The world around me was a blur. My breath was fast and heavy, ragged but controlled. Although I was vaguely aware of the shouts of surprised people as I shoved past, all I could focus on was the sharp intake of air into my lungs, and the whoosh as it was blown back out. My steady sprint made my legs burn but my heart feel exhilarated; almost overwhelmed, but in a good way. In fact, it would have been fantastic feeling if it weren’t for the three bear-sized men that were just a hundred feet behind me, chasing at my heels and concealing hefty black guns. But instead of thinking about the negative – being outnumbered, being out-weaponed, running with no where to go, no plan in place, to name a few – I thought about what I had going for me: I was ahead of them. Even though I was tripping through the busy traffic of Main Street, I was still ahead of them. Plus, I had brownies waiting at home. Probably still warm. All the more reason to outrun these goons. Hopping over a paint-chipped bench, I darted across the road. A car stopped short in front of me, the driver throwing his hand on the horn and yelling obscenities out the cracked window. I slid across the hood, “accidentally” shoving my heel into the rigid metal and leaving a satisfying dent. And then I was on my way again. I was tempted to turn and give the driver the bird, but just then my cell phone rang. I slid it open without hesitation. “Whaddup?” “Cam, hey-“ the girl on the other end paused, “is this a bad time?” “Not at all.” “You’re breathing heavy.” “I may or may not be running,” I dodged a ridiculously dressed woman with an even more ridiculously dressed poodle. I think the dog’s nails were painted pink. Disgusting. “Shit! Are you on an assignment?” she asked. “Well I’ve got a coupla dudes after me with a truly stupendous array of weaponry, so I’m gonna go with maybe?” “I’ll just call back later.” “Text me?” “No way!” “Why?” “You’re gonna get yourself killed!” “Nah,” I rolled my eyes, checking over my shoulder. The goons weren’t in sight. They either changed tactics, or I had outrun them. My feet slowed to a stop and I put a hand on my hip, feeling quite proud. “Hey, I don’t even see them anymore.” Suddenly, three darkly-dressed objects flew out of an alley way and into my direct path. It only took me a moment to recognize the flushed red faces of my assailants. Up close, I could see their sweat-drenched foreheads and fiercely scowling mouths, but mostly I could see their mountainous biceps. They came at high speeds, barreling towards me like a train without breaks. My eyes widened. “Hey Leesh, I’m gonna have to call you back.” And I hung up.