5 What was hidden behind the walls

Michael was running faster than ever before. All that could be heard were his breaths and steps following one after the other. He was filled with exhaustion but he knew he was not allowed to stop, for it meant the end of him if he were to be caught.

He was dashing from streets to alleys. It had been a long time since he had run in the city before. Even with many new sights, they did not faze him. His only interest was making his escape succeed.

While he knew he was weak, even a cornered rat fights back, and he knew this was his time.

As kept running, he seemed to notice no one stopping him. He asked himself why would no guard stop a nude man running across the city. As he seemed to become more aware of the situation, the realization that he was no longer nude hit him.

He stopped within the nearest alley and began to check the clothing he had just noticed. He had Jet black plants with a silver lining along with the shirt and a white cloak with golden imprints all around. While he did not understand how he received the clothes, he knew this would aid him in his current situation as his description should be a nude man with scars coating his body.

After inspecting the clothes and finding nothing special, he began walking around in a more tranquil manner. While he knew if they were to ask him for identification he would have no response, he believed he looked like a man of importance.

Walking in a somewhat rushed manner, he began to view the scene he was not allowed to before. There he encountered many people with varying personalities.

As he was enjoying his self-tour around the city, guards approached each other with a poster that had Michael's image imprinted on it. This sent a shockwave to his spine. He had realized that he was losing himself to the carefree atmosphere of the town and that his situation alone was dire.

This had snapped him back into himself. He had one purpose, and purpose only, to escape alive.

Disgusted with nearly giving in to the feeling of comfort, he bit his lip and squeezed his fists tight. He had to control his anger as much as possible. As he realized he was weak, this was no time to start a scene that would call attention to him.

He continued to walk in a slightly rushed manner. As he hadn't been in a city for a long time, he did not realize that while he did seem important, he stood out from the rest of the crowd. The clothes he currently wore had a glimpse of elegance that would attract unwanted attention.

Noticing the person out of place, the guards approached Michael quite quickly. As he looked like a royal, there were going to ask for his assistance. The guards approach Michael, bowed, and quickly proceed to ask if they had seen the man in the poster.

Bewildered, Michael stood in disbelief at the sight of people bowing to him. All he knew was that people bowed to those who had power. This got to his head. He cleared his throat, "ahem" and proceed to speak. "For what reason have you lot approached me today?" Michael was talking arrogantly, but to his experience, he was talking no different than the king.

The guards stated the reason in which they had approached him. "A FUGITIVE HAS ESCAPED YOUR GRASP!" Michael shouted out to create a crowd and soon enough escape within, but this was more than likely to backfire as he stood out from everyone since the very beginning.

As the guards were busy trying to calm the citizens, Michael slowly made his way out. While obvious, the citizens were more concerned about the fugitive.

This had caught the attention of one of the guards. He stopped paying mind to the citizens and quickly walked towards Michael. He walked past him and stopped in front of his path. "Would you care to show me your registration?" The guard had asked unreserved. He understood something was fishy about Michael and held no hesitation trying to pry it from him.

"Registration?", Michael asked and responded, "As if I would carry something so unsightly." This was the red cross that had marked Michael. While royals had registration, theirs were specially crafted to suit their house of royalty and image.

This lack of information had cost him his charade.

The guard unsheathed his sword and angled it straight towards Michael. To stay within the act, Michael proceeds to talk. "You know the price of pointed a sword towards royalty, right?" Michael released the bloodlust he had accumulated from years of wanting to murder the one who had destroyed his family.

While it was shown, it did not affect the guard. As they were accustomed to war, the puny bloodlust shown was nothing to him. "Lower your hood so we can confirm who you are."

At this point, Michael knew he was discovered his plan to escape within the crowd had actually backfired on him, but he did not know why.

Michael shakes his head staying within the act. "It is not too late to be forgiven, insult me once more and ill have your family executed." This was the trigger for the guards. One of their benefits for protecting the empire was the guaranteed safety of their family, so betrayals could be prevented.

The guard shifts the sword to his side facing away from Michael. This had succeeded in lowering his guard and proceed to walk past the guard while chuckling, "Good choice."

The guard quickly turned around and slammed the side of the blade towards Michael's back. The attack was strong enough to incapacitate a man and quickly sent Michael flying towards the ground.

Michael groaned as the guard slowly approached him. He used a nearby building as support and began to think as fast as he could.

There was nothing for him to use. This had sent him into a panic. He turned around and ran as fast as he could. He was desperate to escape.

Resembling the previous chase, he ran between alleys and streets with the guard slowly catching up with every step.

While he knew the results of him being caught, the current situation had clouded his mind with many thoughts each one envisioning a different death only he could imagine.

As he ran, he did not realize that he had returned to the scene of the crime. When he made his last turn, all he could see was Alfredos's body lying on the ground the same as when he had left.

Without realizing he had subconsciously stopped, the guard quickly tackled Michael to the ground and placed his arms to his back.

"No more running for ya", the guard quickly spoke without seeing the commander laying just down the street.

He lifts Michale off the ground readying to handcuff him when he finally sees the commander nearing death's door just on the other side.

The guard in surprise shoves Michael away and rushes to Alfredo's side. "COMMANDER!" The guard yelled at the top of his lungs. As the commander was undefeated in battle, only a few could place him into his current state.

The guard began to yell for help.

He had forgotten about the fugitive.

Michael cared not for what was happening in front of him. All he did was turn around and leave.

The day quickly went by and security turned lax. The news of the commander's defeat had spread throughout the city and most guards could be spotted beside him on his resting bed.

Michael did not understand why the guards had left their post all this meant for him was a chance to getaway.

He looked up and noticed the sun setting. He followed his gut and ran in the direction of it. Finally making his way onto one of the main streets, the gate could be seen. As he neared the gate, he could see the path on the other side.

He ran as fast as he could. Each step becoming heavier than the last. His chest constricting each time he took a breath.

The sun was bright radiating an orange color and blocking his sight.

By instinct, he shut his eyes closed and ran forward.

He quickly passed the gate and made his way ahead.

Without knowing he had passed the gate, Michael kept running with his eyes glued tight. With exhaustion and no air in his lungs, he stumbled on the ground and fell over with his momentum carrying him further down the dirt road.

His cloak had turned brown from dirt coating it.

He finally opened his eyes and got up.

He could see the horizon glowing a bright red and orange color. The clear green grass surrounding the dirt road, and the blue sky littered with clouds.

After many years of being locked up and tortured, the spectacle before him showed him what true beauty was.

Not understanding the emotions he was feeling. Tears began rushing down his face. He did not know why, all he knew was that this was an unforgettable moment and the beginning of his adventure.