Capturing the flag

I hold my breath. A gasp kept strangled inside as if my mouth were socked and taped over by an intruder. I don't dare breathe. I'm the intruder, but they were first.

The bark of the tree is imprinting onto the skin of my legs as I press myself to it fanatically. I want to peek at the yellow fabric billowing in the breeze, a golden target, but I don't dare. I know I need to wait until the foot steps are heard all the way to the left.

I hear the snap and crack of brush beneath his shoes. Five paces, he's there.

I push off the tree, inhaling air as I charge. Triumph pulsating with every beat of my heart. A trail of footprints marking the dirt as proof. A dusty cloud rising from the ground, kicked up, allowing me to disappear like a magic trick.

Taking a lesson from Forest Gump, I ran. I ran and didn't stop until I reached the other side, out of breath, unsure if I had it still.

"Home Base", I exclaim.

I captured the flag. I hold it waving in the air. An emblem taunting the onlookers across the way. Unapologetically, I'd done it.