Chapter 23: The run

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Run

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The word barely escaped his lips.

Calvin staggered back, his boots scraping against the wet pavement. His chest heaved. His eyes were wide, staring at nothing.

Then the memories came. Not gently. Not slowly. They crashed into him like a wave.

Four years ago. The Deep Slums. Heads bursting like overripe fruit. Blood spraying across cracked concrete. The wet sound of skulls splitting open. Screams that never stopped. The smell of iron and fear thick in the air.

Why?

Why does this keep happening?

The officer raised the remote. Pointed it at the small boy who kept wailing, his tiny body drenched in his mother's blood. The boy's face was twisted with grief, his small hands reaching for the body on the ground.

"Don't worry." The officer's voice was cold. Flat. Like he was reading a script. "Eternal peace awaits you. Go rest with your lifeless mum."

His thumb pressed down—

Two hands scooped the boy.

A fist connected with the officer's face.

CRACK!

The officer's head snapped to the side. He stumbled backward, hand flying to his jaw.

"What the—?"

Calvin was already running. The boy clutched against his chest. His boots pounding the wet ground. Rain splashed with every step.

"Come back here, you piece of—!"

"Activate the drones!"

Officers chased after him. Their boots slapping against the asphalt. Their voices shouting, overlapping, angry.

"Hold on," Calvin whispered to the boy. The child's body was trembling. His sobs were muffled against Calvin's jacket. "Just hold on."

He ran. His lungs burned. His legs screamed. His vision blurred with rain and sweat.

He turned down narrow streets. Weaved through alleys. Dodged debris. The walls of the buildings loomed on both sides, dark and wet, their neon signs flickering overhead.

A bullet whizzed past his ear—

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ZING!

Close. Too close. He felt the wind of it. Saw the metal flash past his eyes. His heart slammed against his ribs.

He burst onto a main road. A car sat idle at the curb. Its door was slightly open. Keys dangled from the ignition. Lucky.

Two officers appeared in front of him. Guns raised.

Calvin skidded to a halt.

No. No way.

Something hot surged through his veins. His blood boiled.

His body reacted before his mind caught up. His leg shot out—SMACK—knocking one officer's gun from his grip. The weapon clattered across the ground.

He twisted. Dodged the other officer's bullet by a hair's breadth.

FWIP!

The round tore through his sleeve. A thin line of blood appeared on his arm. It stung, but he didn't feel it.

"What the—?" The officer's eyes went wide. He'd never seen anyone move that fast.

Calvin slammed his palm into the officer's forehead.

THUD!

The officer crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut.

Calvin dove past them, yanked the car door open, and threw himself inside. The boy landed on the passenger seat, gasping, still crying.

The engine roared to life. Calvin's foot slammed the gas pedal.

ZOOM!

The car shot forward. Behind him, police cars and drones swarmed like angry hornets. Red lights flashed. Sirens wailed. The sound filled the night.

The boy stared at Calvin. His face was pale. His lips trembled. Tears mixed with blood on his cheeks.

"Don't worry." Calvin's voice was raw. Hoarse. "You won't die. Nothing bad will happen to you."

He faced forward.

Stomped the gas.

SCREECH!

The car veered onto the EL highway. Tires sparked against the glowing road. Blue light streaked beneath the car.

Drones fired. Bullets tore through the air—PING, PING, PING—shattering windows, shredding metal. Glass sprayed across the seats.

Calvin swerved. His hands were steady. His reflexes sharp. He'd done this before. He'd lived for this.

A police car pulled up beside him. Its window rolled down. A gun barrel aimed at his head.

"Shit!"

Calvin tapped the brakes. The police car shot past him. He stomped the gas again, taking a sharp turn—

SKRRRT!

—disappearing into another lane.

"Damn it! That kid's a devil!"

The police cars followed. Calvin swerved again. His tires glowed hotter. The speedometer climbed.

65... 80... 95...

Rain fell in sheets. The road was slick. Water sprayed from his tires. The gap between him and his pursuers grew wider.

He glanced back.

He should have been looking forward.

A giant truck appeared out of nowhere. Its headlights were blinding. Its horn blared.

HOOOONK!

The truck slammed into his car.

CRASH!

The world spun. Glass shattered. Metal screamed. The car flipped—once, twice—spinning through the air like a broken toy.

Calvin was thrown from the window. He hit the ground hard.

THUMP!

His body rolled across the wet asphalt. Bones cracked. Blood gushed from his mouth. Pain exploded through his chest, his legs, his skull.

He blinked. His vision blurred. The rain stung his eyes.

The car was upside down. Smoke poured from its engine. Sparks jumped from its twisted frame. Fires licked at its hood.

The boy.

The boy was still inside.

Calvin's voice came out a broken whisper. "Run..."

He tried to crawl. His arms wouldn't obey. His legs wouldn't move.

"Run!" His voice cracked. "Run!"

The boy didn't move. He was unconscious. Blood slipped from a wound on his head, dripping onto the shattered glass.

The police cars closed in. Their headlights cut through the rain.

FWOOMP!

Fire consumed the car.

"No... No... NO!"

BOOOOM!

The explosion ripped through the night. Parts of the car flew into the air—tires, glass, twisted metal. Fire bloomed like a hungry flower.

The boy's body was thrown from the wreckage. It landed with a sickening THUD and didn't move.

Calvin stared.

Silence.

The sirens grew louder. Louder. Closer.

Tears streamed down his face.

"I... I killed him."

His voice was broken. Hollow. Dead.

"It's... it's my fault."

"Of course it's your fault, stupid kid." The officer loomed over him. Rain dripped from his helmet. His face was twisted with contempt. "Playing hero, huh? Such a badass at driving?"

Two junior officers grabbed Calvin's arms, yanking him up. His body screamed. His vision swam.

THWACK!

A fist connected with his face. Pain exploded across his jaw. His head snapped to the side.

Then another punch. Then a boot to his ribs. He groaned, blood spraying from his lips.

"Damnit! Do you know the cost we'll suffer because of this one crazy kid?"

"Let's march him."

They stomped on him. Kicked him. Beat him.

Calvin didn't fight back.

It's my fault.

His body was broken. His mind was shattered.

My fault.

Tears poured from his eyes, mixing with the rain.

My fault.

"Enough." The officer raised the remote. "It's high time we detonate his head."

He pointed it at Calvin.

Pressed the button—

FWOOOOSH!

A heavy wind blasted through the street. It slammed into the officers like a wall of air. They flew backward—arms flailing, weapons scattering.

SLAM!

Police cars tumbled upside down. Metal crunched. Glass shattered. Screams filled the night.

Calvin opened his eyes.

His pink hair billowed in the wind.

Tracy stood before him. One leg planted firmly on the ground. The other raised high, still holding the perfect stance of a landing kick. Rain dripped from her golden hair. Her eyes were cold. Unreadable.

She lowered her leg. Turned to face him.

"Why?"

Her voice was soft. Almost sad.

"Why are you so foolish?"

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End of Chapter Twenty-Three.