Page 63 of Sin Bin Bully

I press myself against the wall, barely daring to breathe. Footsteps crunch on gravel, growing fainter. When they fade completely, I resume my climb down.

My feet touch grass, and relief floods through me. But I'm not safe yet. I crouch low, scanning the manicured lawn for any sign of movement.

The woods beckon at the edge of the property, promising cover and a path to freedom. I take a deep breath and sprint.

My legs burn as I push myself harder than any dance routine. The sound of pursuit rings in my ears, real or imagined, I can't tell. Branches whip at my face as I plunge into the treeline.

I don't slow down, don't look back. The city lies ahead, and with it, my chance to reclaim my life.

I crash through the underbrush, branches clawing at my skin and snagging my clothes. The woods are a maze of shadows and half-light, the moon playing hide-and-seek behind wispy clouds. My lungs burn with each ragged breath, but I can't slow down. Not now.

"Where the hell am I?" I mutter, pushing sweat-soaked braids from my face.

The ground beneath my feet suddenly slopes downward, and I stumble, nearly losing my balance. That's when I hear it – the soft gurgle of running water.

I pause, straining my ears. The sound grows louder as I creep forward, until I break through a line of trees and find myself on the bank of a river.

"You've got to be kidding me," I hiss, staring at the dark water cutting through my escape route.

The river isn't wide, maybe twenty feet across, but in the dim light, I can't gauge its depth or current. A shiver runs through me as a cool breeze kisses my damp skin.

"Okay, Kim. Think. You can do this."

I scan the bank, looking for any makeshift bridge or fallen log. Nothing. Just murky water and the vague shapes of rocks breaking the surface.

A twig snaps in the distance behind me. My heart leaps into my throat.

No time left. I have to cross.

I ease into the water, gasping as the cold bites into my legs. The current tugs at my knees, stronger than I expected. I take another step, then another, fighting to keep my footing on the slippery riverbed.

Halfway across, my foot slides on a mossy rock. I pitch forward, arms windmilling. For a heart-stopping moment, I'm sure I'm going under. But my fingers brush a protruding branch, and I latch on, steadying myself.

"Shit, shit, shit," I pant, willing my racing pulse to slow.

The far bank seems impossibly far. My clothes are soaked, weighing me down. But I can't turn back now.

I push on, each step a battle against the current. Water laps at my waist, then my chest. One misstep and I'll be swept away.

Finally, mercifully, the water begins to shallow. I drag myself onto the opposite bank, collapsing onto my hands and knees in the mud.

I want nothing more than to lie there and catch my breath. But I can't. Not yet.

With trembling limbs, I force myself to stand. The woods loom before me, dark and unfamiliar. But somewhere beyond them lies freedom.

I take a deep breath and plunge back into the trees.

The woods thicken around me, branches reaching out like gnarled fingers in the darkness. My wet clothes cling to my skin, sending shivers down my spine. Every step becomes a struggle against exhaustion and the uneven terrain.

"Come on, Kim," I mutter to myself, pushing through a tangle of underbrush. "You've danced for hours on end. This is nothing."

But my body betrays me, muscles screaming in protest. The adrenaline that fueled my escape is fading, leaving me drained and disoriented.

A twig snaps somewhere to my left. I freeze, heart pounding.

"Hello?" I call out, voice barely above a whisper. No response.

I force myself to keep moving, but now every rustle of leaves sets me on edge. The darkness seems to press in from all sides, playing tricks on my eyes. Shadows morph into menacing shapes, only to dissolve when I look directly at them.

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