My feet hit the ground hard. Harder than they ever had when I've gone running after school. Those runs were just for fun, but they have done wonders in preparing me for this moment.

But this is different. We aren't running for fun.

My pale off-the shoulder cardigan puffs up behind me, almost as if it's trying to hold me back from what we are about to do.

Levi's heavy breathing grows louder over the top of mine. His eyes are wild, searching for what I assume is another option; another way out. But for course, there is none.

It's 9pm, and I should be back home frantically studying for the calculus exam I have tomorrow morning, but instead here I am; running for my life.

I'm suddenly glad that today of all days, I decided not to wear my favourite pair of gold sandals. Instead, my black Nike running shoes have given me somewhat of a better chance. Gravel slides from underneath our shoes as we skid right off the poorly maintained road and onto a worn path that leads towards Gray's Cliff.
I find it ironic that Gray's Cliff has a high number of unsolved murders and crimes, which I very soon will also probably be part of that number.

In the near distance I hear a car door slam and heavy boot falls coming up on us, fast. My pace quickens, along with my already racing heart. I think Levi has sped us, because he maintains a distance ahead of me with a burst of energy that I'm envious of.

"There's no point in running!" A deep male voice booms behind us. "Where are you planning to go?!"

Suddenly Levi's fingers are wrapped around my left wrist and he's pulling me forwards faster. "Hurry Grace."

Our pursuer shouts in anger and it sends chills along my arms. I know he has a weapon on him. Maybe even more than one. He's here to 'get rid of us' after all. We are loose ends. We are a threat.
My blood is pumping through my veins so fast that I feel like I'm going to explode. My fingers feel numb against the cool of the night, and my eyes are waterfalls.

I don't know how much longer I can keep running for.

Up ahead, light from the moon bounces off the constant bumps in the water that crash into each other over and over. Behind us, a shotgun cocks. The sound violently pierces my eardrums and awakens all my senses, pushing my mind into overdrive.

The path is muddy from last nights rain, and it squeals under the soles of my shoes in protest.
Low visibility makes it hard to see the step drop off ahead of us, but we soon find it when our feet leave the safety of the slippery earth and plummet into pure nothing.

In a way, it feels freeing.

The shotgun booms over and over again from up on the cliff above us as we fall. I have to squeeze my eyes shut to ensure I don't pass out.

Levi yells somewhere beside me, just as my feet break the surface of the water. I'm quickly engulfed by the arms of the ocean, and dragged under.

Exhaustion takes over my body quickly, and I struggle to fight with the waves that are doing everything to stop me going up for air.
I don't know where Levi is, and quite frankly I don't know where I am either.

I just hope that I black out quickly.