"Come on, dudes. They are almost on top of us!" This time, I did spin around. "Jada, we're going as fast as we can. It's not easy to cut a path through the woods and run at the same time." I shouted over my shoulder. Jada frowned. Her short, blond hair fluttered in the breeze and deep eyes glistene with irritation. A drop of sweat made its way down her cheek. All this running has fatigued her. Next to me, a small kid with light, brown hair and an impish grin tried to make his way over a small ditch and stumbled, but quickly recovered. "You know, if we had just created trails like I had suggested, this would all be so much easier." He shouted, a little short of breath. Jada groaned. "We all can't be Swiss Family Robinson, Quinton." I heard a moan of protest. "You guys are both pretty, but can we save this for another time, please?" Antigone is the type of girl that no one wants to mess with. For starters, she has a long, gaunt figure that towers over everyone. Pale, blue eyes roam from under the shadows of her hair that always fall in front of her face, seeming to bare into your very sole. Currently, she is the only one of us that is not out of breath at this point. She still has the spring in her step that the rest of us lost long ago. I heard the crashing of trees not far behind us. THEY were gaining. "Seriously, now is not the time!" I hollered. Amazingly, everybody shut up. Our labored breathing was the only sound that occupies the odd silence. I could feel my heart pounding within my chest. It was as if a drum of old had taken residence inside my ribcage. For once, I knew how it feels to be truly scared. I could tell my friends feel the same way. The way their eyes darted about, pupils dilated, the slight quiver of their breath, they were all tell tale signs, masked by only the sheerest layer of calm. Suddenly, a piercing howl erupted from further behind us on the "trail". Since when did THEY have dogs? Quinton's head swiveled around at the chilling sound, eyes wide with evident terror. He had never been the biggest fan of dogs. "D-do you think that we wi-will make it?" His voice trembled. Jada quickly replied, the same note of fear in her voice. "The safe house is only a l-litte bit further. Sage and Holly are su-supposed meet us there."

Our "safe house" is only a little shack that my friends and I had built years ago. It was a place that we could go to just be ourselves, to hang and have fun. Never did it cross our mind that one day it could mean the difference between life and death. I could just make out the top of the peaked roof from a distance. We were getting closer. Unfortunately, so were the fashionestas. Their heavy footsteps thundered behind us, getting closer and closer with each foot fall. Their breath seemed to heat the backs of our necks. Now, the shack was only dozens of yards away. Beside me, Antigone grunted. Her breathing had become shallower. "There is no way that I am going to die at the hands of guys with serious fashion issues, not today, not ever." She spat through gritted teeth. I silently agreed. The four of us put on a burst of speed, putting more distance between us and THEM. We finally reached the door of the hang out and nearly broke it down trying to get inside. I don't know how, but we managed to do it without killing each other. Once inside, I made sure to dead bolt it and slide the chain in nice and secure. I turned around. Behind me was a very surprised looking Sage. Her frizzy mop of red hair fell gently to one side, while bright green eyes were wide with surprise. In her hands was a platter laden with sandwiches. Jada, Quinton, and Antigone had already collapsed on the floor. Their chests rose and fell fast and uneven. "What on earth happened to you guys!" Sage scolded. "Wait, do I even want to know?" I strode past her, stealing a sandwich as I did. "We'll tell you later. But some guys with grudges against fashion tried to kill us. Hungry? Let's eat!"