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[~^.#1 The Treeline.^~]

 Qweade entered the house, sobbing lightly. "Mom?" She called shakily. No answer. She walked around the house, checking every place she could think of. "Mom!?" She called louder this time. "Please answer Mom!!" Then she checked all the cabinets. The bathroom was empty, along with her room. The only room left was the master. Qweade opened the door and instantly realized something terrible. There was blood spattered on a pillow. The thing that stood out the most was the open closet door "Mom?" She called again, tearing the clothes out of the closet. When she found no one, the heartbroken girl crumpled down in the clothes. The full weight of grief had now hit her shoulders. Qweade's sobs of emotional pain rang out through the house, echoing around in the quiet rooms. Kalen sprinted in through the open door. "Qweade!" He yelled, looking around. All the doors were thrown open so it didn't take him long to find her. She looked up when he came in. "Come on!" Kalen exclaimed, looking stressed. "They are coming!" There wasn't much time for questions. Qweade stood up slowly and ran after him.

Kalen led Qweade down the street and through the field. However, he couldn't help but notice the shape of three men behind them. "We just have to get to the treeline!" He shouted to her, getting his hands ready in case he needed to use his powers. As they reached the forest, Kalen blew both of them up into the top branches of a tree. Qweade had stopped crying by now, realizing the severity of the situation. "So," she started. "Who are they?" Kalen closed his eyes to clear his head. "Did you hear that newscast when they spoke about the babies being born without powers?" Qweade reached far back in her memory. "Yes." She answered, slightly nodding. Teathe looked around, making sure they were concealed. Qweade realized what he wanted and grew the branches around them. "Parents will do anything for their kids to be normal. I heard rumors that they started an organization to farm us of our powers. I think the people chasing us are a part of the group. They have been stalking me for a few days now." Qweade grabbed onto a branch. "What about your mom?!" She asked. Kalen had a breeze flow by to keep them cool. "I had the neighbor take her to a safe place." Qweade put a finger to her lips when a twig cracked underfoot on the ground. The two sat there, hearts racing.

 A group of men advanced through the woods, carrying guns. Kalen pulled Qweade close with his arm. "Qweade, remember this, they need us alive, so we aren't going to be killed." She shook crazily, branches elongating as her power spiraled slightly. "Then why do they have guns?" Kalen looked down, heart dropping when he saw they were checking up the trees. "This spot will not do." Hissing voices grew louder while the two contemplated. 

 Qweade whimpered. She feared for her life, Kalen's and her mother's. "I can grow a tree toward us." The idea seemed like it could work. With a curt nod from Kalen, the frightened teen outstretched her arms. But one thing caught Qweade in her tracks, an unsteady branch. With a snap, birds scattered every which way. The screeching alerted ones with evil intent. Kalen snatched his friend's arm and leaped across. They had no time for Qweade to grow any assortment of plants. Two bodies flew through the gap. Seen only slightly by anyone observing.

 With a stifled grunt, Kalen smacked into handfuls of sticks. His hand finding a space and gripping tight. Qweade screamed internally as her body was hoisted up.  Birds in that tree fled as well. Their squawks rang out, causing more feathered creatures to fly away. Three sets of eyes panned to their prey. 

 Fish sticks! We're spotted! We need to get out!

 Those thoughts spread fear rapidly through Kalen's blood. He kept the grasp on Qweade's wrist, sighed heavily, and let go of the tree. Soft gusts from the wind steadied their landing. "RUN!" The entire forest went silent as Kalen shouted, voice slightly hoarse. In immediate obedience, Qweade sprinted.

 Guns were cocked and fired, shouts rang out, tears were shed. "Keep running." The ever-present company of her life-long friend kept assurance in arms reach. Kalen's legs were a blur, racing over ditches, rocks, any obstructions lining the forest floor. As they ran, wind blasted at their backs, propelling Qweade forward so she could keep up. Her lungs pumped vigorously, deprived of oxygen. 

 In a matter of two minutes, the friends were in the neighborhood. "We made it!" Qweade panted, leaning forward slightly as to catch her breath quickly. Kalen nodded, also out of breath but not as much. "We must keep moving." Adrenaline kicked in again, gaining the two their second strength. "Where do we go now?" Qweade inquired, jogging past streets. Kalen kept the pace, letting out slow, controlled breaths. "Out of the city. Seattle has a place for ones with powers to go. It has the largest number of powerful ones, meaning we will be safe there."

 "But that city is like... One hundred miles away!" Fear etched that one exclamation. "Yes, I know. But we can hot-wire a fast car and be there in an hour or two. Qweade looked around, suddenly noticing the eeriness enveloping this whole neighborhood. "Where is everyone?" No one needed to answer her. She stopped dead as a stone-hard fist flew from the darkness and walloped Kalen in the face. 

 He fell backward, dazed, nose dripping blood. The three men from a previous chase stepped out, grinning. "Wha...?" That was all he could mutter. Qweade screamed, turning to flee. One guy stepped on Kalen's chest, pushing hard. "Don't run little girl! Or I will crush your boyfriend." Kalen wheezed, opened his mouth, and sputtered out. "I'm not her boyfriend." The foot pressed harder, almost cracking ribs. "Just... Wanted... To get that out of the way!" Qweade stopped, turned around, and faced their pursuers. "Okay." She submitted, kneeling, hysteria etched her face. Kalen shook his head. "No! RUN!" But the man with a stone-hard fist silenced him in a smooth motion. One more hit to the face and Kalen was knocked out cold. "Stop! No! Don't hurt him!" Qweade wailed, feeling powerless. 

 A van pulled up by the group. Kalen was thrown inside, wrists and ankles bound in zip ties. Qweade followed behind, only her wrists bound. The three men climbed in also. "Let's get a move on!" One of them yelled, cackling. He turned to the frightened teen, faked a tip of his hat, and murmured a statement that struck fear into Qweade's heart. "Don't worry little girl, just take a deep breath, and it will all be over soon."