The Not-So Forgotten Loser

Chapter 8

I kept on running, the cement streets changed into dirt roads, the big corporation skyscrapers turn into abandoned local grocery stores and homes. I rounded the corner into the ally, I can still hear Jose's foot steps behind me getting louder and louder as he caught up with me, I can hear him screaming my name, telling me to stop, but I can't. Than I'd have to explain everything to him, everything I've been hiding from the outside world, everything that I didn't want him to know because I don't want him to take pity on me... everything I wish even I didn't know.

The end of the ally was getting closer and closer and I hadn't slowed down one bit. I kept running, my feet hurting from the unpaved gravel and the broken glass that I had gotten stuck in my shoes. I got to the end of the ally Jose still running after me, screaming my name. I looked left, and right, I have nowhere to run. I looked up to see that the cement wall wasn't that much taller than me. I looked over my shoulder, no Jose, had he stopped chasing me?

I heard a scream coming from my right, quickly I ran until I found the right turn, I stopped dead in my tracks. There I saw it, the five men from the other day, they were beating Jose. I picked up the closest thing to me (which happened to be a cinderblock) and chunked it at one of the men, hitting him in the back of the head. The other men froze and looked at me; I heard one of them mutter what sounded to be a great amount of curse words. Knowing that my presence scared them just the slightest bit, boosted my confidence.

"Get away from him." I said with a tone suggesting I was a killer; even Jose flinched at my tone. Slowly the men backed away from Jose and put their hands up in surrender. I walked over towards Jose when one of the men decided it would be a good idea to fight back, not smart. I quickly socked him straight in the jaw, I could hear the cracking noise coming from his jaw bone, he fell to the ground, out like a light.

"Anyone else?" I asked slightly amused. The remaining 3 shook their heads no. I quickly walked over to Jose who had by now gotten to his feet and was leaning against the wall holding his shoulder; it had been popped out of place.

"This is going to hurt..." I told him warningly. He looked at me like I was crazy.

"On the count of 5, 1...2...5!" I snapped his shoulder back into place with him screaming out at the pain. When he recovered and was back to normal he looked at me.

"Thank you."

"Don't, it's my fault you're even here."

"No, if I hadn't have followed you than you wouldn't have had to do that"

"Exactly, you followed ME, M.E. meaning me, as in it's my fault."

"No, but I do have one question... Why did you run?"