The Point of No Return

The Point of No Return: Run.

When I arrived, dad was reloading two black handguns. Then he looked up and aimed it at me.

"Think fast."

Then I bent back, the tip of my braid almost touching the muddy ground.

I felt two bullets swoosh past above me. Then I stood up straight again.

"Good," He said. "I like how you're improving with each day that passes." 

* * *

I was at the kitchen preparing dinner when out of nowhere I heard two gunshots being fired. I bolted for the door and went outside.

I walked towards the clearing of the woods. Then I started into the deeper parts of the woods, trusting my instincts that it would lead me to where the gunshots were being fired.

Another gunshot.

This time I picked up speed. When I arrived at our training area, I found dad leaning on a branch of a tree. His right hand covering his left rib. Blood was seeping through his fingers. I looked around and saw five men each carrying their own weapons.

"Run." He breathed.

That was all it took me to turn around and run the heck away from there. Not turning back even once. Knowing I can never go back. Clad only in my black jumpsuit and combat boots. Running for my life.

Another gunshot. Then a strained shout.

By now tears were freely rolling down my cheeks. I had nothing left. Soon dad might be gone. Gone forever. I didn't even do anything to save him. But we were outnumbered, I knew that much. I heard shuffling behind me, I didn't look back. I knew I was being followed. 

* * *

"You can run. But you can't run from us forever. Eventually, you'll get tired and you'll stop running." Someone snarled from a few feet behind me.

I heard something click.

I gave out a shriek. A bullet had grazed my left shoulder and blood was slowly trickling over my jumpsuit. I tried to stop the blood from trickling some more by using my other arm as a protection against it. It was enough to prolong the blood seeping out of my shoulder.

I didn't know how long I was running but I know I couldn't stop even though I was growing really tired with each minute that passes. Eventually, I saw lights. I made it to the nearest town. Which meant I had been running for 2 hours straight.

I willed myself to run faster so that I would make it to the crowds of people scattered in this town.

I heaved a sigh of relief when I was caught in betweeen people, Now I knew they couldn't shoot or throw anything at me. 'Cause they wouldn't want attention being drawn to us.

I continued running through the streets of the otherwise busy town and I didn't care if I was shoving people out of my way or pushing pass them. I needed to get away from the men that were following me. People gave me glares. Some even said colorful words at me. I didn't give a flying fuck I was running for my damn life.

I took a quick peek behind me and saw the 2 men that were trying to get to me.

The burst of adrenaline rush coursing through me helped in subduing the pain and tiredness that my body was feeling.

I must've looked like shit.

My braid was long gone and was replaced with curly hair matted with grime, dirt and sweat. My jumpsuit had several cuts here and there because I could feel leaves and twigs poking at my exposed skin. I was also aware at the amount of blood that was dripping from my left shoulder. It didn't hurt much. The pain was tolerable. At least it was nothing worse. Yet.