Mei ①

Thudthudthudthudthud...____________________

My heart is bursting.

I don't know if I can keep this up. I don't know how long I can keep running. I don't know who's behind me. I don't know why no one's here to help. I don't know where to go.

I don't even know if I'm still running.

I don't know if I'm still alive.

But one thing I do know is this: If I stop, if I hesitate, if I let myself crumble into weakness again, I will die.

The wind slices through my face, cold as ice, while my body burns like it's on fire. Please, just stop. Whoever you are, whoever's chasing me—stop scaring me.

Why is he chasing me?

He wants to hurt me.

But why?

Maybe because I'm too defenseless, too weak, too easy.

His footsteps are getting closer.

Predators always chase their prey. It's instinct. But I won't stop—not until I'm safe. I don't care where I end up or who I have to run into. Only one thing matters.

Which one of us stops first...

I run, and he chases. I turn, and he turns. He's closing in.

I turn left—he turns left. The ground shakes beneath me. My heart trembles in my chest, pounding louder than the footsteps behind me.

I hear the rumble of a car. Hope flickers in my chest—maybe it's Sister Tammy. Maybe she's come to save me.

But the engine sounds wrong.

It's not her. Someone else is coming closer.

My chest tightens, pulling me down like an anchor.

I trip.

The rock laughs as I crash to the ground. The rough road rips into my skin, turning my arms raw and red.

It hurts. Please...someone...help me. It hurts.

My forehead is pressed against the road.

Please. End this nightmare. Someone.

"Run."

A voice whispers. But no one's here. The voice is cold, like the wind—or maybe it came from my own mind.

But she's right.

I need to—

I tear my forehead away from the pavement and push myself up with weak, shaking arms. And then I start to run. Again.

The man's closer now.

My heart is crying, begging me to stop. I will die! But it doesn't matter.

I will keep running, even if my heart bursts.

"You'll be strong, right?"

I nod, tears of cold blue blood spilling from my eyes.

I will be strong.

A sudden chill spreads through my body, and I shiver.

Even the weather's trying to stop me.

But I promised Sohee I'd be strong—no matter what, no matter where, because that's what's good. And everything Sohee says is good.

She's like a god.

But part of me...hates her.

She thinks school is more important than me.

If she's a god, why isn't she helping me?

But the hate fades.

She didn't know.

She's just human.

God is never busy.

Besides, this is my fault. I lied. I have to do this alone.

I smile to myself, despite everything. Despite the hours I've been running, despite the predator still at my back. I'm keeping distance, aren't I? That means I'm strong.

I can be stronger.

I can survive on my own—

The ground yanks me down, slamming me into the dirt.

It's soft. Wet. Sticky.

Muddy. Is it from the rain? Or my tears?

My eyes burn, no more tears left to shed. It's raining. How dark the world looks now. I can't see anything. No one. Nowhere to go. I'm lost in this empty, suffocating darkness.

That day, it rained too.

That day, it hurt too.

But I didn't run.

I let it happen. I let him—

But today is different.

I try to stand but slip again. My legs won't respond. My heart lets out a tired sigh. I can't run anymore.

"Do you want to die?" The voice is back. Female.

"No."

"Then if you can't run, what should you do?"

"I don't know."

The voice laughs—no, voices. There are two now. Both still female, both soothing.

"We've been over this, Mei. Ten times now—congratulations."

The other sneezes, then says, "Anyway, if you can't run, then fight. Simple as that, Mei."

I shout, desperate, "Help me!"

They giggle. Witches, that's what they sound like. Witches in a fairy tale.

"That's not our job anymore."

"Rejoice, Mei. A savior's come. He'll help you."

"But only if you let him fuck you!"

They laugh again.

Help me.

The squelch of footsteps.

He's here. The man has caught up. All that running, all that effort...was it for nothing?

I turn to face him. If I can't run, I'll fight.

I ball my fists.

Even if it's weak, even if it's nothing...I will fight.

The man stares down at me with that strange, smirking face—half missing, just an ear.

I clench my fists tighter, but my punch never lands.

A flash.

Thwack.

The man stumbles, groaning. He hits the mud, sliding down.

It wasn't me.

I didn't hit him.

I glance up, through the rain, to see a figure standing over him. A dark hoodie hides their face, but as they step closer, I can tell—it's a girl. Her fist gleams, dripping with rain.

Her black eyes meet mine. Her red lips curve into a tight, calm smirk.

"You're welcome, I guess."

I know her face from somewhere.

Who is she?

Her gaze makes me sleepy, her voice wrapping around my mind like a lullaby.

"Just relax."

"You're safe now, Mei."

...

Cold.

Where am I? What happened?

I jump, hitting the ceiling.

Ow!

Everything comes flooding back.

But I don't want to think about it anymore.

I just want to go home. I move my legs—thankfully, they're fine now. I crawl out of the tight space I'm in and find myself in the middle of a park.

Evening is fading.

Sister Tammy's probably worried sick. Especially if she sees these scars.

I can't let her see this.

I don't want to be a burden. Not anymore.

Today proved it.

I am strong.

I can hurt people too.