It was early morning, about three hours before dawn. Jim and Vox stood outside the door and looked at Wilson who was holding a space backpack filled with his clothes and shoes. Jim sighed and said sadly, a little disappointed in himself.
"I'm truly very sorry, Wilson." He apologized for the umpteenth time. He kept feeling like it was somewhat his fault. "I wish I could help you but I can't. Helping you will only bring trouble to everyone else. I hope you survive and find your own place where you truly belong."
Vox looked around and glanced back at his phone. On it was written a single message from Bar: 'Good to go! Make it quick!' He looked at Wilson whose face was solemn; seemingly lost in thought.
"You have to go now! Your best choice would have been the military but we can't be sure they won't have someone in there to execute you 'accidentally'. So, if you want to survive, your best chance would be to go to the southern part of the city."
The southern part of Tiger city was generally known as the 'Forest Garden.' - the most outlawed place in the city. Forest Garden was where the most devilish of hearts tended to go to. It was the only place in Tiger city that not one powerful being could claim to have total control over. In there, tiger city rules were almost non-existent. It was the image of that place that Jim had in mind when he told Wilson about Tiger City.
Forest City was very chaotic. Killing, gambling, thievery and robbery, virtually every vice possible was committed on a daily basis in this place. It was a horrible place but it was because of these kinds of reasons that Wilson had the best shot at escaping his mysterious chasers' radar and living on. It was a no-brainer that it was not going to be a good life but at least it was his best shot at staying alive.
"Oh and Wilson, I downloaded some fighting guides into your phone for you. Be sure to learn them as soon as you can. I think they will increase your chances by some." Jim said.
"You can't possibly survive on just your amateur boxing skills after all." Vox chipped in. Wilson could not tell if he had just told a joke or not.
"It's time. Get going! The map is installed into your phone. I wish you the best of luck!" Vox said hurriedly and dragged Jim inside, shutting the door on Wilson's face.
Wilson instantly turned around, looked at the very detailed map on his phone and began jogging.
The map was very detailed with hints, tips and tricks, including how to avoid the regular patrol routine of the military police at night, the unusual pathways a person could pass if they thought they were being followed, how to avoid detection from people and popular tracking methodologies.
At the bottom of it all, there was a disclaimer clause that stated: 'All these tips and tricks are obtained from real-life experiences but are mainly useful in the case that things go as planned. We do not account for and are therefore; not responsible for any lack of skill of the user and any irregularities or variables in the events that occur solely because the practicality of this map's guide ultimately depends on the user.'
Wilson jogged as he skimmed through his phone, following the map to the letter. Jim, Vox, Bar and Horr had added some extra information that they thought might be of help and he really appreciated the gesture.
His mother used to say that people were meant to meet and part so that they could meet others.
It did not make much sense before but now, it did. Oh how much he misses her. He wondered how she was doing right now. Perhaps it was because he had matured a little since all that time or maybe life was just making regret his actions, but he wished he had listened to his mother or at the very least, had left the village on a better note than he did.
He shook his head, now was not the time to think about that. There will be plenty of time for that in the future. For now, just try to live on. He told himself and picked up speed, turning to the right at a corner that led to a narrow alley which ensured that only one person can pass through at any given time.
After weaving in and out of various alleyways for a while, he got out of the alley and jumped over a small, broken, brick wall. At this point, he could hear the rumbling sounds of the mag-lev vehicles moving at a high speed at the highway; fast but organized and the ground continually shook under his feet. It was nothing much though. Infact, it felt a little like a massage, if one could say so. He jogged a little further and followed the sound to its source; the highway.
He looked at the timer on his phone. It was an hour and three minutes to dawn. He was right on time.
Just then, a long mag-lev train sped past. Wilson, based on Horr's instructions, stretched his right hand close to the train's body as it raced past him.
*Bang*
That was not a gunshot, nether was it he sound of an accident. Rather, it was the sound of Wilson's body forcefully hitting the side of the train as he flew after it. But how did he end up flying in the air beside it? Let's go back to some hours earlier.
While Vox and Jim were bidding Wilson farewell, Horr and Bar were negotiating with a voluptuous lady who had heavy makeup on and a swaying, bushy tail that somehow helped to further accentuate her figure. She was heavily endowed! They argued back and forth for a little while before concluding the deal. The deal was for her to drag Wilson aboard the train moving outside the city and 'dispatch' him near the boundary of the southern part of the city.
Wilson, following the loud bang, was aggressively pulled into the train and crashed painfully on the floor of the train. The train door closed while he gasped and then groaned. His back hurt.
"Welcome aboard, partner!" She said with a smile.