Brielle's POV
I walked along the edge of the road, jumping stupidly over cracks and spinning my umbrella as rain littered the ground around me. I was so awkwardly happy that I just closed my eyes, soaking in the noises of gentle raindrops colliding with the objects around me. I walked off the edge of the curb accidentally and fell into a puddle. Suddenly, all the horrible memories came flooding back.
I remember the summer night when I opened up my window, as usual, to smell the sweet exquisite scents of the summer air, and as usual I felt a draw to it. A connection that you had to channel to resist. The temptation to Journey outside to nowhere in particular and align myself as one with nature. This time, it was all too much and I gave in.
I pulled by pocketknife out of my drawer and plunged it through the thin screen that kept insects out. I always envied the bugs. So free to roam where they wanted.
The whole was small, but big enough for me to slide through. I dropped to the ground and ran. My grandmothers aura looked pastel yellow-calm. She would get to bed early that night. I felt the earth beneath my feet as I ran, as if all that existed was myself and nature. I ran, eyes closed, letting the wind guide me. But when I finally opened my eyes I was in town. I realized the ground had changed beneath me from grass the concrete sidewalk.
I craved solitude, and found it within a dark alley. Graphitti lined the walls. The busy sounds of city filled my ears. Along with something else.
Hoops and hollars broke the sounds of city life. I got nervous, pulling myself up but then tripping, falling into a puddle. I saw shapes of human bodies running across the city. Someone screamed. I scurried up and started running, heart pounding in my ears. Crack. Explosions of rapid gun fire split the air. A bullet whizzed past my head. Some people laughed. Another one went between my legs. Time slowed. I seemed to run on forever. Then, when I thought I had lost them, I turned around, opened my mouth in a sigh of relief, and it hit me. Struck me right through my lip and tongue, and the back of my throat. I coughed and spat blood and then fell to the ground.
         "Are you ok?" Maya was looking down at me, probably noticing the stitches on my neck. I nodded and got up, back wet, and hurried on.