Hunted...

A girl of nineteen walked over the nearest, empty playground and put her knapsack down. The mist was settling in. It was just how she liked it. It reminded her of her forest home. It had been long since she was free. Now she could run and enjoy it. And run she did. She ran faster and faster, around the swings, kicking up bark. She ran around the playground and she ran so fast that she nearly became invisible, the shapes around her becoming blurred. The round-about spun as she ran the perimeter of the playground, the bark swirled and the swings swung.
"Hey sweet cheeks!" A voice called. She stopped abruptly. Never in her life had she been called that. She turned and saw a boy of eighteen with sandy hair and dazzling blue eyes staring at her. He wore a T-Shirt, shorts and trainers. He was standing next to her knapsack. "What did you just call me?" she demanded. "Sweet cheeks, 'cause I think you're beautiful," he replied before he could stop himself. After a moment he realised what he said and his face turned to a deep red. But it was true. She was beautiful. Her soft features were surrounded by long dark brown locks which were curled delicately. She was skinny, but not too skinny. She wore a black dress that fitted her perfectly, but was worn away and torn at places. It was actually a rag that she tailored herself. Her feet were covered with dirty white, which were almost grey, shabby ballet flats. The clothes she wore were a mark of imprisonment. She had pale skin that suited her perfectly. She wore a golden locket that had hidden powers. Powers that even she didn't know about. There were only two in the world, and the second was in her knapsack.
"You can run fast," he said when the girl said nothing.
"Duh," the girl said and she began running around the playground once more. The boy just looked at her, smiling at her enjoyment.
"What's in here?" he asked, his fingers toying at the zip of her bag. At once the girl was next to him and she snatched the knapsack out of his grip, hissing like a feral cat.
"Don't - you - dare - touch - that," she snarled, her brown eyes flashing scarlet. The boy grinned even more and muttered, "Feisty and mysterious". It was inevitable that he hadn't noticed her eyes changing colour. She secured the knapsack on her back and walked briskly towards the outskirts of the playground. The boy blocked her path.
"Why aren't you running? I thought you enjoyed it," he asked.
"Because you ruined my mood," she snapped, trying to get past him.
"I won't touch your things, just keep enjoying yourself," he said, wondering silently if she was going to snap irritably at him.
"Like I can believe that," she said, ducking under his arm.
"Just trust me," he persisted, jogging to keep up with the girl's quick steps.
She looked into his warm blue eyes for a moment.
"How can I trust a stranger?" she asked.
"I know things about your life," he said softly.
"Like what?" she asked, alarmed. If he knew what she was, it would mean trouble.
"Like how you have no parents," he said quietly. Relief washed over her, he didn't know what she was. He just thought she was an ordinary human.
"Fine. Don't you dare touch my things, though," she said, walking back to the playground. She started running again, relishing the feeling of being free. She had a tiny worry though. What if he was a spy? She pushed the ridiculous thought to the back of her head, because, after all, the boy was a stranger and seemed harmless. By now he would have taken her back to the horrible place where she was trapped for 5 years if he was a spy.
"Hey, why don't you run out of breath?" the boy asked after a while, tilting his head quizzically. "Because I don't," she replied. It was not good to tell a stranger her identity, because knowing her identity would lead to knowing her mission which she needed to start soon. She skidded to a halt and looked at her silver watch. It was getting late. She didn't want to stop running but she didn't want to fail her parents either. She heaved a sigh and her eyes turned black, signalling, in her world, sadness. Again, the boy noticed nothing with her eye colour. She clutched her locket.
"I won't let you down," she murmured.
"Let who down?" the boy asked.
"Someone, now if you don't mind, I'll be leaving," the girl said briskly, swinging her knapsack over her shoulder.
"Where are you going?" he asked, walking next to her.
"Somewhere," the girl said irritably. There was no time for a meddling fool to be hanging off her arm.
"Do you need company on this journey, I'm of age," he asked, following her and puffing out his chest importantly.
"No, it's dangerous," the girl said, stepping over a log.
"So why is an innocent girl like you going to that place?" he asked, nearly tripping on the log. "Because I am," she replied, looking straight ahead. Innocent? Innocence is not my thing. She thought.
"I might be able to help you," he persisted. She shifted uncomfortably and bit her lip. He was right. He might be able to.
Something he did was familiar but she thought, it couldn't be, all the boys were the same. Dirty, Smelly, Bit stupid.
"What would your parents say if you disappeared?" She asked. A high tree rustled overhead. "Hello?" She looked behind her. Nothing. Suddenly, a loud thud sounded in front of her and she stared. The boy landed neatly in front of her and with a flourish he slung a heavy looking backpack over his shoulder.
"Parents? I don't need parents. I'm a man now," he swelled.
"Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?" She smirked. He blushed again.
"Anyway, are you going to explain how you did that?" She asked, jerking a thumb at the tree.
He suddenly got his dignity back.
"No I am not," he said defiantly.
"Ok, fine. Let's move," she said, walking forwards again.
"Hey, um, what's your name?" he asked, stumbling over a bush.
"Taylor Emerson," she replied.
"I'm Brian McPherson," he said, dusting himself off and hurrying towards Taylor.
The sun had set and the teenagers were moving about in the dark. Brian kept bumping into things while Taylor moved stealthily. It wasn't long until they reached the forest. Taylor checked her watch again. It was time for nocturnal animals to come out. She shivered. A movement sounded behind one of the thick trees.