Angel's daughter

Chapter 2

It has been days. I ran through the streets, jumping over fences and diving through crowds, all in an effort to get away. I could hear their footsteps thudding on the ground behind me. At this rate, I'm desperate enough to try anything. My breath was coming out in short bursts and I could not keep this up for much longer. It all came to an end as I reached high walls on all sides, turning back to my pursuers,

"End of the line kid" One said, flashing their eyes black. I know I'm not crazy now. I've seen many of them. Almost all of them wear dark suits, men and women. It made them easier to spot in public. I took a huge breath,

"For you maybe" I spat before turning back to the wall and digging my fingers into the worn cement between the bricks, pulling myself up. I managed to grab onto a pipe leading up to the roof, using it as a hand hold while the other grabbed at cracks in the brick and mortar. My legs curled under me, my feet flat to the surface of the wall to stabilise me as I clambered up to the top. As I pulled myself up, I had to take a breath but I could not rest properly until I was out of sight and away from them. Town was easy to get spotted and it was easy to disappear. So many people, so many witnesses but really, that can work to my advantage as well. Only those black eyed people are looking for me, everyone else are just in the way. I can use the crowd to slow them down and use them to hide. No one scans a crowd too thoroughly. After sliding down a pipe on the other side, I went to the crowd again and they hid me well. I watched from the group I'd planted myself in. The dark suits gave them away but they were looking in the wrong places. I walked away calmly, without a care. I got away from town to the more rundown area. An industrial area with nothing more than a few homeless camps and abandoned warehouses. I stay away from the homeless camps, many unsavoury characters lie in wait for an easy target like me. I'm too tired to do more running. I set up camp in an abandoned warehouse, making camp under a large tarp. It wasn't much, just a blanket to keep warm and my backpack I keep with me. I didn't need much else. I haven't eaten for days, my clothes stink too, they've become ragged and worn. I slept there that night. The concrete floor of the warehouse was never comfortable and I only ever get a couple hours sleep but it was out of the cold and rain. Another day and still no clues on what happened to my mother, I even snuck into the back of the police station to hear something. That had been a mistake. Turns out the back was where the coroner's office was and I caught sight of one of the intruders' dead bodies. No glass punctured him, his skin was clean but his eyes were burned out. There was nothing in the house that could have done that. It seems that man was murdered but by who and what? Did this person have my mother? Did he save us from the intruder? Or is he someone else to fear? More questions and still no answers. It was frustrating. For now, I fell asleep under my blankets. It didn't take long, my body was weighted with sleep.

I woke up the next morning very early. I haven't slept well the last few nights and it was really showing. I was up at the same time as the sun, able to watch it peek over the horizon. I sighed,

"Another day and no leads" It was as if my mother had vanished, I even went back to the scene, nearly running into some cops who had come back to the crime scene. I know my mother left in a hurry, the note indicated that much and half the washing is still on the line in the back. As I walked back to the house this morning to get some things, I noticed two new people. I watched them enter from the corner of the street and snuck up quickly to follow them on the outside of the house. They didn't wear those dark suits, instead quite colourful flannel and jeans. I don't trust that though. Some still wear normal clothes to trick me. I had to be sure. They moved through the house, I watched from the windows as they walked through the rooms methodically, scanning it more like the detectives than the ones hunting me. The men were tall. Very tall. One had long brown hair, the other shorter. Both sported stubble. Their eyes were green... for now but I know that can change. As they turned their backs to me I saw guns sticking out the waistband of their jeans. I froze. I should stay away if they've got guns. Usually I'm chased after with knives, I can outrun and dodge knives but not bullets. Then one turned their head and spotted me. We held eye contact for a second, I was waiting for those eyes to change but they didn't,