Summer Air: The summer air had turned....

The summer air had turned on her. Thirteen minutes before, it had been the comforting presence of an old friend. Thirteen minutes before, the remnants of the day's laughter were still playing in her mind. Thirteen minutes ago, she had felt safe.

Now, the summer air was her enemy, working with her pursuer. It wrapped itself around her, slowing down her seemingly pointless attempt at evading capture. It had made a desert in her mouth and a swamp of her lungs. Her breaths, which thirteen minutes before had been cleansing and relaxed, were now as laboured and ineffective as her movements. She knew she could never out-run him. But she had to try,

That's when he grabbed her.

"You should have stayed hidden." His gravelly voiced purred in her ear. "Your turn. Start counting."