Hunter

III

Jade forgot how to breathe.
The best moments of her life flashed before her eyes.
Her mom teaching her how to read, buying her candy, her first day of kindergarten, the day she got into the NYC School for Performing Arts.
She stared at the barrel and looked farther until she saw the face of a grinning man.
"Surprise."
His face had the rugged, handsome features of a gangster, which he probably was. The scar on his chin made his face seem sharper than it actually was.
His dark hair was slicked back, the ends spiky, framing around his thick neck.
Jade took a gulp of air. "Wh-who are you?" She looked him over, noting the muscle under his jacket.
"The one who's taking you home, honey."
He winked and the cigarette in his mouth jostled.
He thrust the gun farther. "Let's move along, sweet thing, the boss doesn't like to wait."
Jade took a breath, gripping the knife in his hand.
She smiled nervously, preparing her self. A slice and run.
The gangster prodded the gun into her back, pushing her forward.
Jade whirled around, kicking out her foot, colliding into the man in a place men really shouldn't be hit. The knife sliced against his wrist. She sliced again, dropping the knife on the ground.
The gangster collapsed, groaning, his hand squeezing the trigger of the gun.
A shot rang out, and Jade took off.
She hastily grabbed her jacket and phone, slipping on some flats.
She ran down the stairs of the apartment building, jumping over the rails.
She raced towards the police station, dialing 911 on her phone.
The gangster staggered out of the apartment, cursing and gripping his bloodied wrist tightly.
He pulled out a phone, yelling into it.
"You idiots! The girl's getting away! I ain't gonna be the one who gotta deal with the boss, ya got that? He dead set on eliminating everyone of them, the little devils. And I ain't getting in trouble cuz y'all can't catch a little girl!"
He ended the call, taking a deep breath.
He cursed under his breath, trying to find her.

Jade pushed through the police station door, breathing hard.
"There's a gangster in my apartment!"
The man behind the desk looked up.
His bald, pale head glistened with sweat.
"You have to help me!"
The man sighed. "Kid, I'm not in the mood for jokes."
Jade gaped at him. "You think I'm making this up? Why would I do that?!"
"Kid, you're what, 16? I know how teens work, ok? You probably got your friends outside, recording your little joke."
"Joke? Are you God damn serious? There's a flesh-and-blood gangster in my apartment!"
The man got up, his pot-belly bumping  into his desk.
He walked up to Jade, gripping her upper arm gruffly.
"It's time you got home."
He moved toward the door, dragging Jade with him. He pulled open the door and started walking out.
"I'm not going back there! He had a gun!"
"I'm sure he did."
"You're a cop! Isn't this in your job description?!"
He sighed, rubbing his head. "Fine. Tell you what, I'll take you back to your apartment and we'll check it out, ok?"
Jade nodded, anger subsiding slightly. "Ok."
In a few minutes, they were back at the apartment door.
Jade unlocked it and stepped inside, carefully looking inside.
The cop stepped in next to her, looking around. "Kid, I don't see a gangster."
He looked around some more, muttering under his breath. "Or a parent for that matter."
He looks at Jade, hard. "You said he had a gun?"
Jade nods. "The gun actually went off while I was running."
The cop raises his eyebrows. "Really? Then why, on not one surface of this apartment is there a bullet hole? Or any sign of a struggle? No shuffled papers, no rumpled carpet, nothing."
He takes a breath. "Where's your guardian?"
Jade bit her lip, trying not to get irritated. She spoke the words slowly. "My mom.... Is missing. The cop told me she doesn't exist."
He sighed heavily and glared at Jade. "I hope you had your fun, kid."
He thunders out the door.
"No, wait!"
Jade sank to the floor, anger building in her chest.
What the hell am I supposed to do now?
She took a deep breath, and walked out of the apartment.
I'm going for a walk. Forget this shit.