Running For Answers (Book 2 Of Running Series)

Chapter 25 - Headache's Heartache

I don't know how far I'd got, or how long I'd been when a voice said,

"I don't know whether you're stupid or brave" I turned around, Maurio Galviao was stood leaning against a wall,

"I just don't give a fuck" I replied,

"You aren't going to leave Rio alive Keane. I can't let that happen. I can't let you"

"Then kill me"

"Oh I will and your family, I'll kill them first, slowly and painfully and make you watch every moment," I laughed,

"Will you now"

"Are you underestimating my ability Keane?"

"No, but your underestimating mine," I lunged for him, wielding the knife I had hidden. I caught him by surprise for a few seconds and managed to give a good few slices, putting him on the backburner. I can't quite comprehend what happened after that, I knew we had a scuffle and that knives were thrown about, blood was lost and then the next thing I knew, he'd disappeared and I was leant against a wall, with a bloodied stomach. I thought, oh shit, he stabbed me, but it wasn't as bad as I first thought. I'd been badly cut across my stomach but not stabbed thankfully. I also had a few cuts on my arms and one across the corner of my eye, my hands were both bloody from the blood on my stomach and defensive wounds on my hands,

"Are you okay?" a voice said, my eyes focused on a little boy,

"Yes buddy, did you help me?" he nodded, "Thank you, did you see where the man went?"

"He staggered off with 2 other men, do you need me to get someone for you?"

"No. no, I'm fine, thank you," he spoke good English for a boy so young, "What's your name?"

"Alemao"

"Thank you Alemao," I rummaged in my pocket, pulling out some notes and handed them to him, his eyes widened,

"I cannot take this from you"

"Yes you can. You saved me. Please take it and mention this to no one,"

"Thank you,"

"Thank you. Now go," he went to leave, I slowly stood up, but he turned around,

"Are you sure, there's..."

"No...I'm okay," he gave me a nod and then ran off, probably back to his family who now had enough money to get things they'd only dreamed of. I clutched my stomach and made my way at snail's pace back to Ricardo's. My headache in full throttle along with every other bloody part of my body. I snook back into the house quietly and then into the bathroom. I noticed it was now 4am. I perched on the edge of the bath, looking at myself in the small mirror. Shit. I pulled my hoody off carefully, inspecting the damage closely, I was about to start trying to tidy myself up when the bathroom door opened,

"I wondered where..." Tayte's voice trailed off when he looked at me properly, "Holy shit. What the fuck Keane!" he shut the door behind him, "You better tell me what the hell has gone on," he grabbed a towel and pressed it hard against my stomach, I hissed, "Hold that and start talking," he then grabbed some tissue and dabbed it on my face, wiping the blood, "I'm waiting"

"I'm sick of telling you what happened. How tired I am. How much pain I'm in"

"Well I'm sick of you coming back beaten and bruised"

"I went to get some fresh air, to try and get rid of my headache. I wandered too far and Galviao was there, we got into a fight, then the next thing I knew I was sat up against a wall. This young boy called Alemao had helped me, he said he saw Galviao staggering away with two men. I came straight back after that"