Nowhere to Run! [OPEN]

[Albert Aldein]

Not again.

Seriously, he was getting rusty. During the earlier part of the year, he had a clean slate when it came to attempted pursuers. Now, in the span of two weeks, he had been chased after thrice. And it wasn't like he was chased by a horde of crazed fan girls. If they were, then he wouldn't be running away. But he was, and he knew he had to run faster. With each step he took, he felt his chest pumping for more air, tightening quickly, only to open up and release once more.

He made a sharp turn over at the end of the road, hoping to avoid the police, and true enough, they did seem to drive past them. He scurried off behind one of the trees, waiting patiently until the blaring sirens slowly faded out of earshot. He exhaled a sigh of relief, glad that they didn't know where it was that he went. He placed his hand inside his pocket and pulled out a ring, raising it up a bit in the sunlight as though to check if it was authentic. In his hands, he held a ring encrusted with a topaz gem, one that he got from some random lady's fingers. Clearly, he was subtle enough. But as he was walking away, the woman noticed that it was missing, and things just came downhill form there.

Taking the ring and securely placing it in his pocket, he began heading for the highway, back to his simple apartment at the outskirts of town. That was until he heard a crack of a twig and some voices.

"Overhere, I think I see something moving."

"Shit," Al mouthed silently, searching around for the sound of the voice. Al knew that he had to get out quick, unless he wanted to spend the next couple of years of his life in a prison cell. He ran deeper into the forest, away from the sound of voices and footsteps, the rush of it all filling his insides. The sound of the twigs cracking under his feet, the cold morning breeze slapping against his face, the heat burning in his chest, it was all just too real and familiar for comfort. If he got out of here safely, he'd never steal again. Well, never get caught again.

The thief came to a halt, panting heavily as he leaned on a tree trunk for support. Taking a quick glance and seeing no one, he gently fell to the ground, trying to catch his breath. Damn, he needed to get his stamina back. And just when he thought he could catch his breath, even for just a few more minutes, he heard it. An indisputable crack. He was clearly not alone, and whoever it was, it was near.

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