You Can Run But…

A streak of red hurtled past a cluster of trees. Nature was the only witness to his plight as he ran from sure torment. Just as he appeared to be gaining speed, the little boy stumbled on the dirt road. He lay prostrate on the ground, his heart pounding like an overworked drum. It was an abnormally quiet day with no wind to mask his laboured breaths, not even a lone bird's disheartened call to break nature's eerie silence. Weary to his bones, the boy levered himself into an upright position, fearful of their approach. He had run as fast as he could, but his best never seemed to be enough. It certainly did not save him last time. He now regretted dashing off, but he had no choice. Not after what Angus said.

"Come on, Jon, you need to calm down," he chastised himself. He rose and gazed back eastwards. How long had he been running? Ten minutes? An hour? It felt like a lifetime. Jon wondered whether the gang had started the hunt. How much longer before the inevitable? These unanswerable questions raced through his mind as Jon started to tremble with panic.

"Which way should I go?" Jon murmured to himself. He had to plan the next few steps carefully. Going back would be the same as admitting defeat and he could not bear to watch Angus gloat... but he was tired! Jon relaxed as he inhaled the familiar fragrance of eucalyptus.

"Should I run or lie low?" Jon mused, absently reaching down to pick at a week-old scab. Images of his mother's formidable wrath rushed into his mind once Jon realised what he had done; he inspected the damage. Surprise flitted over Jon's face as he finally noticed the deep gash on his right leg; it had already stopped bleeding. He sulked even though he felt no pain. Mum wasn't there to kiss it better.

Jon sighed; he had delayed the inescapable decision long enough. There was no choice but to keep on going. He would not hide until he was far from danger, until it was absolutely necessary. Glancing over his shoulder for the umpteenth time, Jon began to dash away from the ruthless sun. Paranoia made him sweat as he felt the pressure of the pursuit.

Pain emanated from Jon's side and lanced through his body. Although his overburdened body protested, Jon pushed himself further at the thought of getting caught. "Just a little bit more," he puffed. He had to get as far away as possible. Adrenaline from the prospect of suffering dwindled and he grinded to a halt. Jon frantically looked around for a place to hide and recuperate, holding his complaining side.

Just as he spied an inconspicuous shrub with ample space to hide in, Jon realised that he was well and truly lost. "Where am I?" Jon wondered, entering the safety of the shrub. He had never ventured this far out the bush. The security of knowing where he was vanished and true fear settled within him.

"Maybe if I close my eyes, it'll all be—" Jon dropped off to sleep with this unfinished thought in his head, in spite of his precarious circumstances.

"What? It wasn't me!" Jon objected as he jolted awake. Disoriented, Jon scrubbed at his eyes as he studied his surroundings. Why was he skulking in a bush? He winced while he tried to work out a crick in his neck. As memories of the past few hours rushed into him, Jon started gnawing his bottom lip. Something had woken him. Or had it been someone? His eyes widened in fright. Passing crows cawed maniacally above Jon's head, a portent of his impending doom. Careful not to disturb the foliage, Jon peered out. Was he imagining things or did the nearest bush tremble as if with laughter? Wait, was that a chuckle amidst the rustling? A snarl resonated as something leapt out of the bush. Jon shrieked, scuttling further into his shrub before the recognition came. It was Angus.

"Haha! You squealed you did! Like a girl!" Angus crowed with delight.

Forlornly, Jon crawled out of the bush. Twigs and leaves stuck to his shirt, incriminating evidence of the desperate measures he had taken.

"You were scared, don't deny it! Wait 'til the boys hear that you were hiding in a bush, of all places."

"But it worked!" Jon interjected. "I stayed hidden for way longer this time. I won the bet!"

"No you didn't! I watched you sleep. You didn't even last an hour! If I had been a pirate, you would've been imprisoned by me and my crew! Anyway, it's my turn!"

He darted off, throwing a parting comment over his shoulder. "Don't forget, you have to count to fifty or it doesn't count!"

Jon moaned, predicting a long search ahead.

"One, two..."