Every sound behind him made him flinch.
Every crack, every movement.
He didn’t dare look back.
He ran until his legs burned.
Until his lungs felt like they were tearing apart.
Until he couldn’t run anymore.
Billy dropped behind a thick cluster of bushes, collapsing to his knees, trying to stay quiet as he dragged in air.
He pressed himself low, forcing his breathing to slow, listening.
At first, there was nothing.
Just wind through the trees.