One Tortured Soul

Chapter Eleven

I turned down another corner just in time. Not a minute later, there was the sound of several people rushing down the hall. They stopped right outside the door to that man's office and I heard them barging in as I slipped away free.

I headed in the opposite direction from all the commotion, making my way to an exit so I could get out of this horrible place. I wanted to free all the other people that were trapped here, but I didn't know how I could do that. I was going to have a hard time getting out of here by myself. It would be unrealistic to imagine that I could help any of them.

But I vowed to myself that I would return if I could, and help them, someday. I didn't know when that would be, or if it would ever happen, but it gave me some peace as I made my way to the exit.

That man hadn't given me all the information I had been looking for, but it was enough for me go on, at least for now.

I spotted a set of white, double doors at the end of the hallway and breathed a sigh of relief. I was almost there.

I was two feet away from the door when there was the sound of running and then I heard a shout.

"Hey, you! Freeze!"

I didn't turn around. I didn't slow.

Instead, I yanked the door open and started to run. The door slammed behind me as I ran towards the edge of the compound. I was now outside and even though t was dark out, the bright searchlights lit up the building behind me and something else.

A high, chain link fence with treacherous, barbed wire wrapped around the top.

I hesitated, not sure what to do. I wasn't sure I would be able to climb it. But what other choice did I have? I didn't see another way out.

Steeling my resolve, I sped up once again and ran straight for a darker part of the fence that was hidden from the search lights.

I could hear shouts behind me and I knew that if I didn't get out soon, it would be too late. I was tiring quickly and didn't have much on my side.

I reached the the fence and craned my neck upwards towards the top. It would be no easy climb, and once I reached the top I would have to somehow get over the barbed wire.

Taking a deep breath, I raised my right arm up and hooked my fingers into the links of the fence. I gripped it tightly and raised my other arm higher, grabbing a gold with that as well. Then, I began scaling the wall as fast as I could. It caused my fingers to ache and cramp up from all the weight I was putting on them, but I ignored it as best I could.

Something whizzed past my ear and clanked into the fence before dropping the ground below.

I risked taking a glance back and immediately regretted doing so. There were at least ten men not too far behind. Some had stopped where they were and were shooting at me.

I heightened my efforts to get the the top, but in my hurry, one of my hand slipped.

All my weight landed on my one arm, sending massive sparks of pain up and down it. I bit back a cry of pain that threatened to come forth, my whole body shaking and straining with effort.

Bit by bit, as bullets whizzed by me, somehow missing, I lifted my arm to where it was, gaining a somewhat sturdy foothold once again.