Run

Chapter 1

The first time I realized that we can leave our town was when I was 7. The first time I realized that not everyone sees like I do was when I was 11. The first time I ran was when I was 18. I'm 25 now and on the run again, for good this time.

When I was 7 my friends I were playing in the graveyard on the outskirts of town. My best friend, Todd, was the type of kid that liked to discretely disobey the rules. I loved him for it. He never blatantly ran away from home or talked back to the teacher. But he did little things, like step a foot outside the town line, or do his math homework in pen (this was against our teachers rules). We were best friends ever since we could remember, our moms were friends and so we basically grew up together. See, around the perimeter of our town is a line drawn on the ground, like you'd see on a baseball field. Then about 5 feet outside of the line are trees, lined up like soldiers protecting their fort, also stretching around the entire town. Because of those trees it is nearly impossible to see what is beyond our little town. I always joked about running outside of town, Todd would always just laugh it off and say, "Yeah when a tree falls." Which is why it shocked me when he told me this:

"Nick, have you ever wondered what would happen if we went outside of the town line? Like all the way out, not just taking one step, like I've done before, but taking like a running jump" 

"Not really, my mom told me that it was really really bad if we ever went outside of town."

"But nick that's the thing, there's people that go outside! like way outside! If they get to do it then why can't we?"

"Are you crazy? They might kill us if we go out there!"

"Come on, Nick do you really think whoever is out there is really going to kill us? Were 7!"

"I'm 7 and a half actually, and I don't know man." 

And before I could say another word Todd sprung from his seat in the grass and started sprinting right for the line. He jumped when he reached the line, probably for dramatic effect, but he tripped and rolled a good ten feet away into the line of trees.

"Hows the weather over there?" I shouted at Todd 

"Pretty good come on!" Todd yelled back, still hiding behind the line of trees.

I decided that I would, slowly, cross the line, making sure to be more careful then Todd. As soon as I stepped a foot across the line I saw a rustling in the trees and heard Todd yelling.

"Nick, run!"

"What? Why? Where are you?"

"Nick run. Don't stop running until you get home. I can't hold them off much longer."

"Hold who off, what's there?'

"NICK, RUN."

When I was 7 years old Todd and I went outside of town. My friend Todd never came back.