Freckled rain spit spat trying to bring life to its surroundings. A quickened slap of feet hitting the wet ground came and went, almost unnoticed, yet were given away by the snapping of twigs and branches crackling against skin. Unconcerned, the two shadows sweeping by huffed along out of breath and weak kneed, ignoring the fresh scrapes without so much a wince. With their minds distant and focused on a more unnerving reality, a scarier conclusion, their bodies moved trance-like.

“Se-Seri, wait, please!” a quivered voice, hushed, almost regretting to escape the lips of the owner, broke through the haggard wheezing between the two persons, “You’re bleeding, please, let’s stop and hide for a bit, okay? Yeah?” Only the deep gasps for air could be heard for a few seconds before the young boy in front turned back to peer into the sunken herbal eyes that had once stood as vibrant as the verdurous woodland surrounding them. Terror, doubt and despair had succumbed them along with the young girls normally smooth, honey skin which had been plagued with many creases portraying the worries haunting her.

“Just breathe. You’re okay. I’m okay. We’re okay.” Though his words were courageous the young boy struggled to control his hoarse voice. Still, he hoped it had eased her worries even a little. He would never say it but his legs ached, every breath he took was sharp and heavy, the effects of broken ribs and a hole in his body. Even his mind was polluted with paranoia that caused him to suspect the trees, hissing as though leading their attackers and bringing certain death with them.

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Though every single fibre on earth, the stars and even the moon they so heavily prayed to was against them the boy couldn’t bring himself to stop. He was hungry for a life that no longer belonged to them; that had been robbed. As such, their intertwined fingers; moist, cramped, yet unwilling to let go surged a profound wave of emotions. Rage. Hatred. Resentment.

“I don’t think I – I’m so tired and s-scared –” Quiet sobs escaped the trembling mouth of the youth as she desperately tried to follow the advice and calm her panting. Crumpled brows lowered her eyes to the ground where she could avoid the pressing gaze of the boy in front; the boy in turn was silently thankful for the dark and tangled sticky hair that masked the girls pained face. The sliver of hope he’d desperately clung to evaporated at the sight of his sweets defeat.

He knew. He knew. But how could he make her feel secure? He knew they’d die that night but how could he tell her that? How could he take her fears away? Prolong their lives? Live. How could they live?

"Found you." A surly voice crept from the shadows as though giving a painstaking answer to the empty pleas the boy held in his heart.