She forced her body forward, as she tried with all her might to steady her breathing. In and out, she told herself as she took long controlled inhales. But each time she heard a scream, her heart would pick up speed, until the panic seized her lungs as well, causing her to take short quick breaths until she could barely breathe.

She didn’t even realize how far she had moved—now standing on the side of the cabin—before her vision darkened. She placed her hand against the siding to steady herself.

“Mills! I told you to guard the back!” Warren screamed.

Tara felt a jolt through her body once again, but this time it freed her with a sudden rush of adrenaline as Warren whizzed past her. The screaming had stopped and Tara quickly pulled herself together as she realized what had unfolded.

She ran as fast as she could to the back of the cabin, and when she approached, she could see that a window was open and a short, stocky man was running deep into the woods with Warren on his tail.

He had a good lead, a few feet in front of Warren, but Tara had to do something; she had caused this. She ran after them, weaving in and out of trees, her eyes focused on the two of them. Warren was faster and fitter—the fleeing man was growing winded—and Tara watched Warren close in, grabbing hold of his shirt.

Relief flooded Tara’s body, but only for a second, because as Warren fastened his grip, his foot hit a rock, sending him tumbling forward. He pulled the man’s shirt along with him until it fell free from his grip, and the man stumbled back, losing his footing as well. His hands touched the ground for a moment until he steadied himself on his feet. He was about to pick up running again, but Tara had already caught up. She tackled him, sending his body flat onto the ground, and then cuffed him.

Warren stood up, covered in mud and leaves.

“What the hell happened to you?!” he screamed.

Tara looked up at him, unsure of how to respond. She knew there was no way to hide the huge mistake she just made.

“Get him in the car and call an ambulance,” he added, his words clouded with anger. He turned, running back through the woods to go check on the woman.

Tara tried to pull herself together as she got to her feet and forced the man to walk in front of her. He stood up, defeated, his deep sunken eyes focused in front of him as Tara forced him to the car. Moments later, the man was in the back of the vehicle and Tara had called for an ambulance.

Warren stood on the porch, speaking with the woman who was screaming moments earlier. He didn’t even look up as Tara approached. His gaze fixated on the woman, whose auburn bangs were matted to her forehead with blood.