"48, 49, 50! Ready or not, here I come!"

I covered my mouth to keep my nervous breathing from giving my hiding spot away. I was snugly tucked behind a large trunk in my grandparents' back guest room. I heard the door open and my cousin's footsteps walk across the room. The closet door squeaked open, and there was some ruffling before it shut again. I heard my cousin move closer to look under the bed. My hand squeezed tighter over my mouth, and I crossed my fingers that he wouldn't be able to hear the panicked beating of my heart. The footsteps headed back towards the door slowly. There was a pause, as if my cousin had turned around to check for anything else that seemed amiss, and a minute later the door gently closed with his footsteps heading down the hall.

I gasped a great sigh of relief and slowly raised my head above the trunk. I only had one goal in mind now. I crept to the door, opening it only a crack, and I peered out into the hallway. The coast was clear. I crouched down and headed for the next guest room, quickly looking around to make sure it was empty before taking refuge. I hid just out of sight behind the doorway, poking my head out occasionally to check for my cousin. I knew I had to go for it. This was my only chance.

I took a couple of deep breaths, my heart pounding, and I made a run for it. Down the hall, through the computer room, and out the back door into the garage. I heard a screech behind me as my cousin spied me darting across the hall. I fumbled for a second with the handle that would reveal my sanctuary, but the door burst open just in time. A few more feet, I told myself. Just a few more feet. My legs stretched out as far as they could, my feet pounding hard against the ground. I could feel my cousin right behind me, his hand reaching for me. At the last second, I threw out my hand and grabbed at the bark of a huge elm tree. "Base!" I called out the moment my fingertips grazed the tree. My cousin scowled and turned, in search of my siblings.