I didn’t even know who was chasing me. Or why. The entire ideal was overwhelming.

I hauled myself into a canoe on the edge of a river, frantically paddling out onto the bluish water. I looked over my shoulder and saw one of the three people, a man with dark hair and a beard dive into the water after me. Seriously? What was so important that I was needed for?

I paddled faster, but the current had other plans. I was drifting to the side of the riverbank, where the other two people started to run towards. They could see I wasn’t going to be able to beat the current. I started paddling closer to the bank—if I couldn’t beat the current, I could beat them to the bank and make a run for it. But the guy swimming behind me was gaining. It was a close call, but I got to the shore, hopped out of the canoe just as the man reached for it, and sprinted through the brush.

Once again the 2 men and woman started chasing after me. How were they not tired yet? They called out to me, saying things I didn’t bother listening to. I slipped into the thicker woods, hiding behind a big tree trunk. I heard their footsteps slow to a stop, followed by their heavy breathing.

“We know you’re here, Anna,” The woman spoke, the group spreading out to find me.

“We are helping you. *Saving* you. You dont have to run.” Another male voice said.

“Anna, don’t you miss your family? Don’t you want to come home?”

What were they even talking about? Saving me? Come home? They were the ones chasing me. *they* were the unsafe ones. Right?

I slowly peered over the edge of the tree trunk, only spotting the woman and one of the men. Before I could turn around, a pair of arms came around me. I squirmed and yelled in protest, but the man who had swam after me in the water wouldn’t let me go.

“Anna, listen, okay? We’re going to help you.” The man said.

“Stop! Let go of me!” I shouted. “And my name is not Anna!” I told them. Why were they calling me that?

“Yes it is, sweetheart. You’ve been missing for weeks. We need to know what happened to you .” The woman’s soft voice came through, standing in front of me now.

“What are you talking about? I haven’t been missing. I’ve only been here for a day!” I didn’t understand. The things they were saying weren’t true.

The woman furrowed her brows, looking to the other men. “What? Anna, honey, everyone has been searching for you. Do you remember what happened? You can tell us, you don’t have to be afraid.”

“My name is not Anna! And nothing happened to me!” I protested.

“If Anna isn’t your name, then what is it?” The man holding me asked.

“My name is…” I began, racking my mind for memories. My eyes widened and I slowed my train of thought. I didn’t remember. I didnt remember my name, or *anything* for that matter. I didn’t know how I got to these woods, why people thought I was missing…the last thing I remembered was waking up on the forest floor.

“I…what’s happening to me?” I asked desperately, looking up.

The three people shared a look, and the woman pulled out a walkie-talkie of some sort.

“We found the abducted girl. She was out in the Easton forest, suffering from severe amnesia.”