#Chapter 138: ???

Mia’s POV I dash into the forest, not knowing where I’m going. Any direction is a good direction, though. Whatever gets me away from that terrible place I’m leaving behind. My heart races, I’m terrified. But I’m also exhilarated. I’m free. I need to get to Mom. I need to warn her about what these bad people are planning to do. When she knows, when she’s safe, then I can let myself feel safe… I can calm down and everything will be okay. Racing as fast as my legs could carry me, I hate that I’m not older – old enough to run faster, or be able to more easily defend myself. I miss my mom. I wish she was here to help me. I don’t know how to do this on my own. Tears start to blur my vision, even as I continue to run. My legs start to hurt, and so does my chest, but even then, I don’t slow down. Yet, just as I hope I might be escaping, a strong arm roughly wraps around my waist and yanks me backwards. “Where do you think you’re running off to?” a male voice gruffly says. I r