Run, Valor

Chapter 2: Murders and Handcuffs

The cold breeze doesn’t help with fatigue and the mixed feelings in me. Guilt, pressure, fear, and many more emotions are building up inside my head and I feel like I’m about to explode. 

I can’t even run for myself. As if I have any other choices than to run and go as far as I can, away from this forest, that river, and the annoying men chasing me. 

Finally, I reached a new road. Though there’s no car around, I’m just walking along it, hoping to find houses soon. The only things that I can see now are pine trees, pine trees and… more pine trees.

Dirt is all over my body. I feel tired, hungry, and sticky. I want to take a bath. I want to eat. There’s many things that I’d like to do that I currently can’t because now, I don’t even have a house to sleep in.

The tiny bit of hope in me flared up when I saw two lights from a truck, not a black car, from my south. My eyes quivered in anticipation and adrenaline rushed to me that I immediately positioned myself in the middle of the road to block it. It surely shocked the driver and it stopped very near, almost hitting me. I can hear the driver's violent moves while going down. He must be thinking, who's this son of a gun that's 

An old man wearing classic boots, denim and a white shirt that says mini mart in his chest came down. I smiled at him even though I’m close to breaking down. I can hear the birds chirping around us and the dripping water from my pants. My clothes are all wet now because I walked through the river. I breathed first before asking him the vital question.

“Can… Can I have a ride?” I asked him while breathing heavily. He looked at me as if he’s investigating my body. He then looked at my knapsack longer. I got what he’s thinking so I removed my knapsack and dropped it at the ground. My body felt comfortable without my heavy knapsack.

I hastily opened it and poured everything out. Once he saw that it was all clothes, he looked at me again. “Where are you going?” he asked, still unsure if he’s willing to give me a ride.

“I’m going to this town called… uhm…” I stopped midway, completely forgetting the town’s name. “It’s something that sounds like a bird. Eagle? Robin? Raven?” I added, very much unsure of what I’m saying. He looked at me and chuckled. “Revan,” he stated.

I smiled and nodded. “Yeah, that,” I said. He then pursed his lips before looking at me and then he said, “Why are you going to that town?” 

I stilled for a moment. I contemplated whether I should or I should not tell him my real reason. In the end, I told him a bit of the truth. “My friend told me that there’s an apartment here owned by her godfather named Cervantes.” I looked at him in the eye.

He’s still pursing his lips and looking at me. He stared for a few more seconds before finally saying yes. “Okay, then. You might want to pick up your clothes now,” he joked. I chuckled for a bit and packed my clothes back to my bag in a swift manner. 

While in the truck, he’s asking me many things such as where I came from, who’s my friend that the Cervantes man has as his goddaughter, and many more questions that I just answered vaguely. He might’ve noticed it by this time so he’s now silent.

Few more moments and I can now see the town sign. It’s very old and obviously not maintained well. The welcome sign is full of rust and dust all over it but the big message in a funky font still stands out. 

Town of Revan: Where Everyone Loves to Return!

I chuckled at the slogan. He might’ve noticed what I’m giggling about and laughed with me as well. “It’s weird, right? The slogan, I mean,” he said. I nodded while the smile on my lips is still very evident. 

“Yeah, now I’m curious why everyone loves to return to this town of Revan,” I joked. He laughed and continued driving. Few more moments and I could finally see houses. He went into the town and parked in front of an establishment, which I think is a supermarket based on its posters outside, and went out. So did I.

He immediately went to the back part of his truck and checked his goods. I’m now convinced that this is a supermarket and I even think that he’s the owner since I also saw a sign on his clothes earlier.

I’m waiting at the front part of his truck. I’d like to express my gratitude with the ride. And I also need to ask him about the directions to the apartment I’m supposed to live in. I kicked off the marbles on the ground to ease my boredom.

To my surprise, someone handcuffed my two arms. I looked up and saw a man with a badge on his casual shirt that says ‘town chief’. I looked around and saw two more unfamiliar men along with the driver I’m with earlier. I looked at him with disbelief.

“What’s this?” I asked, surprise is very evident in my voice. He looked at me as if he wanted to say something but I removed my eyes off him and looked at the ‘town chief’ in front of me. “Why am I in handcuffs?” I asked him.

“You’re a notorious suspect and you’re asking us that?” he said in return. What does he mean by suspect? What am I a suspect of? Is this about the scam that I’ve been involved with? Is he on drugs? Should I be worried about myself? Should I shout for help?

My mind's in haywire right now. I don't understand what's actually happening. Why am I a suspect? I literally just arrived in this hell of a town and now, I'm a suspect? Of what?

“Under the suspicions of alleged murders that you’ve committed, I’m putting you under arrest until the police arrive.” His declaration sounded so strong and determined. My jaw dropped with his statement.

Murders that I’ve committed? What?! How am I greeted with this arrest when I literally just got to this town?

Welcome to Revan, Valor!