Eli bolted straight ahead. The road led into an area hemmed in by trees, standin’ straight and ominous in the dark. They would do Eli a big favor. Not that she needed it.

Her legs moved fast, twistin’ between the trunks. She felt like a Ninja in an action movie.

“Not so fast, Elianna Easton,” the officer behind her said. “You may think you can hide behind those trees, but I have the advantage. I have a gun.”

Eli cringed. Did he think havin’ a gun would make him win? It wasn’t a fair fight, but that didn’t mean Eli would lose. She didn’t have a plan. Nope, she took things as they came.

“Freeze, or I’ll shoot,” the officer said. “I’m not joking.”

Eli stopped. She turned around with arms raised in the air.

The officer chuckled, panting, as he reached her. “That always works. You’re all such cowards, you know that? You don’t have the guts to stand up against the law.”

The handcuffs rustled as he pulled them out of his pouch bag clipped around his waist. He grabbed Eli’s hand. The sound of a shot from afar reached her ears.

The officer snorted, probably in satisfaction. “They got one of them. See, that’s what happens.” But before he could continue his monologue, Eli thrust her head against his, clangin’ against each other. Her brain vibrated inside her skull.

“Ouch!” The police officer rubbed his fingers against his blood-streaked forehead. “You little-!” He pulled out the gun, a blast ringin’ through the woods.

Eli moved her head to the side, the bullet missin’ her by an inch. Her legs shot forward, jumping on him. His scream echoed, as she clenched his nose against her teeth.

She bit into his flesh. Hard.

Stolen novel; please report.

He flailed with his arms, and another bullet shot out.

Eli spat out blood. She stretched her neck, readying herself for her ultimate move: kickin’ him between the legs.

His mouth made a funny sound. He slumped to the ground, crouching.

Eli laughed. But she wasn’t done.

She slammed her heel against his wrist, and his fingers let go of the gun.

Now she was done. That’d teach him not to mess with Eli Easton! She aimed the gun at his forehead with both arms outstretched.

“Go back and tell your buddies we got away.”

The man’s voice came out raspy. “Come on. You don’t even know how to use-”

Eli pointed the gun at the sky and pulled the trigger. The force made her muscles stiffen. The shot rang in her ears.

She pointed the gun back at him. “Do what I told you. Or I’ll shoot.”

The officer raised his arms, his eyebrows parting. His facial expression did a 180. He stepped backward, taking one step at a time before he sprinted away in the direction he came from.

“Who’s the coward now?” Eli yelled. What a pathetic dude. Served him right.

Eli darted left, in the direction of where Milan was. They wouldn’t hurt Amica if they caught her. She hadn’t done anythin’ wrong. But Milan’s situation was different. He was accused of murderin’ his own parents. He was a wanted man, like in an action movie.

And it was up to Eli to make the movie interestin’.

Eli ran, her swift movements barely makin’ any sounds. She knew she had to be close when a familiar voice arose. With an advance, she hid behind a tree trunk.

“Then why didn’t you shoot me?” It was Milan. “Your aim can’t be that bad. You could’ve easily killed me.”

“I don’t want to dirty my hands with your blood,” a woman said. The same woman as before. “My job is catching criminals. Not killing them.”

“Then you’re terrible at your job. You caught the wrong guy.”

“I doubt that,” the woman said. “All the evidence points to you.”

“I was framed!”

Eli’s clutched the gun with her sweaty hands. It was now or never. She jumped out from the shadows, aimin’ the gun at her face.