Pāhonoa te oro

The soldier studied him. Too long. Jessie felt it—the moment slipping. “You don’t sound—” Jessie didn’t wait. He grabbed supplies and ran. “Stop him!” someone shouted. Lights swung. Voices erupted. Jessie sprinted into the darkness, alarms echoing behind him. He didn’t stop. Not when they shouted. Not when they chased. Not when the forest closed in around him again. Because there was only one thing in his mind— Sarah.