Manhunt

"One, two, three, four..."
All the way to twenty, I have time to move.
"Five, six, seven, eight..."
Faster. I am the wind, the wind is me. Run.
"Nine, ten, eleven, twelve..."
Soon I will be hunted. Hide.
"Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen..."
Behind the bush. Blend with the branches in the dark.
"Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty!"
They're coming. Hope the others are slow and clumsy.
"Split up! I go left, you go right!"
I am to the right, but I am nowhere.
"He's making a run for it!"
He is a coward. He is an idiot. I am hidden. I am smart.
"Find the others."
They approach. I am nothing.
"Nothing here."
I am the bush. My leaves rustle. I am hunted.
"Was that a rabbit, or a person?"
I make not a sound. I move not a muscle.
"Let's go that way."
They walk. I sprint. I am safe.
"Oh, goddammit, Jill."
I am the victor. I am the hunter.