She was running. They were chasing after her and if she stumbles now they would have her!
She could feel her breath straining and her throat was raw with exertion. It felt like she has been running for hours, but her reason told her it could not have been more than a few blocks. Her ankle was throbbing where she hit it on the windowsill making her hasty exit. But how did they find her?
She kept glancing back over her shoulder, making sure that they did not gain ground. She was desperate and determined not to be caught.
But, in her obsession with keeping an eye on her pursuers, she forgot to keep an eye on where she was going...
Strong hands gripped her, pulling her up. She could not believe that she was so clumsy. Now they had her. She struggled to get free, and to her surprise the hands slackened their grip. She stared up, gazing into bottomless pools of blue. They reflected concern, as opposed to the hatred she expected. She stared up into them, pleading for help. If he could not save her she would surely be doomed and they would get to her.
He pulled her towards his car. She did not need a second invitation and seized the opportunity for escape. "Beggars can't be choosers," she thought, ducking into the back of the car, hoping they did not see where she went. The car pulled away and out of sheer exhaustion she fell asleep crouched down behind the seats.
She awoke feeling cold, stiff and sore all over. It took a moment to orientate herself as to where she was. Yes, running, falling, getting into the car. She sat up, looking at the man behind the wheel.
" Thank you for saving me", she said, gazing into his eyes reflected in the rear-view mirror. He smiled, nodded and drove on. She sensed his questions, but had no intention to provide him with the answers he was surely entitled to. He must not find out, else she will be lost again. She had to clutch onto safety wherever she could find it. She could not allow them to find her.