A/N: Before I post more chapters, I want to go back and fix any problems that I see in the previous chapters. The plot or the basis of the chapters will not change just wording and grammatical mistakes. If you see anything that I have missed, let me know and I will fix it the best I can!

If I Should Fall

~~Alex's POV~~

I ran. I ran as fast as I could over the littered forest floor. Vines and roots attempted to bring me closer to my fate, but I did not allow it. I knew that if I stopped my fate would be one of death, but I did not want to meet death for I was just too young.

The pounding of footsteps roared loudly in my ears.

I could hear the clink of their guns as they smashed against the holders of my fate. I could almost sense the excitement and urgency the guns exhibited to be fired. Or was that the fear finally consuming my mind?

My breathing was grating to my ears. My chest was heaving with exertion and desperation as my feet pounded the ground at my feet.

I could feel myself getting weaker. The days of being starved and beaten were catching up with me. The aches and pain that I had ignored could no longer be pushed under the wall. I let out a sob as I felt that wall crumble, letting wisps of pain enter my conscious. As the pain built, my feet stumbled as my concentration lapsed. I kept urging myself to pick up the pace, to make my feet more stable, but my brain would not, or could not listen to my horror.

A shot rang out behind me. In slow motion, I saw the bullet slam into the tree just inches in front of my face, destroying the wood that had done them no harm.

The jolt created by the bullet shocked my brain into understanding the urgency of this situation regardless of how my abused body felt. My speed increased, my breathing increased, and my heart pounded furiously against my ribs as new adrenaline pumped through my veins.

No matter how fast I ran, or how often I dodged the bullets coming my way, the jungle became darker. The vines and roots that once were just an annoyance came to life. The vines would reach for my arms and head while the roots raised from the ground to trip my quickly moving feet. The evil it exhibited fueled the people running behind me as the gunshots became more and the yells turned predatory.

The ferocity of the bullets leaving the barrel blended into to the sound of my breathing and the pounding of the feet. I felt as if the bullets were just as the vines and roots by obtaining a mind of its own as they came closer and closer to hitting their mark. The surprise of the bullet slamming into me increased the pain that it produced. I feel to the ground in agony, hands clutching the bleeding wound. The thought of getting up and running never crossed my mind; my body had finally reached its limit. No amount of pleading or begging would have convinced it to move so why waste the energy?

Even through the pain the hopelessness of the situation slammed into me as I lay on the ground bleeding and grunting in pain. A sob wanted to escape, but I couldn't show weakness to the people approaching cautiously. They had already seen how much they had weakened me, why should I show them how close they were to breaking me? To me, breaking wasn't an option.

A guard approached my curled up form, a gleeful smile spreading across his face. I didn't know what he was smiling about, but I found out as his show became acquainted with my heaving ribs. Letting a cry out I curled as much as possibly to protect my vulnerable abdomen. More guards happily joined the fun as they used hands, fists, and guns to do damage to my body. The blows were coming so fast that I couldn't tell where each individual blow landed. All I knew was that my body was growing in pain and that I wanted the pain to stop.

My wish was answered as a yell went up that halted all movement above me. The guards slowly stood up and moved away as another figure approached my curled body. He slowly kneeled beside me and gently touched my face. The gentleness of the touch caused me to turn toward him in surprise. I couldn't help but think why this man was here as a smile spread across his face. The smile spoke of hope that he would give me, it spoke of taking the pain away. I couldn't help but to lean into the hand that was laid in comfort on my shoulder.

Before my eyes the smile disappeared and was replaced with a look that spoke of hatred and of pain. The hand laid upon my shoulder now dug into my skin, creating fingertip bruises on my already bruised skin. The fear must have shown on my face as a dark chuckle left his lips.

It was then I realized that someone had walked and kneeled behind me. With a jolt I tried to jerk away, but the hand just sank deeper into my shoulder as the man behind me leaned over me. My struggles increased as I caught the glimpse of a needle as it was lowered to my neck.

My movements were futile as I was held still and the needle pierced my skin. My eyes grew heavy and my mind became clouded. The last thing I heard just before I was pulled into unconsciousness was, "Nighty Night Rider."

A/N: Please Review

I would love to hear your views on this story. Criticism is welcome only if it is constructive...flames just aren't that nice :