Escapism

Chapter 2: Run

My face buries itself into my grubby palms, trying to just block out the sounds and the sights of the other kids jeering.  Not at me but instead at the only friend I have in this whole damn school. The isolation of these concrete steps was comforting usually but not today. When my eyes emerge from my palms, our eyes meet. Her eyes are determined but anxious. She copped this a lot, and it was all because of me. No one else was willing to be around the timid little bore that I was. Around her my voice is given a key. We can talk about anything.

 I remember the first time Marcus and his group surrounded her, for hanging around me so often. When I saw it happening I ran at Marcus, and speared him to the ground with a tackle that took out his legs. That hadn’t ended well. I had earned myself a suspension. After that she forced me into letting her handle them while I sat off at a safe distance on the stairwell that was situated just around the corner from the staffroom. I hadn’t broken my promise to her; she fared well enough against most of them anyway. Their dim-witted brains usually imploded by the time she had finished her verbal counter-assault. Well they would have, if they could understand her words. Unfortunately our promise was about to be broken.

Our eye contact hadn’t gone unnoticed. Marcus grabbed her wrists upon seeing the look we gave each other, pulled her in close and whispered something crude into her ear. Then the pack of boy thugs turned without notice and slowly marched over to the stairwell where I was positioned. Here it was the attack, which everyone had been hyping up. They had been trying to get a hold of me the last few weeks, but I had denied them the satisfaction from even seeing me outside of class.                

Of course they would strike today, the Year 10’s were on camp and the Year 8’s were out on an excursion to some museum. The obvious lack of teachers and a crowd had spurred them onto the offensive. 

 

I fill my lungs with a massive gulp as if I was taking a dive into icy water, and haul my legs in an awkward fashion away from the oncoming pack and the courtyard filled with onlookers.  I target the tall fences that border the oval so that I can then reach the footpaths that lead into town, I have to escape them. The footsteps that are stalking me start to become heavier as if they are also breaking out into a run, they might not be close but I still feel threatened by their clumsy racket. Grass is soon under my treads and I feel like I can outrun anything. Until I remember that among my pursuers is Marcus, the kid who had everything. That included athleticism. I might not be built like the other kids in my grade, but my wiry frame tends to bide well for my running skills, only one kid could beat me. Shame his name was Marcus, the kid who is out for my guts.  

 

 

 I can feel the acid already building up in my legs, it doesn’t help that I had to run to school because I missed my bus. Adrenaline, desperation and fitness keep me well ahead of the out of shape hunters but not far ahead of Marcus. With every stride I power through he gets two in. He’s closing in on me fast but so is the fence. I feel sweat trickling down my forehead onto my brows as I bounce towards liberty. I sense an arm reaching out for my baggy shirt and I jump for the fence knowing that I can’t afford to lose any momentum. My legs and arms sprawl themselves onto the high fence clutching for the top bar, usually I wouldn’t be able to pull myself over so easily, but adrenaline had taken over a while ago.

My joggers absorb the impact of the fall onto the concrete footpath and I’m out of there. The temptation to look back becomes too great; Marcus is spread-eagled on the ground trying to shake off the collision with the wire fence. He had obviously tried to pull off the infamous ankle tap, only to instead dive head first into the fence as I soared off the ground. I smirk at him, getting some satisfaction at the sight. Before long though, I’m running again. As soon as my eyes twist themselves onto the concrete pathway in front of me, the noise of wire being climbed is heard.                                                                

 

“Shit,” I swear under my breath. I have to admit that he is pretty resilient.This was not good, the chase was on again. I was tiring after the adrenaline rush and my technique could never match my hunter. I focus on my breathing and on maintaining my pace, knowing that alone could be my saviour. I scan the wild terrain that resides on the right side of the path, searching for an unconventional path into town. If I duck under the cover of the trees I could lose him, he might roll an ankle or something.

That idea comes to fruition all of a sudden, as I decide to weave under an outreaching branch and slide down the slope that leads into the ever-stagnant Hartley Creek. I keep my feet and jump over the stones that line the dead creek bed. My feet wade through deep mulch when I command my legs up the opposite slope. I soon reach the other side of the gulley, looking at a lonesome meadow of waist high grass and unfamiliar back streets.

There’s not a single sound to be heard from any direction. Marcus has ditched the chase. The grass remains still under the lifeless air, refusing to sway and break down the barrier of silence forming. I push my way through the lengthy, itchy grass towards the road. I’m not taking any chances. The road only goes one way, so it must go into town.

The narrow street feels desolate apart from the lone house that stands. Construction sites for  some new apartment blocks neighbour the manor on either side.  I was pretty sure some corporation owned all this land and were going to build a substantial complex. They must have sold it, I reason to myself.  The sound of an engine starting breaks me out of my trance. I step forward onto the gutter to try and get a peek at the man who could own such a luxurious convertible and house. It was if I was staring at my reflection. The drivers sandy blond hair and face mirrors my own, with only his brown eyes looking out of place. All of a sudden the obvious hits me. It’s my Dad.

 

Yeah I know this might not be the most exciting chapter, being about running and all. It was neccesary though, in order to actually introduce this mystery behind Calebs Dad as well as show off his traits and his situation.

Hey :) Feel free to criticise and point out things that are in need of correction! I tend to *YOINK* up my tenses, so look for that or anything else you deem incorrect.