ɴᴏ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀʀ ғᴀɴᴅᴏᴍ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ

I slumped down under a tree, letting my heavy backpack fall to the ground and giving my breath time to catch up with me.

I really shouldn't stay long, they'll still be looking for me but I was so exhausted from the constant movement of the last two days I couldn't help myself.

I closed my eyes enjoying the sun's heat that gently danced across my skin and the slight russling of the trees autumn leaves.

Above me I heard a louder russle but I forced myself to let it go, probably a squirrel or other small animal. Nothing to worry about.

It's not them.

It can't be

My paranoia grew until the anticipation and dread was almost overwhelming.

But what if it is.

Unable to stand it any longer I opened my eyes, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw a teenage girl staring back at me.

I probably should have been more suprised, I was but my relief eclipsed my shock. The girl was really pretty, she had short bubblegum pink hair that fell loose around her face apart from a few carefully chosen strands that were tied up behind her head.

She had bracelets lining her skinny arms and warm brown eyes that glinted with mischief, I decided to stop staring as it was getting slightly creepy

"Hello?" I said but it came out as more of a question.

"What are you running from"  the girl in the tree asked, completely ignoring my greeting obviously inferring to my disheveled appearance, huge bag and tired face.

"More like whom am I running from"

The girl smiled "sorry whom are you running from" because of the way she exaggerated the word whom I was pretty sure she was making fun of me.

"I'm not going to tell you" I said lamely.

"Have it your way" the girl looked like she was hoping back laughter.

We were silent for a few moments before I spoke again.

"Why are you in a tree?"

The girl adjusted her position. "I think the real question is" she said thoughtfully "why aren't you in a tree"

I looked at her in disbelief "what?"

"I mean, being on the ground is boring"  she swung around on her branch. "Up here it's more fun"

She grinned at me, upsidedown her hair was being blown in the wind more noticeably now.

"I'm not claiming that tree" I said eying her warily "besides I've never claimed a tree before"

"Wow, now I just feel sorry for you"

I rolled my eyes and got up to leave.

"Where are you going?" The girl asked.

"I have to go"

The girl looked around desperately "how about I take you to my place and let you wash up, no offence but you need it"

I considered it. On the one hand this could be a very lame excuse for a trap but she didn't seem like the type who would work for them, and traps weren't really their style. Most usually tried to kill me on the spot.

On the other, I hadn't had a wash in days, I smelled and my clothes were a state.

"If you buy me lunch as well I'll consider it"

"Great!" The girl jumped down from the tree and landed next to me, she swung her arm around me "let me show you a place"

sᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: ᴀ ɢɪʀʟ ʀᴜɴɴɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀɴ ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ ᴍᴇᴇᴛs ᴀ ᴘɪɴᴋ ʜᴀɪʀᴇᴅ, ᴛʀᴇᴇ ᴅᴡᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴏғғᴇʀs ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇsᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ʀᴜɴɴɪɴɢ ɢɪʀʟ.

ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ  ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ