Chapter 2: Escape from the Shadow of Death
917 Words
Bang!
The sound of a gunshot shattered the silence of the morning.
For one second, the world seemed to freeze.
Then everything exploded into panic.
"Run!"
"They're shooting!"
Women grabbed their children in fear. Vendors abandoned their goods. People started running in every direction, each one trying to save their own life.
John remained standing in shock.
His ears were still ringing from the first gunshot, while his eyes focused on the three men slowly approaching him with terrifying calmness.
Their faces were covered.
Pistols were in their hands.
And every single one of them was aimed at him.
His heartbeat accelerated.
But instead of panicking, his mind started working.
"Don't stand still..."
"If you stay in one place... you'll die."
Without hesitation, he threw himself to the ground.
Bang!
The second bullet passed over his head and struck a large metal barrel.
Clang!
Sparks flew in every direction.
Pieces of rust hit his face.
John rolled twice and hid behind a pile of garbage.
He held his breath.
The strong smell of trash filled his nose.
But he didn't care.
It was better to endure the smell than a bullet.
While crouching, he closed his eyes for a few seconds.
He calmed himself.
Then he began analyzing.
"There are three of them..."
"One in front..."
"One on the left..."
"The third is blocking my escape route."
He opened his eyes.
He didn't know them.
But the way they moved told him one truth.
These were not ordinary criminals.
They were trained men.
And they had come for a specific mission.
To kill him.
One of them raised his hand and gave a signal.
All three began moving around the pile of garbage from different directions.
They were surrounding him.
"Damn..." John whispered.
His eyes began searching for a way out.
On the left was an old abandoned truck.
In front were metal barrels.
On the right was a narrow path between rusty metal shacks.
But before he could make a decision...
Bang! Bang!
Two bullets tore through the air.
One struck a barrel.
The other penetrated the garbage pile, sending pieces of plastic flying into John's face.
John lowered himself even further.
He knew he couldn't hide there forever.
He picked up a nearby stone.
He stared at it carefully.
Then he took a deep breath.
"One thing I learned in business..."
"Most people run toward what they hear..."
"Not what is actually in front of them."
With all his strength, he threw the stone to the right.
Crash!
The stone hit a metal sheet.
The thin man quickly turned his pistol toward the sound.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three bullets poured toward the noise.
That was the moment John needed.
He jumped out of cover and ran toward the left.
"Long one! He's running!"
The thin man shouted.
"I see him."
The tall man’s voice remained calm.
"Don't fire randomly."
"But he's escaping!"
"There are still civilians around."
The tall man didn't change his tone.
"Follow the plan."
The thin man clenched his teeth but obeyed.
The short man laughed mockingly.
"Even if he escapes for one minute... he can't escape all day."
When John heard their conversation, his heart raced even faster.
These men were organized.
Each one knew their role.
There was no room for mistakes.
He made a sharp turn and entered a narrow alley filled with broken metal sheets and dirty drainage channels.
The terrible smell burned his throat.
His breathing became heavier.
But he didn't stop.
Bang!
Another bullet passed dangerously close to his ear.
By instinct, he threw himself to the side.
His body crashed into a pile of metal sheets.
Krrrrr...
One sheet slipped.
Its sharp edge cut deeply into his left arm.
"Damn..."
He stopped himself from screaming.
Blood began flowing.
He grabbed the wound tightly as his teeth clenched.
Then a sharp pain struck the back of his head.
"Ahhh..."
He leaned against the wall.
His eyes closed on their own.
Inside the darkness...
Fragments of memories began appearing.
He saw his bedroom.
The dim light of a lamp.
His wife smiling gently.
"Good night, my husband."
Then he heard his child's voice.
"Dad!"
John's face trembled.
He wanted to reach out and hug him.
But before he could...
Everything was swallowed by darkness.
He opened his eyes forcefully.
Sweat covered his face.
"No..."
He whispered.
"I can't die."
"Not before I know who did this to me."
"Not before I see my wife again."
"And not before I hold my son in my arms."
Those words gave him new strength.
Quickly, he tore a piece of his shirt with his teeth and wrapped it around the wound.
He tightened the knot.
The pain was intense.
But he refused to surrender.
Crawling slowly, he hid behind the abandoned truck.
He didn't look out.
He closed his eyes.
He listened.
Heavy footsteps...
The tall man.
Light footsteps moving quickly...
The thin man.
Short but fast footsteps...
The short man.
"Thin one," the tall man's voice echoed.
"Check behind those barrels."
"Alright."
"Short one, block the exit."
"He's still inside this area."
A brief silence followed.
Then the tall man spoke in a low voice.
"The boss said this job must be completed today."
The short man asked,
"And if he escapes?"
The tall man answered without hesitation.
"Then we are the ones who will be next."
John slowly opened his eyes.
Blood was still dripping from his arm.
But inside his mind...
A plan had begun to form.
- Writer
