❝ Don’t come after me, please. ❞

     It had been the last thing she’d said to him before turning on the  balls 
     of her feet &  heading  deep  into  the  dark  forest  ahead.  She’d  half 
     expected him to come after her. Deep down inside, a part of  her  that 
     was the weak, little girl before  this,  was  disappointed  he  hadn’t.  A 
     bigger part of her knew it was for the best, knew that  she  had  to  do 
     this alone. So, she continued down the path that led to  the  Saviour’s 
     nearest base. She would get them  back,  she  would  get  her   family 
     back. 

     Now she was panicking, tears starting to form in her  eyes.  What  if  it  
     was too late? What if he’d killed them all already? She needed to  find 
     them, she needed to get them back. They were all she had  left.  Then 
     she heard Alexander in the distance, chasing after her – still, now was
     not the time. She couldn’t have him risking her life, risking his own life.
     She had lost too many people already. 

     Deep breaths & she turned around, standing still  in  her  tracks.  Why 
     was he still coming after her? Hadn’t she made it clear she was doing
     this alone? That she could do this alone? 

     ❝ Please stop, Alex. I said don’t come after me. ❞ 

     Strange, she almost whimpers the words. Like she’s afraid, like she’s
     about to b r e a k.