Orphan

Chapter 14: The first Flag

One by one, we all lined up again. I was in the centre. I didn't know why but somehow after the original shock I had made my way to the centre and at this stage, I was in the middle. I didn't know where Zac went, or the Augustus kid. Dylan, the tall and lanky kid that had tried to start something with the Teacher, was standing to my right. He didn't look good. Pale. Maybe it was from before, but surely someone with his height could do this race easy like a piece of cake."Lovely!""Are you ready?"Looking straight, I could see the buses like a shadow in the front, it was a blur, but I could make it out as there was nothing else blocking the way. "On your marks."My heart was pounding. It was beating, hard against my chest."Get set."Just like old times, I just had to run as fast as I could. Breath with your nose, exhale with your mouth."Go"Bolting forward I leapt, one foot in front of the other.The wind slapped against my face as the floor blurred. There was a loud sound of hundreds of heavy breathing and pounding of footsteps.I was not fast.One after another, kids darted passed me. Five.Ten.Fifteen. Twenty.Never had I ever been passed by this many kids. It was fun. It reminded me of the orphanage.Thirty.Biting my lips, excited, I chased after the others. Eager to catch up.I had never pushed myself this hard before. My legs started to ache and screaming for me to stop.But I refused to let it stop me. I focused on the closest flag, just as Dylan passed it.Boom!What was that sound? Did I imagine it?No.The other kids must have heard it too! They slowed down, some even stopped and turned around. Something was not right. The children should not have stopped. There was a loud screech.Schhwaff! I blocked my ears, but it was my eyes that should have closed.A bolt shot across the field, hitting the boy right through the head.The boy dropped onto his knees and fell face-first to the floor dead.