story. Sarah shook her head slowly.

"I keep seeing him… everywhere I go. He… he keeps telling me to run. I feel like no matter how hard I try, I can never move forward. He would love John… so much."

"Kyle would not want you to be sad for him. Just live for him. Do all you can and allow yourself to be weak when you need to be. You can't run forever, Sarah."

John slowly inched towards the edge of the bench, sliding off, and ran back to the older twins, Franco and Paco, giggling. Sarah watched as he went, chasing after the identical curly black haired, brown eyed boys. Juanita followed soon after with her straight brown hair blowing ferociously in the hot air. For a moment, she was happy seeing their joy but her mind reflected on all of the children in the future that would fear or never get a chance to truly play.

She turned back to her friend, her voice soft and weak.

"I know you don't entirely believe my story, Jolanda, but I can't stop thinking about the future. It's… it's coming so soon and I'm afraid we won't be ready. John will be 12. He doesn't deserve a world thrust into war… no one does."

Jolanda leaned across the table, placing her hand on top of Sarah's with a small smile.

"Stop thinking about the destruction and watch your son play. He deserves to be a child a little while longer."

"He's not going to be like the other kids."

"You think my kids are normal? Enrique has already begun to teach those two crazy boys about guns. We don't live the ideal life style but at least we're ready for whatever comes."

"I just hope I don't get carried away."

Jolanda pulled away slowly, nodding, as the two mothers looked back to their children.

"Me too."