The Boy They Tried to Break

SOREN Keep running! Keep running! Don’t stop! My feet hurt with each step I take, but I can’t stop. If I stop, then everything that I’ve worked for will be in vain. I can’t stop. I have to continue, I need to get away, no, I have to. It’s dark, and I can't tell where I'm headed at all. I can feel the intensity of my heart beating and the ache in every fiber of my body. Broken branches gnaw at my skin with each movement I make. I want to stop. I just need to feel safe. My body is screaming from the tiredness and pain, but I can’t afford to stop, at least not right now. They should have noticed my absence by now. I can’t risk getting caught now. I’m not returning there, NEVER! The sound of water? Where is it? I need water. Dragging my aching body towards the source of the sound, I came across a small river. I let out the breath I had been holding in relief. Yeah, just for a while, I am still a fugitive on the run; relief is something that I do not have the right to. Staring at my reflection in the clear water, I’m not sure what I feel; I can’t even tell how I’m supposed to feel. I’ve been on the run for the past fifteen hours with just the crusty bread I stole. Is this even normal for a human? I drank the water as my life depended on it. At this point, I was no different from a wild animal waiting. What am I even saying? My whole life and an animal's life are no different; what makes me different from them? The fact that I walk upright on two feet? Or the fact that I can speak? What's even the point of being able to speak if my voice or opinion does not matter? Yup, I'm no different from a circus animal. Am I free? No, not at all, I'm being chased down like an animal that escaped from the zoo, classical right? A bitter laugh rippled through my chest. What did I do to deserve such a life? I hear dogs barking. f**k! They’ve found me! I ran in the opposite direction, my survival instincts kicking in. Move faster! Run! Don’t give up! So close to freedom, can't lose it now, not now. My face feels wet, I don't know if it's the water I used to wash my face, the sweat dripping as I push my body to its limit, or the tears streaming down my face at the thought of being dragged back, I can’t tell which one it is. But there is one thing I know: I do not want to go back there. I'm just dodging through bushes, broken stems, and grasses, and I barely know where I'm going or where I am. I'm just running, running cause my life depends on it. I can hear the howls and growls getting closer. Move! It is the only thing going through my mind right now. I hear cars. I must be close to a road, yes! I am almost there on my way to freedom, so I can't afford to lose it. Taking courage, I glanced behind me; they're still far away, but close by. I powered into the oncoming traffic, HELP! I can’t see why it’s everywhere so dark?! I’m scared; did I make it? I can’t feel my body; it hurts, my head hurts, everywhere hurts, and I feel sleepy. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I snapped my eyes open with a groan. Damn, that nightmare again. I slowly sat up, running my fingers through my hair, waking up drenched in cold sweat has been a daily morning routine for me for the past two years. It's like a shadow trying to swallow me whole. Do I want to get out of bed? No, do I need money to survive? Yes, so out of the bed I go; it’s not like I have much of a choice. I won't say my life has been perfect since my great escape, but it isn't all that bad. I get to choose what I want to wear, what I want to eat, and where I want to go (this isn't much of a choice since I'm on the run), but the stressful part is getting a job. Due to my educational background and my life mysteries, I can't apply for a proper job as I do not have the credentials for it, and also to make things easier for me when the need to run away arises. I did manage to get a job at a Bar/nightclub, it’s not something to brag about, but at least the pay is manageable, and my boss isn’t all that bad, my coworkers are pretty chill too. "You are late," Ross said, and the next thing I felt was a rag hitting me square in my face. Sucking on my teeth, I slowly removed the rag, glaring slightly at my colleague. “It's just by a minute, Ross," I said under my breath while rolling my eyes subtly. I tried sidestepping him, but he was built like a stupid wall, forcing me to look up at him. I can feel my anxiety levels rising. Just what bullshit is he about to pull right now? I’m looking everywhere but at him. This guy makes me feel so uncomfortable. "What do you want?" I asked, slightly exasperated. "Take over table 6 back there, they seem interested in you. Maybe you could serve them in another way,” he snickers, running his eyes up and down my body, slowly giving me a severe case of goosebumps. I stood there mortified, biting hard on my lips as I tried my best to ignore him. “Ross quit picking on the kid and clock off already,” Fia shouted. She's the oldest worker here and has been here much longer than Ross. "f**k you," I said through gritted teeth before pushing past him. He laughed loudly, "As much as I wouldn't mind, you can never tell what's been in there," he says in a very obnoxious tone. That’s Ross, the bully of our workplace.