I Am Free

I’m free…but for how long? I can feel the snow crunch under my boots as I run for the hills, my bag banging against my back with every stride. I look behind, they’re still on my tail. I try to run faster, the fresh cool air against my face as the sound of their shouts travel swiftly towards me. I stumble and a massive crack fills the air. I scream in pain, my ankle obviously broken, as the shouts catch up to me. I can do nothing but lay there in agony awaiting my capture. Two of them grab the pit of my arms and rip my bag from me before dragging me, screaming, back to the cave where I once escaped. They throw me in the homemade wooden cage roughly and close the door fascinating it shut with some rope. I try to get up but my ankle won’t let me. I lay in the enclosure, my lips chapped, and picture the snow crunching beneath my boots. I remember the cold air and wonder if I will ever experience that again. I was free…will I ever be again? The sight of the guns tucked into the captors belts makes me doubtful.