She raced down the paved canyon trail, the wind warring with her now-tangled mass of hair. Where to hide, where to hide, she thought over and over. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest as her eyes darted from side to side, forward and back.
“Alissa! Where are you?” a distant voice called. Alissa looked back to where it came from. Bright pastel blue bore into her eyes and the sun’s rays drenched her and soaked into the black pavement beneath her. She turned her attention to the expanse of burnt-looking trees with spots of green atop the red mountain, and it made her feel like she could honestly get away with so much space around.
She turned back to the trail ahead and jogged to the left side of the trail. As slowly as she could, she descended the riverbank until she could feel the wet from the mud seeping into her Converses. Looking down, she saw muddy strands of river grass swaying and dancing to the water’s steady hum as it travelled around the riverbank’s bend.
“Alissa!” The voice was above her now. She backed up as far as she could against the dirt walls on both sides of the river, shivering at the damp cold of the dirt and the tickle of the tree roots brushing along her neck. Turning her head to the side and placing her cheek against the wall, she saw a solitary leaf on one of the tiny roots move to the rhythm of her panting breath.
She listened as hard as she could, moving her feet slightly so they wouldn’t get wet anymore than they already were. Alissa’s hands lay flat against the wall as she stood perfectly still. The only sounds were that of the river and wind, and the hard thump of her heart which she urged to stay quiet.
As she began to relax, she took a deep breath and looked around. If she head up the river more then she could avoid anyone finding her. She began to edge her way along the river, but before she could take two steps, a hand caught her by the shoulder.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!” Alissa screamed. She lost her balance and fell into the river, the water soaking her from the waist down.
Laughter came from above her and she sighed in exasperation. “Did you really have to get me all wet?” she asked.
“Well, it made my day. Not only are you It, but your butt is soaked. Now it’ll be harder for me to hide from you ‘cause I’ll be laughing so hard at all the people walking up the trail staring at you. So, in all fairness, you should be thanking me,” the other girl said with a smile.
“Thanks, Nicky,” Alissa said, rolling her eyes.
She dragged herself out of the water before chasing Nicky back up the riverbank, racing down the trail where the home base was.
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