𝚁𝚄𝙽𝙰𝚆𝙰𝚈 ° racetrack higgins

An Escapee

I heard the footsteps pounding behind me as I booked it down the busy New York streets. I shoved past people who crowded the sidewalks, causing them to yell in surprise and step slightly out of the way as the bulls chased me. My legs grew tired, but I didn't stop running and I couldn't stop if I wanted to be free. I had been working for months on this escape; I wasn't about to see all my work go down the drain.

You may be wondering why I am running from the cops, and it's kind of a long story. To cut to the chase (haha get it?), I've been stuck in this place called the Refuge since I was twelve. The Refuge was a kind of like an orphanage, but they stuck all the 'bad' kids in there, too; the thieves and the convicts. The place was crowded and we lived in terrible conditions. For a while now, I've know I've had to get out of there, but after my first attempt at getting out with my brother, I had put it on the back burner. But now I was out. I was free. And there was no way in hell I was going back to that place.

I made a sharp left and ducked into an alley, still running like my life depended on it, which it very well did. I took the risk of looking behind me, and I wish I hadn't.

Behind me was at least fifteen bulls along with Snyder. Snyder was in charge of the Refuge, and he would do anything to lock me back up; the more kids he puts in the Refuge, the more money he gets. The problem with that is that it goes straight into his own pocket.

"Stop!" One of the bulls yelled, blowing their whistle sharply. The noise hurt my ears slightly, and I winced away but kept running down the alley. I came out onto another street and veered right, running quickly down the pavement.

The same cop blew his whistle again, causing people to turn and look as I passed. I was losing my breath, and my feet and legs were numb from the running. I needed to find a way to shake off Snyder and his goons, but I wasn't sure how.

Just then, as if answering my silent prayers, I saw a group of people standing outside a shop at a small market. Seeing it as an opportunity, I leapt into the crowd and tried my best to blend in. The sound of a whistle cut through the air again as I weaved my way through the crowd towards the entrance to another alley. Just as I got through all the people and into the entrance of the alley, a hand grabbed onto my arm and pulled me behind the building.

I was about to yell, but the stranger put his hand over my mouth and held a finger to his lips as he peered around the corner of the building into the alley. While he was doing so, I was able to get a good look at him. The boy was no older than seventeen, with slightly tanned skin and had short, curly blonde hair. When he looked back at me, I saw he had the brightest blue eyes I had seen. From the way he was dressed and the dirt slightly caking his arms and face, I could tell he was in a similar situation to me; he was condemned to a life on the streets.

Word Count: 595