Mascara Tears [ON HOLD]

1. Escape

ACE

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Ace turned the corner, scraping against the wall and kicking down some dustbins as he tried to keep himself upright. He was running…again. For as long as he could remember he’d always been running. At first he believed he could escape it all, thought he could leave his past behind and go live a new life. One without guns and knives and smoke-filled warehouses, a life without the constant running and death’s hungry glares.

But no, he could not outrun his life. As always it would find a way to catch up with him. That’s why he had not been surprised when a leg shot out from beneath him sent him rolling along the cold tar.

That ought to leave a mark,

Using his now bruised hands he pushed himself off the ground to stand upright only to find that he’d now been surrounded.

Figures…

He spat and went to fix his worn out clothes whilst nonchalantly wiping at his mouth.

‘So…’ He shrugged. ‘You’ve caught me. Now what?’

One of the men surrounding him shuffled his feet before responding tentatively, his fear hardly masked behind his low worn beanie.

‘Malo says you can’t refuse,’ He waited before adding, ‘says she won’t be kind this time…’

‘Since when has Malo been kind?’ Ace retorted. ‘Tell her I want nothing to do with her schemes, not when Mav’s involved.’

In response a knife clicked open, followed by three others. Ace took a deep breath before producing a blade of his own.

‘There’s four of us Ace… be reasonable.’

‘Won’t be four of you after this is through though.’ He crouched as he said this, facing the man who’d delivered the message with a challenging stare.

The man took a step back, the beanie falling over his eyes and causing to fumble as he fixed it with his armed hand. Ace grinned at him.

‘You would die!’ The man said, shocked at Ace’s defiance. ‘For what? She’s promising to clear your debt to her. You won’t have to run anymore…at least not from her.’

Ace relaxed, considering it. The sound of shifting feet put him back on alert and his grip on the knife tightened, a low growl escaping his throat.

There was no winning this fight, not when he had no one to watch his blind spots. He flinched, pushing back a memory that threatened to return. Sentiment had a knack for bad timing.

‘I’ve heard that you are a sensible man Ace. You don’t even have to do much, Mav’s gang will handle the bulk of the job-’

‘Morris!’ Another warned.

Ace almost jumped at the depth of the second man’s voice, but he kept his cool, knife held before him, sweat dripping down his brow.

‘Look.’ The second guy continued, addressing Ace this time.

The man was more composed than the first to speak. Either Ace’s reputation was starting to fade or the man just had no idea who he was talking to.

‘Malo knows about your girl.’ The man said. ‘She knows where you are hiding her, knows that you’ve got a bit of money on you since you’ve just had her harvested.’ He stopped and allowed the words to sink in.

Ace didn’t respond to any of it, so the man continued;

‘You will fetch the instructions in three days and can continue staying in your hideout. Malo will personally protect the place as long as you are with the programme…’

‘Don’t touch her.’ Ace commanded, his words venomous.

The man stepped forward.

‘Don’t be impulsive. You are still but a child boy. I have no idea why Malo is going this far just to keep you on board ‘cause personally I’d just slit your throat and be done with it. You will fetch the instructions and you will follow them.

The man gave Ace a soft pat on the head before turning his back on the boy, and walking away. The other three falling in step behind him.

Ace was left standing there, in the middle of an empty street, battling the raging emotions that boiled within him. He couldn’t give up. He had to keep running. One day he’d be able to do it. He’d fight harder, run faster and farther than he’d ever done before. He would leave this life behind…

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