Page 3 of Chase's Human Mate

The scent of the deer off to the east and the hungry ache in my stomach propels me forward with a purpose.

Chapter 2

Madison

My legs are noodles, and my lungs feel like they are collapsing, each breath I take is a massive struggle. I know that if I stop running my ex-boyfriend will find me. I can’t be found by him.

The escape began in the city running through gum speckled sidewalks and past red traffic lights, ducking behind cars and into alleyways whenever I thought he might be coming. I left everything I ever owned behind in our old apartment.

All I have are the clothes on my back. Even my cellphone was left behind in case my ex could track me through it. Material things, even my sentimental items, mean nothing to me if I am not alive to enjoy them.

Bruises on my arms and cheeks fade each day as I run, almost as if the markers for why I am so determined to run away are disappearing. As if they are saying, “aren’t you tired of running? Don’t you want to go back to the man who loves you?”

My muscles scream and my bones creak. I haven’t eaten in days and even though my body begs me to slow down, to stop, to go back to where we know there is food and shelter…

My soul is tired of that sick kind of love, the kind of love that only comes with chains and battery. Is that even love at all? Nowthat I’ve put some space between us it’s hard to believe that it could be.

Coming across a stream, I take a chance and allow myself to stop for a moment. My body screams as I bend down and shovel water into my mouth by cupping my hands.

The water splashes my face, wets my hair, and drips down my chin. The coolness wakes up my senses. My throat stops burning momentarily though my lungs continue to gasp for breath.

My belly is too full of water now to move. I should have drunk less. Still, knowing my ex, he’s likely not pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion just to find me. The man always gets his needs met, no matter what.

There’s enough space between us that I feel like I can rest for a moment. The real question is if I stop moving will I be able to start again?

I don’t have it in me to answer that question as it stands. My stomach aches and my eyes droop against my will. A small nap won’t hurt me, right? Maybe it will give me the strength I need to continue forward.

Though it’s not a thought I am convinced is true my exhaustion wins, and I decide not to think about it too hard. Not that I have much brain power left anyway.

Not that I am sure I ever had much to begin with considering I’ve spent over 7 years of my life being terrorized by this man. It’s not a fair thing to think, I know that I was only fourteen when we met and my brain even now still isn’t fully formed.

I don’t want the man to live in my head forever, but I am afraid that even though I’ve finally left him, he will never leave me. I wish I had a girlfriend or someone to talk to, but I don’t have any friends left. For years my ex was my only friend and confidant.

I don’t want to be alone anymore, but I’d rather be alone than be with that man. If I can even call him a man, he feels more beastly than anything else.

Someday I am hopeful that I will find a home for myself where I can feel at peace. Somewhere I don’t feel like I constantly need to look over my shoulder.

As I drift off to sleep, I have dreams of running through the forest, but this is not the same chased feeling I’ve felt all this time. Instead, I feel free. I feel like the forest is my friend and I am no longer alone.

Even through my slumber a smile reaches my lips. I am hopeful that someday this feeling will find me beyond just my dreams.

Chapter 3

Chase

We’ve made it across two state lines, leaving the West Coast pack in the metaphorical rearview mirror. Each day that passes I feel lighter on my feet. Brent’s expectations no longer weighing on me as heavily.

“What do you guys think we should do next?” I ask Isaiah and Ash as we relax on a park bench in a city.

The energy here crackles in the air, it is alive in a way that is different than in the forest. My stomach rumbles as the delectable smell of fried foods fills my nostrils. The dazzling lights of the city keep the night from going dark.

“I think we might want to consider buying a car before we spend all of our money on pizza and hot dogs.” Isaiah says, licking his lips. His barrel chest and muscular arms flexing as he pretends to shell out all his money.

“He’s right,” Asher chimes in with a chuckle, “between the three of us we have enough money to get a vehicle and some provisions to help us get better set up but if we keep movingthrough the forest and then coming into cities like this, I am going to spend every last penny on food.”

“Don’t tell me you are tired of my famous rabbit stew?” I toss a twig I’d been fiddling with at Ash.

“Is it stew when it’s only water, rabbit, and wild onions?” He rolls his eyes then smiles, “I better not be ungrateful it could always be worse.”

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