Faulting Gravity

Chapter one

[This is a very rough copy. should i continue this book?]

The final bell rings, symbolizing the end of the school year. This bell means Beginning, A new start. This bell means I won't have to go home. I observe as the impatient leap out of their seat, reaching for the door. One of whom trip over a chair leg, sending him sprawling on the ground. I'm not in a hurry. I gather my books and slip them into my old bag, as Cassie catches my eye. I give her a warm smile, but I don't plan to talk to her. I walk out of the room quietly, silently hoping nobody will notice my departure. 

I walk halfway down the hallway before I hear a familiar voice.                                                                              "Hey, Mia, wait up!" I turn around to see Michael running towards me. I catch myself grinning and before I can help myself my cheeks begin to burn.  I take the time to calm myself down before I reply "Hey Michael." Michael has dark brown hair combed back, framing his piercingly green eyes and perfect jawline. We've known each other since kindergarten, but we didn't start talking until early this year. We aren't a 'thing' as much as id like to be, but very close friends.

 We walk together, and I struggle to keep up with his extremely long legs. As we near the exit to the school, I turn around to take one last look at the school, from a student's point of view. From where I stand, the light hits the windowsill perfectly, making the ground beneath it shimmer with light. Being highly ADHD, I lose interest pretty quickly, and I turn back around. we continue to walk silently, as no talking is needed at this point.

I live in an apartment 3 blocks from the school, as I moved there when I turned 18 in may. I pay for rent with my part time job. I haven't talked to my family since. if you can even call them my family. my real father left when my mom told him she was pregnant, and my mother died of an overdose when I was 4. I'm and only child. from then on I was thrown into foster care, where I was deemed the title, 'troubled'. I jumped from house to house, as most families didn't like me. the feeling was mutual, might I add. as for the others, I ran away before they had the chance to decide they liked me or not.

We round the corner that leads to Michael's house, so we say our goodbyes, and he slips inside. I continue walking until I get to the familiar alleyway that provides a shortcut to my apartment. it clearly isn't a "well kept" alleyway, as the surrounding dumpsters are overflown with garbage and infested with rodents. a long since broken car sits at the side, without a doubt home to some homeless person, judging by the blanket and pillow. a crow calls out, piercing the eerie silence, in short, the alley is hella creepy.

 I walk fairly slowly, not wanting to disturb and rats nearby, when I hear a shuffle from the corner a few yards away, followed by someone hissing something inaudible. fear settles in, as I am a very jumpy person, so I turn around and decide to not take the shortcut. I try to keep calm and decide that it's the homeless person after all.  however, if it is the homeless man, I should still be worried. I hear another shuffle, close now, and I break into a run and hear the footsteps become faster paced. adrenaline begins to course through my veins, as I'm only 50 feet away from the entrance. I feel my hair being yanked backward, and I yelp as I fall backward, twisting my left ankle. I look up and see someone with a mask on. without hesitation, I punch the person in the nose, hearing a satisfying crunch followed by a masculine shout.

 I jump up and run forward, into the alleyway once again. clearly, I couldn't outrun him, so I scale a ladder as quickly as I can. within seconds, I'm ten feet in the air, but the man is right on my heels. I climb faster now, causing my ankle to ache. I look down, and I'm now 30 feet up, with the man 10 feet under me. the building is around 50 feet tall, so jumping isn't in the question. if I can get there before him, ill have a bit of time to make a plan. I glance once more, and regret it immediately, as he's 5 feet away, and I'm 40 feet up. I scramble up the last rungs and leap for the door at the top. I turn the handle, and smash my shoulder against the door, expecting it to open, however, it's locked, and all I've accomplished is a bruised shoulder. I shout in frustration, hurting my tight throat. I turn around and see the masked man clear the last rung, and I run to the edge of the building, trying to scope out how long my fall would be. Too long. I  look behind my shoulder and see him near me, so I scream, hoping to alert those below me. I try to run around him, but he easily trips me, as if it cost no effort at all. I fall to the pavement,  and I feel my hands and knees being scraped raw.

 I look back just in time to get kicked right in the face. the pain is blinding, and I'm sure he broke my nose. I groan. He kicks me again, this time in the stomach where my breath is practically stolen from me, and I can't breathe. As I gasp for breath, he grabs me and hauls me up,  so I am standing. "I don't want to have to hurt you," he says, but I spit in his face, knowing well that he does. This clearly makes him angry, as he growls and reaches into his belt, revealing a flip knife. I thrash against his grip and he lets go, cutting my cheek in the process. I fall backward and land hard, forcing my eyes to water. I scramble and stand up, but I am unable to but pressure on my left foot. He lunges for me, and I step backward, just a little too much. Instead of pavement, my foot finds air, and I realize I was just a bit too close to the edge. Gravity takes hold of me, and I fall towards a busy street.