The Pretender

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I had two options: hide and wait until they come for me while I thought of ways to get revenge on that jerk-faced cashier, or run like hell and let fate take its course.

                I did the obvious: I ran like hell.

                I launched myself upwards and flew, ignoring the careening tables and chairs behind me. Fortunately there was no one else in the restaurant that I can hurt. The chaos filched me the few seconds I needed. I skidded under tables and leaped over chairs, sprinting towards the exit near my car. Then I realized the inevitable: I was heading directly towards the two men. Crap, I didn’t think that part through. Stupid! I could’ve gotten out through the back door!

 I stumbled to a stop in front of the men in suits and for a moment, each of us bore our eyes into the other’s. There was no hiding anymore—I had just revealed who I am. Breathing heavily, I waited for them to do something, anything.

What the hell was I doing? I snapped back into myself and crashed through the glass doors out into the parking lot, leaving the men and the stunned cashier behind.

And guess what? They didn’t move an inch.

I could hear the girl screaming after me as I jumped into the driver’s seat. My hands fumbled for my keys as I fired up the ignition. Still, the men did nothing, but I didn’t waste any time. I sped away into the interstate, the rubber screeching against the concrete.

 I only had a few seconds to gather my thoughts before red, white, and blue lights flashed behind me. Sirens wailed furiously and grew more deafening as police cruisers fast approached. This time, there were dozens of them.

They really won’t quit, will they?

With a prayer in mind, I floored the gas and pushed the old Civic to its limit. Its scuffed metal body rattled with the speed, and I can hear the engine struggling. I could almost feel the wheels hover above the road as if the car was flying. I griped the steering wheel for my life, praying so hard that the Civic will make it through. 

                Suddenly, gunshots ripped through the air. Glass shattered all around me, and I heard the wheels explode. Metal screeched against the asphalt and sparks flew from the ground. More gunshots.

                Crap! Do they really want me dead?

                Out of nowhere, the car suddenly careened across the road. The world was spinning madly around me, and I was losing consciousness of where things were. My body was flung against the door and a hefty oof escaped my lips. I was hysterical with fear and I tried to gain back control. Nothing was happening no matter what I did to the steering wheel—

 As if in slow motion, the car was hurled into the air. Everything floated in mid-air for a split second and suddenly the world was upside-down, then sideways, then right-side-up again. Gravity pulled me back to reality—literally—and everything moved faster. The car bounced once on its metal wheels before it fell to its side. Metal crunched with the impact. The window beside me exploded into a hundred shards. My head bashed against the cold hard pavement covered with glass. Immediately I could feel warm blood gushing from my forehead. The car seemed to balance itself on its side, leaving me tangled with the seatbelt and my legs in the air.

I was so disoriented and my brain didn’t fully register what just happened. But through the corner of my eye, I could see the police cruisers speeding towards me, not breaking a beat, and I snapped back into gear.

I unbuckled my seatbelt. As soon as I did, I fell to the ground and smashed against the door and into the shattered window. I yelped. Crap! Glass freaking hurts.

I scrambled to my knees and climbed to the other side of the car. On my way out, I grabbed my duffel bag behind the seat and my Riot! CD from the glove box. If I’m going to die right here and then, I’d rather go with Paramore by my side. I pulled myself out the door and let myself fall onto the road—bad idea. My jeans ripped with the impact and cut my knee right open. Like I need any more cuts and bruises.

I picked myself up and ran, glancing only once at my poor battered Civic. So long and good night, Miss Anne.

My sneakers pounded against the gravel as I ran into the field beside the highway. The grass—or whatever it was—was tall enough to conceal me. I pushed through them, jumping over puddles and scaring the life out of innocent bunnies. My heart pounded in my ears and I could feel the icy fingers of adrenaline fueling me to go on. Blood and sweat trickled down my face. Soon enough I heard the screeching wheels of the police cruisers and the thundering boots of the police themselves. I bet the SWAT team was after me too.

Men covered in black from head to toe had finally caught up with me. They appeared from out of thin air, surrounding me. One of them skidded to trip me but I jumped and landed hard on his crotch, making him scream like a little girl. I smacked my bag against another’s neck and planted an epic jumping roundhouse kick on his face as he tried to grab me. I had kicked him just at the right spot so he’ll be out for quite a while. Two down, two to go. One of them, I realized, was a woman. I continued to run, and they easily flanked me. Out of nowhere a fist finds its way to my face. Stunned, I nearly tripped over my own feet, but I managed to duck for the second blow. Taking advantage of my disorientation, the woman launched herself towards me and threw me to the ground. I kicked her off me and scrambled away but her partner grabbed my arm and pinned me to the ground. Right as he cuffed my right wrist I grabbed his arm and twisted it as hard as I could. I heard a satisfying crack! Blinded with pain, the man crumbled to the ground. I jumped onto his back and knocked him out with one blow at the right spot. Thank God for my karate lessons and the sensei who taught me more than I thought I ever needed to know.

The woman was still in hot pursuit beside me. I picked myself up and ran, dodging the grasses and pesky little rocks. My duffel bag swayed frantically from side to side on my back, and the cuff repeatedly smacked itself on my arm. I turned to look behind me and the next thing I knew I was tumbling to the ground, having my face smashing against the jagged grass blades. Stupid log!

Suddenly a hot and sharp pain rushed from my legs followed by a sickening crunch. My vision began to black out and I screamed. I tried to wriggle free, but I couldn’t move. The woman grabbed my hoodie and brought my face close to hers. The mask she wore only allowed me to see her glowing silver eyes.

For a moment all I could hear was my heavy gasps. The woman’s eyes bore deeply into mine, making me uber uncomfortable. Just kill me now.

"This is nothing, kiddo,” she spoke through her teeth. “They will do whatever they can to get what they want. So you better run faster than that, little sis. Next time maybe I won't be so nice to you."

And the last thing I saw was a fist on my face.