Chapter 8
Michael grabbed Chloe by the arm and ran towards the kitchen. “Quick everyone through the back door. It opens directly to the forest.”
Kevin and Meredith followed quickly behind them as they ran through the house. They could hear noises coming from out front but as far as they knew there was no one around the back yet.
Michael threw the back door open and immediately they found themselves at the edge of the forest. With out thinking everyone took off into it. They could now hear people inside the house and this knowledge spurred them on to go faster.
On and on they ran deeper into the forest. Chloe had no idea what direction they were heading in now. Michael had let go of her hand by now so that they could run more freely. Behind them they could hear people yelling back and forth, obviously the people that were chasing them had realized that they were no longer in the house.
Risking a look back Chloe thought she saw movement through the trees but she couldn't be sure. Turning back around she tried to run faster, the others were easily out distancing her. She didn't want to ask them to slow down cause she didn't want to risk them being caught since she was the slow one. Sure she could run forever on a treadmill but trying to avoid rocks, logs and who knows what on the forest floor was exhausting.
Just as she thought about all the things she could trip on, her toe caught a branch and she fell flat on her face. Shaking her head she got up quickly and looked to find the others only to find they were nowhere in sight.
Starting to panic Chloe took off in the direction she was sure they had to have gone. Thankfully the sounds behind her were getting quieter all the time which meant that the guys that were chasing them had gone in a different direction.
Feeling a little safer now Chloe decided to slow down and catch her breath. She had to find the others but where could they have gone? Surely they wouldn't have left her, would they? She could see Kevin doing so but not Michael or Meredith. Looking around she noticed that she could see a bit of a clearing up ahead.
Slowly she made her way closer, trying to see if she could hear anything. Coming to the edge of the clearing she noticed that there was a house in the center. Off in the corner she could also see a driveway that she guessed must lead to the road.
The house was just a one floor bungalow with white siding and a roof that looked like it was in need of a repair. She thought she could make out someone talking from inside, their voice floating through the open window. Seeing a bush just off to the side, Chloe decided to hunker down there until she could decide what to do.
Just as she had decided she was well hidden, the screen door on the house opened to reveal a elderly lady emerging with a basket of laundry. Walking over to the clothes line she began hanging the clothes up.
Chloe wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or not, but it seemed like the lady kept looking in her direction. The lady couldn’t have seen Chloe, the bush that she was hiding behind was lush and hid her from almost every angle. Yet over and over again the lady would look over at her hiding spot.
Finally the lady was done hanging her laundry and picked up her basket. Slowly she walked over to the screen door and opened it. Before walking inside though, the lady turned back and looked at Chloe's hiding spot again. "You might as well come in. I can see you."
Chloe hesitated for a minute before slowly standing and walking around her hiding spot. "How...how did you know I was there?" she asked as she walked closer.
