Kyle's breath hitched in his throat as he saw the light flicker on in the master bedroom. He heard the angry voice of Adam Miller booming through the night air. "Where is he? I'll kill him if I find him!" The words echoed with a promise of violence that sent a chill down Kyle's spine.
His pulse raced as the reality of the situation set in. Mrs. Zoe Miller must have twisted what had happened in the shed, spinning some lie to enrage her husband. Kyle knew he had to leave, and fast. There was no telling what Adam was going to do, but judging by the way his voice cracked with fury, it would not be good.
He sprinted back to the shed with his feet pounding the earth like a raging bull. Throwing open the door, he grabbed his worn-out backpack and stuffed the few clothes he owned into it along with his ID. The bag was light, it wasn't like he had much to pack, but it still felt like a weight dragging him down. He slung it over his shoulder and bolted from the shed, his heart thudding in his chest.
Bang!
The loud sound made Kyle's blood run cold. He whipped around to see Adam stumbling out of the house, a shotgun in his hands. "There you are!" Adam yelled, his face twisted in a mask of rage. "You assaulted my wife! I'm going to kill you, boy!"
Kyle didn't wait to hear more. He tore across the yard, his breath coming in sharp gasps. He zigzagged as he ran, the instinct to survive kicking in as another blast from the shotgun rang out behind him. The pellets tore into the ground just inches away, sending dirt flying.
Kyle's legs carried him across the lawn as if they were running for their own survival, his breath coming out in short, panicked bursts. Every instinct screamed for him to keep moving, not to look back, but he couldn't help himself. He chanced a glance over his shoulder and saw Adam gaining on him.
"You are dead tonight boy!" Adam's voice thundered across the night like a crack of lightning. "I'm gonna kill you, I tell you, kill you!"
The anger in Adam's voice sent a jolt of terror through Kyle's veins, and he pushed himself harder, his feet pounding the earth as if the ground itself was trying to pull him down. His heart raced in his chest like a desperate countdown. He wasn't sure if he had the strength to outrun a man like Adam, but he knew he had to try.
He darted toward the gate at the front of the estate to the wrought iron bars. The yard seemed to stretch on endlessly, the ground beneath him almost soft, making each stride feel like he was sinking. His muscles screamed in protest, the sharp burn in his calves spread as exhaustion began to claw at him.
Bang bang!
Another deafening roar of the shotgun echoed across the lawn, and Kyle heard the pellets whiz past his head, close enough that he could feel the rush of air. He threw himself to the side, landing in a sprawl on the dirt as bits of grass and soil flew up around him. His ears rang, but there was no time to recover. He scrambled back to his feet, adrenaline flooding his limbs as he pushed himself forward once more.
His hands reached out desperately as he neared the gate, fingers wrapping around the cold iron. He gritted his teeth and began to climb, his arms trembling as he pulled himself up, one hand over the other. The gate rattled under his weight, and for a terrifying moment, he felt his grip slipping.
"Get down here, you coward!" Adam bellowed, and Kyle could hear his heavy footsteps closing in, the racing of boots on the gravel.
With a grunt of effort, Kyle swung his leg over the top of the gate and dropped to the other side. His feet hit the ground with a jarring thud, pain shooting up his legs as he stumbled forward.
Then, just as he tried to regain his balance, the loud crack of the shotgun split the air again. A white-hot burst of pain shot through his abdomen as the bullet tore into his flesh. His scream came out choked, almost a gasp, as he collapsed onto his knees. His hands instinctively clutched the wound, warm blood oozing between his fingers and staining his shirt a deep crimson.
Kyle's vision blurred, the streetlights around him doubling and swaying as if the world itself was shaking. He gritted his teeth against the pain, struggling to keep his head from spinning. He forced himself to his feet, the agony in his abdomen radiating with each step, but he knew he couldn't stop. If he did, Adam would catch him, and there would be no escaping the rage in the man's eyes.
"Come back here, you little thief!" Adam roared, his voice echoing like a twisted chant in the still night. "I'll teach you to mess with my family!"
Kyle stumbled forward, one hand pressed to the wound, trying to keep pressure on it. His other arm swung wildly as he ran, using the momentum to keep himself from falling. He could hear Adam behind him, the heavy breathing and the sound of the shotgun being reloaded. The cold sweat on his skin mixed with the warmth of his blood, making his entire body feel feverish, as though he were burning up from the inside.
He veered off the main road and into the narrow pathway between two rows of hedges. The branches scraped against his arms, leaving small scratches, but he barely felt them. All he could think about was getting away, getting as far from that house, and Adam's shotgun, as he possibly could.
The pathway opened onto a darker street, and Kyle didn't slow down. His legs were growing weaker with every step, but the fear driving him was more potent than the exhaustion. He reached the corner and ducked into an alleyway, pressing himself against the wall. He took in deep, ragged breaths, his chest heaving, his body trembling from pain and adrenaline.
The darkness of the alley provided some cover, but it also hid Adam from his view. For a few dreadful moments, Kyle listened for footsteps, for any sign that Adam had followed.
Then, suddenly, he heard the faint click of the shotgun being cocked again, and he felt his blood turn to ice. Adam's voice came from somewhere too close. "You can't hide forever, you little rat!"
Kyle's heart thudded painfully against his ribs as he spotted a gap in the fence at the far end of the alley. Ignoring the pain that seemed to gnaw deeper into his abdomen with each step, he darted for the opening. He squeezed through, scraping his arms on the jagged edges of the wooden boards, and emerged onto another street.
He kept running, his body protesting with every movement. Blood soaked through his shirt and trickled down his side, leaving a crimson trail. He could feel his strength slipping away with every drop. His head swam, and the world started to darken around the edges. He stumbled, barely catching himself as his legs threatened to give out.
Up ahead, the headlights of a car flickered as it rounded the corner. He didn't have the energy to shout, and his voice came out weak and hoarse. He took one step toward the vehicle, then another, but his legs buckled.
He hit the ground, hard, his He hit the ground, hard, his vision tilting as he struggled to stay conscious. He watched helplessly as the car came closer, the lights growing brighter, but everything seemed so far away. As his vision dimmed, he heard a whisper, faint and cold, calling a name that wasn't his own.
"Ethan..."
The sound seemed to echo through the darkness as the world faded to black.