caged cardinal bird

Chapter 1

I licks my dry lips, as I press my back up against the brick wall, I can feel the cold rough texture through my shirt. I take a deep breath through my nose and then exhale softly.
I'm currently in a dark alley way, deep shadows around me,  the wet ground reflects the neon lights at the mouth of the alley, the lingering smell of garbage fills my nose. I lick my lips again, cocking My head, listening. The sound of thudding footsteps getting closer, wildly I look around before looking up at a the black fire escape ladder hanging above me, jumping up, my short stature just barely grabbing on, my tiny fingers curled around the bar. My weight isn't enough for the ladder to drop down. Perspiration begins to dot my forehead, as my arms strain above me along with my side, the stab wound still not healed from a week ago.

My long blond hair swishes side to side as I begin to swing my feet back and forth my fingers readjusting on the iron bar for a better grip, I began gaining momentum before my left leg swings up onto the same bar I'm holding on to. one of my dainty hands move to the iron rung above me giving me the leverage I need to pull my small body up the old ladder. "This way!" Somone from below yells out passing from under me, I held my breath, before I quickly scale the old structure, pulling myself up and over the side of the brick building. looking around for a way to escape, theres a door, running I pull on the door handle, it doesn't budge its locked.

A dead end, I blink back tears in frustration, just my luck. I began to jump up and down on the balls of my feet, adrenalin coursing through my veins, shaking out hands to try and ease the adrenaline I'm feeling.
I can feel my heart beating in my ears, thump, thump, thump, and erratic rhythm, It's so loud I have to wonder if anyone else can hear it from here.
I run to the end of the flat roof to see if there a way of escape. Looking out before me, the black night sky has a vast amount of stars twinkle in the milky blue black sky, the moon illuminating the the other hotel roof tops, the city is alive with lights from building and street lamps,, i can see crowds of people as they walk by, unaware of what was going on above them. The only building close enough is a glass roof that glints from the full moon, that would most like break if I jumped on to it, I thought.

The sound of wood splitting has me whirling towards the roof door. As rhythmic thudding is heard from the other side. They've found me. A second later the wooden door falls off its hinges and bangs nosily to the ground. Eight men stepped through. Ivans best men. My vision blurs as tears slide down my cheeks. My throat clamps shut as I try to swallow. Shit. Shit. Shit.
The man in the middle stepped forward from is entourage, His black hair is slicked back, his perfect suit black with white stripes hugs him perfectly, His Piercing brown eyes holding me in place. His poster is relaxed, hands behind his back. But it's his eyes that give him away, he's livid. Anger swirled through the dark brown depths of his eyes.

Igor Ivan. He's the leader of the Bravata, the Russian Mafia. His face was unfazed as he watches me, he was devilishly handsome, with his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and lean hips. He was around his early thirties, But past his beauty was violence, and a twistedness that nobody would see on the surface. I had seen first-hand what he was capable of. Murder, rape, humane trafficking and torture.

Ivans Brown brows furrowed as he watched me, taking in my appearance, black cargo pants and a black t-shirt with black combat boots. "My little songbird, I trusted you to do the job right tonight." He said, his voice low, steady, a shiver ran down my spine. He walked around the roof top hands still clasp behind his back as he talked, as if we were talking about the weather. "It was an easy task, just go in and Kill the boy." I flinched "But you couldn't even do that!" he spit out his, hands going to the ledge his fingers curling around the brick structure his knuckles turning white, his head bowed as he looked down, he was understandably angry. "I'm so...disappointed in you." He said slowly, Ivan let out a sigh shaking his head as if I was a child doing something I wasn't suppose to, he turned back to look at me, before coming towards me standing a foot away, his hand reaching out as he brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, I stiffened, his thumb padding against my cheek is touch soft. A caress, "But that's not the only thing you did isn't?" He whispered quietly, his brown eyes looking into mine, his breath whispered across my face. "you helped that boy escape." He growled, grabbing my face in a bruising grip as he squeezed, his hand held me hostage ignoring the tears that ran down my face. "Tell me why!" He roared, my hands went up to his grasping his hands struggling to get out of his iron grip.

"Why should I?" I said, meeting his brown eyes. "As soon as I tell you you'll kill me anyway." Ivan stared into my eyes searching, then laughed, he pushed my face away, before circling around me like Lion thats found its pray. "I've clothed you, fed you, given you a home in my house, and here and now you disrespect my me, my blood my heritage and you betrayed me, your family the Barvata. That boy may have escaped for now, I'll have him killed yet, but not today. No, my pet needs a new lesson taught. Isn't that right my little song bird?" He said from behind me, his hands going to my shoulders, his lips brushed my neck. I swollowed hard, "Leon," a man stepped up bedsides him, he was tall, lanky with black hair, blue eyes, Leon was Ivan's best man, he was capable to do what must be done. He was capable of following orders unlike me. I'd rather die than go back, other than to be tortured than only would I beg for it, would he kill me. No this was my only chance to escape. Ivan took a step back, giving Leon the room needed.

I didn't think as I ran, I didn't think as a I launched my small body into the air, my body slamming down on the roof below with a loud thud, the glass crackled beneath me. Surprise filtered though me, it hadn't broken through like I thought. looking up I Saw Leon as he pulled out a 22 gage from his hip, his food balanced on the brick wall as he aimed, my eyes widened, I was a sitting duck. The first shot fired hit me in the shoulder, I gritted my teeth on the Onslaught of bullets, the second hit my thigh, the third bullet missed shattering the glass beneath me, pulling me through the glass and the darkness as it swollowed me. I squeezed my eyes shut, tenssing waiting for the hard impact that would soon kill me. Instead, I was met with a hard splash. I gasped in Suprise as cold water engulfed me as water filled my lungs. I clamped down shutting my mouth so i wouldn't breath in anymore water, I was alive. I struggled, the need for air too much, my shoulder and thigh burned with every move I tried to make. I couldn't hold my breath any longer, as the need to breath became more persistent, I mouth opened up automatically, swallowing more water.
I can't die like this, no I had to keep moving, keep running, keep pushing on. I opened my eyes, the chlorine stinging. I had to moved I needed air, I didn't know which way was up, it was dark, I needed to relax, my muscles lossened and I felt my body start to float upwards, quickly I turned my body facing the surface and began to swim upwards. The water broke as my head popped up, coughing as I swam to an edge.
My hands ment cold stone, quickly I pushed up, the water splashing around me as I got out, not caring that I was dripping water everywhere.
I looked around, a green light on the wall that spelled the word exit lit across the room like a beacon. I ran my body pushing against the emergency door, it gave way and bright light lit the hotel hall.

There wouldn't be much time before Ivan and his men came looking for me, I needed to go, to run, to hide, to escape, to disappear.

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