Growing Up A Legend

Three

I let out quick, raspy breaths as I lean on an alley wall. The walk to Lake from the hospital isn't actually too long, but with my knee it felt like miles. I now find it hard to remain conscious. At least now, I should be safe. Only for a little time though if someone noticed me escaping.

It's tough not to just slump behind some dumpsters now and take a nap. It's so tempting, but as my adrenaline begins to fade from my rush, all feeling comes flooding back. My legs and especially my wounded knee burn from all the struggle. My chest aches and my head slightly throbs. I need to find something to stop all the pain. And my first priority is my knee, not only because it hurts most, but because it can't go much longer with just being wrapped in a cloth.

I don't know too much about tending to wounds or when infection can set in, but there are some things I can recall from my mother as a child. The only idea I can call to mind though with pain filling most thinking space is to clean it. With water or alcohol.

Most unlikely that I'll find clean water in this dirty alley, I go for my second choice. Dumpster diving might not seem like the best choice, but sadly, that is one way my family got some of its resources. I'm used to it. So, I limp over to the closest cluster of dumpsters and litter to search there.

Luckily, drinking's not uncommon for this area. A dark glass bottle sits on top slightly hidden by trash. When I peer down the mouth of the the bottle, the liquid inside is a disappointing amount, but it'll have to do.

I finally sit down with much pleasure then with shaky hands, undo the blood soaked piece of cloth around my knee. The wound underneath is barely visible behind all the smeared blood. I hope I didn't lose too much. When the courage is built up, I soak some alcohol into another piece torn from my pants. I take a deep breath then start to wipe away at it. It stings bad, but I just scream through clenched teeth as my hand remains where it is and that only makes it worse.

All the gore is eventually cleaned away and now before me in a large cut across my knee. It seems to have stopped bleeding for now and it looks healthy enough. I wrap it in more cloth then slouch against the alley wall waiting for the pain to numb.

The darkness of the alley I'm in begins to get filled in with the warm orange glow of a coming dawn. Sounds of people heading to their jobs or whatever morning business they have to handle now begin to rise on the slum streets. It all makes me calm almost like I'm back at home somehow. I close my eyes and just picture it. I'm not home though. I'm a lonely boy out on the streets who feels so helpless. I want to go home, I want my bed, I want to celebrate me passing the trials like we did for John. Only, I didn't pass. Every time that thought hits me, the impact is like a brick.

So as comforting as it would be to dip into sleep now, I can't. Because I'm not home anymore. There's a possibility I could see my family again someday, but if I just choose to give up now, that won't happen. That's my motivation, my family.

Suddenly a low growl startles me. For a moment I think it's a dog, but then I realize it was my stomach. To live for my family, I can't exactly starve in this alley. I need to find food and something to drink.

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A/N: Sorry this chapter was so short guys! I'll try to get the next one soon :).

Also, even though this fan-fiction is just a way for me to start out writing on here, constructive criticism is always welcome. I am always glad to have ways to improve my writing style.

With that said, thank you all for reading!

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Edit:

First of all, I would like to say that I'm grateful for anyone who has read this fanfic and enjoyed it. Now if you are one of those people, I regret to inform you that I have decided to put any progress on this story on pause. In other words, if you are expecting new chapters soon, I apologize for the fact that I'm going to take time away from this story and work on other projects. This isn't permanent though and I plan to continue this someday. I hope that you will still be interested in where Daniel's story goes when that day comes!