I wake up to the sound of my alarm beeping. I groan as I reach over to shut it off. My body slips out from under the covers and I rub my eyes to get that crap out. As I walk into the living room, I pour myself a glass of milk. I quickly shove everything into my bag before I go to take a shower. As I am getting dressed, my boss calls me. “Hello?” I say as I put on my belt
“John, run. Get all your things and run. They are coming for you.” He responded all in one breathe.
“Who’s coming for me?” I asked as I buttoned my shirt.
“Just run! Meet me in the woods under that one willow tree.”
I hung up. I cursed as I ran into my bedroom and grabbed some clothes and my gun. I shoved them in my bag and ran to the north window and saw a group of men with guns wearing riot gear. I ran into the library and locked the door. I pushed the window out and climbed out. For a 15 story building, it sure is windy. I slowly made my way to the fire escape and dashed down. Tripping over my own feet, I climbed down the ladder to the back alley and made a mad dash to the train station.
I got to the train station, and just my luck they were there waiting for me. From the station I could see the office, it didn’t look too far. I could see the guards standing in front guns ready. Sighing, I ran across the street sprinting down to Avenue A. I could hear the heavy tread of combat boots. A shot was fired causing everyone (but me) to duck. I kept running, lungs stinging, head sweating, and legs sprinting.
Passing the building, I ran down the street, the men still after me. I could see my boss with his finger bleeding.
“Hurry!” he yelled as he ran into the trees. Dashing in, the tread of boots stopped. One by one the men that were chasing me lined up, and the middle one pulled a switch out of his pocket. He flicked it and out of the corner of my eye I saw the building I once called home, blew up before my eyes. I turned to look at it but there wasn’t anything left to look at. Family’s gone, children gone, all because of me. I looked back at the men but they were gone. I slowly backed up into the trees looking at what was left of it.
“I have to tell you something.” Brian said
“What is it?” I asked as I pulled out my gun.
“The reason those men were after us was because,”
“Yes?”
“I was supposed to give them 50k by the 10th. They said they would take it out on the company if I didn’t give it to them. I didn’t think they would do it like this. I tried to warn everyone else but when I called them most of them didn’t answer. Mariam is supposed to be here by now. I walked over to the tree line and saw Mariam, running, dogs after her. Running out of the trees I loaded my gun and pulled the trigger. Bang, Bang! Two of the dogs dropped dead, three still followed. Mariam slams into me at the tree line. Much like the men, the dogs stop and stare. Running into the woods, we meet up with Brian who didn’t even lift a finger to help.
“What the hell Brian,” I said pushing him up against a tree “I risk my life trying to protect someone and you don’t even do anything!”
“John, drop it,” frail Mariam said to me “I’m fine.”
I release him and grab my bag I threw on the floor. Out fell my thumb drive, shattering into tons of bits and pieces. I guess it id for the best, no way to track me. I take off Mariam’s drive and crush it. She knows why. “Follow me.” I say as I swing my bag onto my shoulder, gun ready.
