On the Run

Prologue

I was stuck and rapidly coming to the end of a dark, smelly alleyway. Behind me I could hear the thumping of feet as they came in contact with the cold, damp floor. They were getting closer with every second that went by. My heart was racing and I knew it was the detective coming for me. It was only a matter of time before I would be caught wether I stopped now or kept on running, so I picked up a small plank of slightly rotted wood and hit myself across the head.

I awoke in a small makeshift office with a pounding head. I ran my fingers across my forehead and felt the bruising and a bit of dried blood. I got up and looked around the room just as the detective came in.

"Take a seat." said the detective whilst walking across the room. I did what he said at once.

Apart from seeing him from a distance this was my first time looking at him up close and I could clearly see that he was a middle aged man who had obviously had a lot of experience and puts a lot of effort in his work. He could tell that I was analysing him and quickly asked the question that was on both of our minds.

"Why did you do it?" He asked.

I sat there for a while until I was comfortable enough to speak.

"The only way you will fully understand is if I tell you everything." I replied.

"Don't keep me waiting then." he said promptly.

It took me a few minutes to choose where to start but after a while it just came to me.

"Growing up my family was extremely poor living on the outskirts of town. It was a difficult life and my mother tried her hardest to provide the best for my sister and I after my father disappeared. 

One morning my mother asked me to go and fetch some water from the nearest water pump because we were running low on drinking water. I grabbed the bucket that was set of to the side in one corner and walked off down the street. The pump was a few blocks away and when I arrived, there was already a large line. I was almost home when I heard a terrible scream coming from near my house. I dropped the bucket and ran home, drenched from all the spilt water. I got to the front door and it was open. This was very strange as we never leave the front door open. I took a few steps inside and that was as far as I needed to go before I could see my mother and sister tied up and kneeling on the ground. Towering over them were three men strong in stature and one had a knife. My eyes met with my mothers and I knew instantly what she meant. Run! I was backing away when the man with the blade slit the throats of both my mother and sister. I was frozen from what I had just witnessed and it was only when the man with the blade turned that realisation hit me. He shouted and the other two men looked up. I was through the door when the blade left his hand; I ducked just in time, letting the blade whoosh over my head. It went flying past and landed on the ground further ahead. I picked it up and ran down the street losing the men in the crowded parts of town. It took a long time for me to catch my breath but once I had, I swore that I would avenge my family's deaths."

"How old were you?" the detective questioned

"Only twelve, but it changed my life." I answered.

"It took three and a half years for me to find the men and their whereabouts. The only reason that I survived was by creating simple traps from things I found on the street. I then caught and sold rabbits at the market. The first two deaths were fairly straight forward because I just made them look like accidents. This left the people of the market in the firing line for blame, but the third I wanted to do personally. I found a path often travelled by this man and worked out my plan. When I jumped on him he didn't have a clue what was happening he just stared at me and said 'what is your problem?'

I answered by asking him a question, 'Does this blade look familiar to you?'

'Where did you get that!' he demanded, clearly bewildered.

I paused, 'I was the one, the one that got away.'

I drove the blade deep into his chest. The last look on his face was shock and recognition but his eyes quickly rolled to the back of his head. I then slipped away before anyone noticed except for you."

"I now know the cause of pain and suffering in your eyes.  I have also put together pieces of your puzzle that you have not even begun to comprehend. This is all part of something bigger and I believe your dad must have been a huge part of it. For starters these men, these men that attacked you and your family worked for your father."

I opened and closed my mouth rapidly, not knowing what to say. Jumping out of my chair I run for the door.

"It's locked!" Stated the detective, matter-o-factly. I rattled the handle just to be sure. I look up, gazing into his eyes; all emotion has vanished from his face. I glance at the window and know exactly where to go and what to do. I sprint for the window and crash straight through it. I expected him to follow me but all he did was gaze out the window and say, quite plainly, "I believe we will be seeing each other soon?"

"As do I." I reply. With that I was off disappearing into the shadows of the now dark street.