Part One

I don't know what got me into this mess. I was walking from home, down the dark and somewhat dirty streets of my neighborhood. Everything seemed normal as I strolled to the baseball park where my brother's friends wanted to meet. All was well, yet I felt uneasy. Something was wrong, but I couldn't tell what. I wanted to believe I was just being paranoid, except then I would sound crazy.

The truth came to me only four blocks from my home, and eight blocks away from the park. I was the only one around since it was so late... except for the cars behind me.

They jumped out of their shiny black cars, two per car, six people total. Them trailing me was reason enough to be paranoid, right? They looked seriously mean, which freaked me out. My gut told me to run, but before I did, each of them pulled out guns. I didn't stop to think, I just ran, full of adrenaline, fueled by fear.

I barreled down an alley-type thing, a path halfway between a street and a paved nothing and made it to the next street over. I kept running. They wanted me for a reason unknown, and I wouldn't let them have me.

A small playground nearby provided little cover, but enough for me to skirt around it and hide somewhere else. Thanks to the broken light, the clouds over the thumbnail moon, and the darkness inside each home surrounding the park, it was easy for me to escape this way. I turned right and doubled back to hide behind the building I just passed. Being as fast as I was, the three hadn't noticed, and just went straight ahead.

Wait.

One... two....

 Where's the third?

Maybe I wasn't as tricky as I had thought, but where was he? Was he waiting in the bridge-road? Could he be going around? I was hiding behind a duplex, so it wouldn't be hard for him to sneak up on me. Sweat littered my face as I leaned against the wall for protection. I was breathing loudly; I tried to calm myself.

I looked to the left. No shadow. Was he there, lying in wait? I searched the right. He may not be coming around that way, and if he did, I would have a clear view of his approach.

There on the left, I saw his shadow. He was moving... but I couldn't. My muscles, bones, my whole body froze in fear. I knew I wouldn't get away in time. Guns could shoot from far away, right? Somehow, the idea of running seemed childish, that I had no choice but give myself up to this man.

And then.

 Pain!

Millions of tiny daggers fought for a place in my chest, going in and out randomly, each stabbing with tons of ferocity. I couldn't breathe! I couldn't move, except to fall to the ground. The man around the corner came running at my scream. By now, all I could see were blurs, though I could hear him clearly, even above my own shouting.

“What's wrong, kid?”

Another voice entered the fray, this one female. How did she get here?

“What did you do?” Her voice was accusing, and sharp.

“I didn't touch him!” the guy replied. “I almost had him when he burst out screaming!”

“You know we're supposed to deliver him unharmed,” someone else said.

“I swear it wasn't me! Crap! What are we supposed to do now?”

However, I didn't hear a reply. Suddenly, nothing hurt anymore. There was nothing to fear. I was... free, and alone....



In Darkness, to Rest.