Elda

Elda Ainsworth tore frantically through the woods. The sun painted dabbled spots of brightness on the underbrush, making it more difficult to see ruts and holes. The sound of her feet crushing branches and leaves echoed loudly in her head, as her reptilian brain moved her feet quicker. She skidded to a stop for a brief moment and listened. Yes, she could hear the distant din of muffled directions and broken twigs, signifying her chasers crashing through the woods behind her.

She sped up, weaving her way between trees, to not leave a direct trail to follow. She careened around a sapling, tripped over a root and jerked to stay upright. Her foot crushed a branch and the sharp sound of the dry wood breaking was a reprimand to her woodsman skills and Indian heritage. If she could hear those who were following her, then they could also hear her. She ripped off her boots, tied them around her neck, and continued in her stocking feet. As she raced on she could feel the twigs and branches on the bottom of her feet, but the sound was muted and she was leaving less markers to follow.

Her tongue felt the swollen and oozing gums around her new crown with the microdot securely embedded under it. She wanted to spit out the metallic taste of blood. She forced herself to swallow and not leave a trail. The pain in her mouth throbbed in time with her heartbeat and offset the pain in her feet. Her toe hit a hidden rock and she went down, barely suppressing the sound of the air leaving her body. She pulled herself up into a downward dog position and jerked all the way back upright with her feet moving before she had even reached fully vertical. The noise of her pursuers signified that they were gaining on her.

She spied a hollow behind two trees and willed her body toward it. Sweat ran down her face and along the sides of her body. She hoped they couldn’t smell her fear! She dove into the hollow and quickly covered herself up with dirt, leaves, and twigs. Her heart pounded in her chest as she slowed her breath to a whisper. She was grateful that she was wearing dark clothing that would blend in well with the forest undergrowth and debris. She took a deep breath and pushed her head down into the dirt below.