Alicia is hiding.
She's crouching low behind a concrete wall, knees pulled to her chest, fingers digging into her sleeves. She's hiding from her chaser. From Alexander.
Fear presses down on her chest until it's hard to breathe. She's praying. Something she never does. She prays now anyway, desperate, frantic, hoping with everything she has that he won't find her.
"Little Ali, where are you?"
Alex's sing-song voice echoes through the corridor.
Fear crashes over her like a wave.
Her body starts shaking uncontrollably, teeth chattering despite her effort to stay quiet.
"Please… please… please… please…" she whispers, the word tumbling out like a broken mantra.
"Little Aliiiiiii… where are youuuuuuu?"
Her eyes burn. Tears gather, but she refuses to let them fall. She clamps a hand over her mouth, sobbing silently, chest jerking with each shallow breath.
Then, suddenly, silence.
No footsteps.
No voice.
Alicia swallows hard, throat dry, ears straining for any sound. Anything.
