Isaiah

It was going to drop down on us.

Turn, I screamed.

I didn't care anymore.

If we were going to get out with our lives, we were going to have to run for them.

We suddenly changed course.

The tapping stopped for a moment, long enough for us to gain a few feet before it came in our direction again.

My legs were cramping horribly and Chris was gasping hard.

We couldn't keep this up.

But where were we?

I saw the light from the lantern come to an abrupt halt up ahead.

I didn't have time to stop, embraced myself to thump into Chris, but the light passed beneath my feet.

He had dropped the lantern.

I turned my head and watched it recede into the darkness.

It was immediately too far for me to go back.

The thing would be on me in a second.

Chris!

I was crying and swiping tears from my cheeks as I ran, preparing for my face to connect with the tree at any moment.

Keep going!

I heard Chris from up ahead.

My vision was bleary from tears, but could see it, an orange glow hanging in the air in the distance.