A Dime a Dozen

Do Not Appraoch

The TV suddenly blazed to life, blaring the tune of the anthem. Had anyone else been home, they would have head towards the living room, as I was doing. No one would know if I didn't watch this broadcast, but habit walked me from the dining room to the living room.

I sit down on the sofa, then take a glance back at the stairs. The man I had helped should also be coming down. I know that my parents would kill me for bringing a stranger into the house, but true to my ever bleeding heart, as my father called it, I had had pity on the dirty and exhausted man I had come across on the way home.

The anchor man comes onto the TV and I turn my attention back to it. As always, the anchor man wears a dark suit with a pin of the Leader's seal on his left lapel, right above his heart. There's the usual momentary pause as he smiles at the camera before beginning. "Fine citizens of Demuria, good afternoon. I'm so glad you could stop to watch or listen. You are probably wondering why I have come on the air before the normal broadcast hour. Well, as for every instance like this," here his face turns serious, "It is a very serious reason. Fine citizens, our wonderful Leader was attacked today while in the city of Hartline." Here he pauses for dramatic effect, as I feel my heart stop.

Hartline. That's my city. Silently I pray that it wasn't done by any of our city officials. If it was, the whole city will be punished.

"This attack was an attempt on our beloved Leader's life, and thankfully the attacker failed. Unfortunately, though, fine citizens, the attacker escaped. What is even worse though, fine citizens, is that the attacker, a man by the name of Evan Nox, was a loyal citizen and even a friend to our beloved Leader. One of his finest guards. He was turned against our beloved Leader after the anarchist group, the Canaries, poisoned his mind and turned him into their puppet. Our beloved leader implores you, dear citizens, to help us locate him, so that he may be saved from the clutches of the Canaries, so that he may continue his duty to protect our beloved leader and even help to finally bring down the Canaries who have been terrorizing you and your families. So, fine citizens, be on the lookout for this man," he says pointing to the picture that appears on the screen beside him, "But do not approach him. Call the enforcers, for he is not in his right mind and he is armed. Goodbye for now fine citizens. For Demuria, and hail and long live our Leader."

The anchorman fades from the screen as the picture of Evan Nox moves to the center of the screen and enlarges, along with the warning to not approach him, but call the enforcers.

If my heart hadn't already stopped, it was stopped now. The man in the picture was clean with his hair neatly combed, but there was no mistaking it. The man I had helped, the man I had brought into my house, the man currently somewhere in my house was Evan Nox. The man who had become a puppet of the Canaries and had attacked our Leader.

I hear the creak of the bottom stair, and jump to my feet, whirling on the man. Cleaned up, he looks exactly like his picture. He quickly holds up both hands, eyes wide.

"It's not what you think," He says, taking a step forward.

I take a step back. "It's not what I think? I helped the man who tried to kill the Leader. I could be killed for that."

He takes another step forward and I take one back. "Look I'll leave, but you can't call me in. Please. They can't catch me."

"You need help," I say. taking a step back.

"I don't need help. I know exactly what I'm doing. You can't call me in."

I take another step back. My legs hit the coffee table. I glance back quickly. I'm about five running strides from the dining room where the phone is. If I can get to it, I just have to evade Evan long enough to press zero and call, and let the call go through. I nod. "Alright. I won't call you in."

Evan releases a breath and begins to relax. I immediately turn and sprint to the dining room. I'm almost to the phone when I'm grabbed from behind and yanked backwards, spun away from the phone. I begin to scream, but a hand is clamped down over my mouth. I kick and fight, trying to get away, but he's stronger than me. Eventually, I stop fighting.

"I'm going to move my hand away from your mouth," he says, breath warm on my ear, "Don't scream. Alright?" I nod and he removes his hand.

"Please," I whisper. "Just let me go. I swear I won't call you in. Just let me go. Please."

"Sorry, but I don't believe you this time. I can't let you go."

My blood turns to ice. "No," I plead, my voice barely above a whisper. "Please, no. Don't kill me. Please."

"I'm not a killer. I'm not going to kill you. I'm taking you with me."

He begins moving, taking me with him. Instinct takes over and I start fighting again. I don't even get the chance to try to yell this time, as he clamps his hand over my mouth again, only this time he also pinches my nose shut. I can't breathe and panic increases my fight.

I can feel my fight fading as the burning in my lungs increases.

"I'm so sorry," Evan whispers in my ear, as my fight dies, and my world goes black.