Pāhonoa te oro

The forest blurred around him, trees flashing past as he ran harder, faster, his breath tearing in and out of his chest. His legs burned, his vision shaking with every step. A shot cracked through the trees behind him. Billy flinched but didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop. The ground dipped suddenly, uneven beneath his feet. He stumbled, caught himself, kept going. His mind raced, trying to find somewhere—anywhere—to hide.