Night Runner

Prologue

  Lightning illuminated the pathway as I sprinted down the road. Panting. Trying to get away from the white building looming as I looked behind. Now that I can see it from the outside, the height of the building was colossal. The upper floors were covered by rainclouds, making the top floor impossible to see. A red star encircled by black paint can be seen on the side of the building. It was the same logo seen in the guards' uniform and the scientists' lab coats inside the facility.

The windows were covered by railings, making it difficult to pass through even if you were on the lower floors. The sight not only made me stop on my tracks but also formed tears in my eyes as I remember the suffering I experienced inside, as well as the other kids. Rage made my blood boil.

I promise. 

I promise to come back to rescue the remaining kids and bring down the higher-ups running this facility.

 I promise with my life on the line.

Another lightning flashed, and it woke me up from staring at the building. I swallowed my emotions down and reminded myself that I still need to escape from here to make that happen. I turned around as I started sprinting again. Quickening my pace as I take every step. I don't know how long I've been running, but it feels like forever. I'm almost at my limit. My feet couldn't help but slip sideways as my legs started to give up on me. The wet pavement was not helping either. The heavy rain made the path slippery. I can now hear my heart beating so fast as I run.

Soaked from both sweat and rainwater, my body was freezing. Few curly hair strands were plastered on my face. It doesn't matter. What's important is I get away from here as fast as possible. A strong breeze passed by and I can't help but shiver all over. My hospital gown couldn't protect me from the pouring rain and passing breeze. I can feel my eyelids drooping, the fatigue is now catching up on my small frame.

If it weren't for those damn medicines, I could have gotten away from here already. Are the others also feeling the same way? Is the medicine also slowing them down? Have they escaped already? What if the guards caught them? What if they were brought inside the facility again? What t*****e will they face if they were caught and be punished by the guards because they tried to escape?

I can't stop my legs from trembling from the thought. I pushed those horrifying thoughts down and focused on escaping. I need to hurry.

My breathing is now ragged, lips trembling, and shoulders shuddering. I could still hear the ringing of the sirens from the building. Red lights were flickering in and out, indicating a code red. Shouts from different people, the guards, possibly close by, can also be heard.

"Hurry up! Find them!"

"Over here! I saw someone running in this direction."

"Split the group! Find them no matter what!"

After hearing those shouts, I ran faster, pulling my weight, running past numerous abandoned buildings and shops. I tried to keep my legs from shaking from the cold and exhaustion. I turned into a corner and luckily I saw an unlocked door, entering an abandoned building. I slid past inside, then quietly pushed the door to a close and locked it as I heard footsteps approaching. I silently prayed that the other children who escaped from the facility and I could now be free, out from their reach.

My legs can't take it anymore. I collapsed on the ground without making a sound and pulled my knees to my chest. I leaned on the cold metal door, cupping my mouth as I try to suppress my sobs as the footsteps approached closer.

The owner of the footsteps stopped outside the door as if sensing I was on the other side. I fear that he can hear my heart rampaging on my chest. Then after a while, he whispered at the door, "Are you a number? It's me, 78."

My eyes widened on the realization that the owner of the voice does not belong to a grown-up man but a child, and he sounded familiar. It was 78!

'53! It's 53! I'm here!' those were the words I was ready to say. I pushed myself to stand up as I calmed down and slowly raised my hand to open the locked door but then, a gunshot reverberated outside. It shocked me as I fell to the ground. I stared at the door while my ears were still ringing.

Footsteps that belonged to more than three men can now be heard outside the door. A few moments later, I felt a sticky liquid on my hand. My eyes widened when I saw the red liquid. I covered my mouth to stop myself from making any sound as I realized that the guards shot the boy outside, and it was his blood on my hands. It was now forming a pool of blood below the door as it slowly spread on the floor and to where I am sitting.

"Calisco here, reporting to main office. Number 78 has been retrieved but was terminated. Shot in the head. No pulse. Over"

"Sargent, return the body to the main building and transfer it to the doctors on standby. Over."

"Copy that. Over."

"Damn, brats. Trying to get away even though they clearly can't outrun us." He said with an annoyed voice. The voice came from a man named Calisco. After hearing what he said, I can hear someone kicking the body of Number 78 outside the door. My face is now covered in tears as I shut my mouth to hush my sobs so that they wouldn't know I was on the other side of the door. I didn't mind how the blood was now on my face. I was trembling madly just thinking about having the same fate as Number 78. I imagined myself lying on the ground with a bullet wound on my head and my blood spreading around me. A sob escaped from my mouth. Someone hushed everyone to listen and to make the people he's with stop from whatever they were doing. The first one to talk was Calisco.

"Did you hear that? I heard something" the others listened after he said it but brushed it off because they didn't hear anything. Only Calisco heard something.

"I think it's just a mouse. Leave it be."

Calisco couldn't stop thinking that it might be a Number hiding in the area. He was pushed by another guard, making him move to deliver the body of Number 73 to the building. He shakes his head from left to right and convinces himself that it was just a mouse. But his gut feeling doesn't agree with it, but still, he slowly walked away from the alley.

I don't know how long I've been staying still behind the door.  After counting from 1 to 50, I tried listening to the voices outside. It was quiet. I slowly opened the door, just big enough to peek outside. Everyone was gone, including 73s' body. Blood was still on the floor, evidence that someone was killed right here.

I don't know how I got away from the scene. I just pushed myself to run further.

I can do this.

I can see lights and a few silhouettes of people. I'm almost at the residential district. Some people saw how b****y I am. They didn't mind me but some kept their distance. They knew they could be in trouble if they associated themselves with me. 

I'm at my limit. I need somewhere to settle down for a bit.

I found an empty alley and as I dragged my feet to walk I suddenly felt dizzy due to exhaustion. My legs are now giving up on me as I walked limply.  I could help but fall on the cold cement. I'm slowly losing consciousness.

NO! I CAN'T PASS OUT HERE! I NEED TO GET FURTHER AWAY!

As my eyelids started to close, I saw a hazy silhouette of a person, a man. 

The next thing I knew I lost conscious as he lifted me up and carried me away from the alley.