Streets slowly began to narrow, getting tighter and tighter a young man, who's dark silver hair whistled in the violently blowing wind bounced furiously up and down. As he swiftly swept over and under several fences, his head twitched back and forth - you could tell he was looking out for something, even though his eyes were covered in deep black shades.
His legs moved as delicately as a ballerina - his body slowly shifted, adapting to the rapid changing alleyways. His feet skid across the hard concrete floor as he came to a sudden stop. He reluctantly looked upwards, his mouth slowly jerked as he realised he was trapped. Two hard brick walls encased him, as another one faced towards him, he really was trapped.
Looking back, he spotted two men slowly stomping through the alleyway he was in. A noticeable shining light came from their chests, it's gold asserting dominance - it was a badge. One that belonged to the police. Yet, they could only slowly limp through the alleyways, as there clothes soaked in nothing but pure sweat.
Yet, the man with silver hair only dripped a slight droplet of sweat, which he swept away with his hand, that was covered in layers of dirt and ripped bandages. In closer inspection it seemed as if his entire body was dressed in tons of disgusting muck and over used bandages.
With no other choice he took one last look over towards the police, and in one swift leap he snatched his right hand onto a pipe. He was now hanging, but yet he shifted his legs towards the side of the right wall and leaped once more. He caught another pipe, his grip sharper than an oyster. His smirk grew larger, as he shook his head towards the police... "Oh man, this really is thrilling!"
The police, who's mouth panted in and out barely managed to conjure a word "Y-you... You won't get away... Not this time.."
His eyes almost rolled all the way back, before collapsing towards the left wall...
"You damn rabbit! Stop running you coward!"
The other police officer shouts. The man with silver hair took his chance and swiftly launched from wall to wall before finally reaching a rooftop.
"Calling me a coward, eh? Yeah right."
His smirk slowly fades as he swept from rooftop to rooftop.
The young man continued to dance through the tight alleyways, his movements spilled with confidence, as his mind raced with intrusive thoughts. It was almost as if he were pacman navigating his own maze.
He suddenly stopped, his eyes under his shades were glancing through every inch of the cramped alleyway he stood in. "Ah.. home sweet home." He trampled his feet over a small piece of cardboard, that could barely be used as a makeshift seat. He slowly slumped his back towards a hard brick wall, before skidding down it.
He slowly peeled back a piece of loose bandage before chucking it down to the floor. "At this rate.. I'll die to infection."
He whispered, before shrugging the idea off.
Although tons of injuries stapled ontop of his body, he still reached towards his pocket, pulling out a small cupcake with a broken candle that stood ontop of it. "Happy birthday, Chris."
He spoke to himself, as tears slowly dropped down under his shades.
"I'm 18 now.. It's time for a change."
"No more running."
He shrugged the lone tears off of his pale face before shifting himself upwards..
He slowly trenched through the piles of trash as if he were a slug, his feet confidently stepping forwards in hope for a better life. Yet those thoughts swiftly stopped along side his feet. His mouth let out a slight smirk among the statue that stood Infront of him.
"Who are you?"
"And why the hell are you so tall?"
He spoke, yet the mysterious person who dressed themselves in a large cloak that drippled down there entire body only replied to him in a slight murmur.. "You seek a new life..."
Chris looked perplexed, yet he still remained calm as a confident flicker of light rushed through his eyes that slept beneath his pitch black shades.
"You're really creepy, ya know? You apart of the police or something? Why don't you show ya face eh?"
He asked, his voice asserting a confident and dominant tone. Yet, the eerie person who's cloak waved and swayed beneath the subtle wind only reached out his hollow arm that held only a bright red envelope.
"What's this eh?"
Chris asked, his curiosity peaking.
"An invitation."
The hollow-like creature murmured.
"An invitation for what?"
Chris asked.
"An invitation for the Star Hotel."
The ghost-like thing replied.
"Hmm.. I think I've heard of that before."
Chris said, his mind now feeling a roundabout of emotions.
"Ain't that the place where people mysteriously go missing? Like.. they promise to make you rich, yet you're never seen again.."
Chris spoke, his voice slowly growing more curious.
"You're right, Chris."
The mystery person replied, there voice more croaky than a frog.
"How the hell do you know my na-"
Chris attemptes to speak, before suddenly being cut off by the mysterious person..
"There's a lot of things I know about you.."
The person begins to rise, there voice slowly growing louder.
"I know you hate to see things as they truly are."
"While you may be right on the regard that the Star Hotel makes people rich - what you have failed to say is the part where - once someone accepts to start a new life they will be stripped of there identity."
Chris' arms begin to shake as his fists slowly tighten, his teeth rapidly gritting against eachother as he suddenly begins to speak.
"YOU SA-"
Chris quickly shuts up, his posture and eyes began to differ, as he lets out a subtle cough.
"So then, if all you are saying is true, why should I even go in the first place?"
Chris asks.
"I think you already know. You've been running around for so long, trying to avoid the truth, instead facing the dare. You are smart, Chris. Yet you try and avoid the fact you are. You know it's time to start a new life. Now all you must do is pick your poison."
Chris began to relax, his shoulders slowly draining as he lifted his hand out towards the envelope.
"I've been running all my life because of that stupid gang. I'm still not sure what happened in there.. but it's time I forget about it."
Chris said, his voice growing more timid.
"You say that now, Chris, but deep down you'll realise there are still pieces of your life yet to be put together."
Chris seemed slightly confused by what they were talking about, but yet still continued to reach out towards the envelope.
"Wait.. isn't the Star Hotel in Japan? I live in America and my pockets are more empty than my memories.. How on earth can I manage to get there?"
Chris said.
"Good question. We will take you there by plane, and you won't have to spend a dime as long as you go along with our agreement."
The mystery person says, before slowly twisting around and slithering away.
"Agreement? What agreement?"
Chris exclames towards the mysterious figure, but yet as he looks more closely it seemed to have vanished.
He slowly turned his head down towards the red envelope, before taking off his glasses revealing his light brown eyes. He gave a slight smirk before opening the envelope and reading it. As he skimmed through the letter that was Infront of him, his eyes slowly lit up.
"Hello,
067 we are overjoyed by the fact you have decided to read our letter. If you are willing to strip your identity and start a new life in the Star Hotel, then please sign this letter with your fingerprint.
PS: You will live in the Star Hotel for one month precisely. After the month you will be rewarded with a new life and 3 million dollars.
Sincerely, The Star Hotel."
Chris almost cheered with pure joy, yet managed to hold back his excitement in order to think things through.
"A whole 3 million cash?!"
"And why one month precisely?"
"And how will I sign with my finger print?"
As Chris felt around with his finger he noticed a small bump left in the envelope.
As he reached in he pulled out a small patch of plastic which prisoned a black liquid...
"Oh, makes sense."
Chris said.
Once he had finished signing the letter, he pondered on what to do next. He turned over the sheet of paper, where a few letters remained.
"Oh, makes sense."
Chris said.
"Please put place the letter back into the envelope once finished. After, set it down Infront of you and walk away. You will be picked up in approximately two hours."
"Strange, but sure."
Chris said, before stepping forwards into his new and bright future, leaving his old home and bright red envelope behind.
While his mind rushed with joy his face still kept a stern look.
He tried to deny it, he tried to sustain his morals. He tried. He tried. He tried. But he knew. He knew who he was. The part of him that he ever-so wished to leave behind. He was smart enough to know. The path that stood Infront of him only ever showed itself in dark red blood.