Man in the Wall (Who is he?)

Chapter 17 - Runt of the day

No way am I going to stop now and do a victory dance. They're still after me. I continue to sprint away. I run on only to see that the perimeter has a freaking electrical gate surrounding it! What the actual hell!?

However, looking closer, I see that the entrance gate is open, but slowly closing and if I don't make a run for it now I'll be stuck here for all eternity. So I run on, pushing myself, dirt flying beneath my feet with every step I take. I can hear people running behind me. Please don't catch up with me! I plead.

As I reach the gate, I run through just as they're about to fully close. It misses me by a few seconds. This causes whoever is behind me to stop in their tracks and wait for it to reopen. I'm not about to stay and wait for them to join me on my journey back home, so I run towards the open road. Once I reach it, it's only a matter of left or right.

Crap.

I don't know which way we came from.

Screw it.

Being in the middle of nowhere, I decide to go right.

The area looks deserted. Patches of grass and bushes scattered at random, mountains and rocky hills conveying a background scenery. Only a few ruined buildings every here and then. If I didn't know any better I'd say we're isolated somewhere in the desert. Far away from any city, far away from civilization. Basically, the perfect location to torment captured civilized civilians.

They might as well place a sign saying:
'Captured Civilised Civilians.

We get them so you don't have to.
Make your pick. Pay the price.

The runt of the day:
Vivian Harper Maldonado.'

While running, I look slightly back and only then do I see how huge the concrete prison warehouse is that I've just escaped from. Then I notice the gate beginning to open. Not wanting to see who's chasing after me, I continue to sprint forward. Please let there be a town nearby or a police station or telephone for the least, I think to myself.

I run pass a handful of ruined buildings. These buildings are so torn down that my safety in it would most certainly not be secured. They'll instantly find me. Broken windows, non-existing roofs, and doors, half the walls are missing, definitely not where I want to try and hide. These buildings are practically transparent.

In the distance, I see a forest of trees and bush shrubs. Knowing that I have better chances of getting away from them going there than what I do if I stay back here, I run towards it. This is the longest I've ever run in my entire life.

I don't know for how long I'll be able to continue pushing myself. My body's already weak by the number of bruises and internal injuries. Not to mention the fact that I haven't eaten. Steven took my breakfast away from me this morning. Not that he said so, but I'm pretty sure that he did.

My organs are crying from the pain I'm putting them in. Salty, sticky water pushes through my pores causing my skin to itch. I'm sweating like a sumo wrestler, with a stinge that could knock out any beast.

I get closer to the trees. Next thing I know my body soars through the air and I land face flat, giving the ground an uninvited hug. A hug that knocks the wind out of me. I can feel my body wanting to shut down, but knowing that they're still after me I can't allow it to happen.

I force myself to get up. I place my palms against the ground to push my body up but fall back down. I can't seem to get up. My chest heaves up and down. The panic worsens. Tears threaten to spill and stream down my face. I feel weak and vulnerable and I hate this feeling. I need to be strong and independent.