The Legacy of Kilkenny by Devyn Dawson

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  The woods were so thick, I could hear them gaining on me. She kept telling me to go left and I’d eventually hit a clearing that leads to a hiking trail. I was getting hot but I had to keep going. I lost whoever was chasing me at the clearing. I pause for a moment to listen for the leaves to crunch under the weight of their steps. I hear a warning shot, so I hunker down to blend with the trees. I hear the brush moving behind me and my heart picks up speed. Her voice, I hear it again (in my head), Run! There is a cave close to where you are. She was talking but I could see the image of what she was telling me. It sounds like Pru. Damn! The devil’s thorn is thick and growing over the path, I feel like I’m bleeding but I can’t stop yet. That voice again, hurry, get in the cave, they won’t see it, you’ll be safe. I’ll be there soon. Don’t move. I jump over two fallen trees and climb into the cave in time to hear the hunter stop, I peered out, he doesn’t see me… but I take a mental picture so I’ll remember his face. I lay down, the ground was cool and I was so hot. I need water.