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My feet slide through leaves. I grab branches as I go. One snaps in my hand. I almost fall, but manage to keep going.

Behind me, Mercer swears. He’s closer than I’d like.

I reach the bottom.

There's water ahead. Not a river. A creek. It’s wide enough that I can't jump it.

It’s probably shallow.

I don't care.

I run straight into it.

Freezing water hits my ankles. Then my calves.

“Jesus fucking Christ.”

Rocks shift beneath my shoes. I nearly go down, but I keep moving.

The water reaches my knees in the middle. Then gets shallower.

I climb the opposite bank using both hands. Mud gets under my nails. My shoulder feels like it's being ripped apart.

I haul myself up anyway.

Behind me⁠—

Nothing.

I roll onto my back and listen.

The woods are silent. Too silent.

I sit up.

Where is he?

I crawl behind another tree and wait.

Seconds pass. Then a minute, maybe more.

No Mercer.

No footsteps.

No yelling.

Nothing.

My pulse slowly begins to settle.

Did I lose him?

I look at the creek. At the bank I came down.

Nothing moves.

I slowly get up.