The Runner

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

I was screaming in pain and agony as the needles poked through my skin and I cried for help even though I knew it would do nothing but make the figures around me stick them deeper in to me I had about 15 in me at that moment. Then after they removed them I felt the urge to run, so I ripped out of the straps restraining me and ran but this time I ran faster than the speed of light I felt like a super hero and invincible like I could hold the weight of the world on my shoulders. I became invisible and went into hiding after I stumbled upon a little town and ran around and found a new home. I found an old factory barn looking thing and I have been there ever since. I steal what I need and leave what I don’t I only take what I need to survive. Then a bad storm hit and that’s when I saw her, a little girl no older than 13 was crying right outside I tried to ignore her but my “motherly instincts” kicked in and they screamed “HELP HER!!!”  So I went out and helped her. All I could hear was a gunshot in the distance about 15 miles in the opposite direction. I asked her “What is your name and why are you here and not at home?” She stood up and said “m-m-my name is Louise and a group of people in suits and uniforms came to my house and took my parents and I didn’t know what to do so I ran….” That’s when I knew they were dead by now. I knew they were looking for me but I did not know why, so I let Louise in and gave her the last of my food.

                        Then when I woke up the next morning it was raining harder that it was when I found Louise, and then I saw him. Some hunky guy was right outside in the rain with his shirt off. I stepped out and yelled “HEY! Kid what the Hell do you think you are doing.” I think he got scared when he saw some scrawny 15 year old checking him out. He was tall, about 6 foot or so, he had long dark brown hair that covered his eyes, he was very muscular, and the best thing about him were his Caribbean blue eyes barely visible from not only his hair but also the rain helped hid them. After he saw me he started to walk away. Of everything I could have done I chose to follow him. He told p “what’s the matter with you didn’t your parents ever tell you it’s rude to stare and stalk people.” Then I said “sorry no they missed that chance when they were murdered...” Then he turned around with a blank expression on his face and that is when I saw his bruised body and then I saw a cut dripping with blood on his forehead. I told him he could stay but I made it sound more like a demand than a request and he did not even put up a fight or say another word I told him he was welcome until the rain passed. I did not ask him how he came about all of his bruises instead I got my first aid kit and tended to his head and told him to just find a place to sleep. After about an hour he broke the silence.

“Derek.”

“What?”

“That’s my name Derek.”    

“Oh… My name is Avony NOT Evany; can I ask you a question?”

“You just did but ya you can…”

“Why don’t you have your shirt on?”

“Same reason you have one on… to tease people.” He smiled after he said it which made me smile even harder. After a while my face started to hurt and he started to smile again. After 10 minutes or so Louise saw him and ran up and hugged him. I said “wait you two know each other?” Louise replied “ya he is like my brother who lives next door.” Then we all broke out in laughter and then it was silent. Louise asked Derek “did your mom come back yet?” and almost a whisper Derek told her “no, my dad got drunk again and I got in his way trying to stop him.” Louise had no other words to say but gave him another hug. So we were all here for one reason or another, all involving death or abuse of a parent or both. Now we were all a bunch of misfits without a home.