RUN

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The sound of my heartbeat echoed in my ears as my heart beat loudly against my ribcages. My breath came out in short puffs as I struggled to make it steady. There was an itchy sensation in my legs accompanied by the pain gotten when one has run too far. It travelled from my legs all through my spine and to my head.

Thankfully, with the adrenaline, the pain was nothing more than a dull throb. The real problem was the source of my misery. I could hear them hearing closer as I ran up the roof. My hands were faster than my brain when they grabbed the ledges, my legs working in tandem with my hands. 

The cold wind whipped harshly against my exposed skin, stinging lightly. I swore for the umpteenth time when I saw them still following. I looked in front and came to a halt. There was a roof a short distance from where I was and a row of houses in a zagged pattern. All I had to do to get rid of the ones on my tail was to jump. The distance was short but if I failed the jump, I would end up as a red stain on the floor.

It reminded me of a bug splattered on a windshield. Gross. 

I inhaled, cleared all conflicting thoughts and jumped. There was a brief rush of air, my vision was blurred then I landed painfully on the other side. I was both thankful that I made it and regretful for the injuries I had sustained while doing that. My ribs were definitely bruised. I staggered to my feet and looked at where I had jumped from. 

There they stood, glaring at me. Under the shine of the bright moon, they looked menacing. One held a club, the other a pocket knife and the last, unharmed. The unarmed one was the one I was most wary of. He glared at me, making me flinch. I didn't have the strength to flip him off so I ran as fast as my tired legs could take me. 

There was a dull thud and I looked back to see they had crossed over. I sped up, not daring to linger anymore. The consequences when I was caught was unimaginable. It gave me shivers as I thought about it. 

The streets were empty at night. Figures. No one would go out at night in their right mind, especially not on a full moon. Well, I wasn't really in my right mind. I had to run away and find a safe place to hide till morning. The doors I came across were bolted shut. Only the sound of the wind and crickets could be heart then. 

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. 

My heart beat faster. I raised my awareness as if I knew something dangerous was approaching. I had no weapon on me as I ran away without thinking. There was a stone nearby so I picked it up. The deserted street made way into an open space. I heard a sound and flinched. It was the sound of someone dragging something across the floor. 

I looked back to see the one with a bat. I could've run away if not for the opponent in front who weilded a pocket knife. I had yet to see the last one but I knew he was nearby. I calculated my escape and tried to get away. A punch was delivered straight to my solar plexus, knocking the air out of me. I crashed to the floor and coughed violently.

Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

I could barely breathe well. The sound of the baseball bat dragging across the floor gave me gooseflesh. I closed my eyes and prayed one last time. The lord of the heavens has never heard my prayers before. So, just this once, maybe he'll listen to me. 

Please, I don't wanna die. Somebody, please, help me.

My prayers, like usual, went unheard. They kicked at me and beat me up until I could barely remember my own name. I lay on the empty street in the pool of my own blood and stared at the bright blue moon. 

I started laughing. It was dry, it was hard on my lungs, it itched my throat, yet, I laughed on. I laughed at my misery and helplessness. I laughed at my desperate attempt to live. In the end, I was nothing more than a bug, splattered on the floor by forces higher than me.

The wind caressed my cheeks and my eyelids felt heavy. My breaths came in shallower. I could only guess the grim reaper came to collect me. Maybe where I'm going, I might have relative peace. I might finally be able to rest. Yeah, it'll be nice to die. Just sleep, and never wake up. How comfortable and peaceful. So, I closed my eyes.

When I opened them, the sun was rising in the horizon. The locks on the doors came undone and the dead street came to life. People of all ages came out on the street and passed my body without so much as a glance. They were used to a sight like this. 

I staggered to my feet and followed the crowd back to where I came from, This is how I live after all. When the sun sets, it'll start all over again. As my flesh mend and my bones join back together, the feeling of a routine settled on me. This was how I lived my life in this hell. Day after day, life after life, for all eternity.