On The Run

"Ha! I'm dead! I can't believe this. I didn't know today was my expiration date. Why did I even bother helping that fool?" The voice emerged from the shadows of the room. At first, it was muffled, but clarity soon followed. "Wake up, you fool! We need to make a move—they're onto us. Get up!" It was Jake, my best friend. We were on the run from a gang known as the Claudes.

We had taken refuge in a room, peering out the window to check if they were still in pursuit. They spotted us instantly and began their approach. "Darn it! We need an escape route," Jake muttered. "I'm aware," I responded. "The window's our only exit. We jump. Got any better ideas?"

Without hesitation, we leapt, landing in a heap on a pile of trash below. Scrambling to our feet, we bolted toward the place we called home. As orphans, we only had each other.

"I think we've shaken them off," Jake panted. "Perhaps, but let's not drop our guard," I cautioned. "Agreed," he nodded.

Arriving home under the cloak of night, Jake exclaimed, "What? It looks like someone broke in!" I couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, don't make me laugh. If a thief really broke in, then he must be dumb," I replied. "Why?" Jake asked. "Are you dumb? We don't have anything valuable, not even a valuable underwear. So why would he come here?" I explained.

"Anyway, are you going to the forbidden forest?" Jake asked. "Yeah, maybe... Wait, what? Are you crazy? It's forbidden! Don't you get it? The government is going to jail anyone who goes there," I warned. "Come on, we're 16. We can't be arrested," Jake argued.

"Yeah, I know. That's why there is Juvenile detention for teenagers," I responded. "Oh yeah, you're right," Jake agreed. "But let's try it out anyway, and we must make sure not to get caught."

"Really? That's great. You're the best," Jake said excitedly. "Yeah, I know. You don't need to tell me," I replied.

"Let's go to sleep and wait for tomorrow. But wait, we should check around. Haven't you forgotten about what happened the other day?" I reminded Jake, who still seemed a bit frightened.

"No, I haven't forgotten," he replied. "That day was terrible. We didn't look around before going to sleep, and the Claudes woke us up in the middle of the night. They broke into our room and beat us up so badly that we stayed in a coma at the hospital for two weeks. It was so painful. The doctor even said I broke a rib."

"Yeah, it was a nightmare. I thought I would never walk again," I sympathized with him.

We cautiously looked around the room, but nothing seemed out of place. It was a peaceful night with a gentle breeze. We finally decided to go to sleep. As usual, Jake started snoring, much to my annoyance.

"Darn this dumbo! Can't you sleep without snoring?" I shouted angrily, trying to wake him up.

As the night went on, we both eventually drifted off to sleep, hoping for a better tomorrow.

"**Wakey, wakey, time to move! We're going on a trip. Don't tell me you've forgotten already,**" Jake's voice carried a slow urgency.

"Ha, what's today?" Kyle mumbled groggily.

"**It's Saturday, come on!**" Jake replied with a buoyant cheer.

Shaking off the remnants of sleep, Kyle rose and washed away the night. Jake, ever the early bird, had already freshened up.

With little to their names, they packed their scant essentials and stepped out into the brisk morning air, making their way to the transporter.

This portal, a relic cobbled together from the remnants of war, stood as a testament to human ingenuity. They entered the booking room, where two portals beckoned: the blue for public use, the white for the intrepid souls venturing to other planets. A Tab materialized before them, offering a choice between the two hues.

Without hesitation, Kyle selected the blue, and a new page sprang to life, listing potential destinations. He searched for Barile Forest, their intended yet forbidden target. The Tab flashed a warning: "**Strictly banned, not available.**"

Undeterred, Kyle backtracked and sought the nearest location to their goal. Three options appeared:

- **Ridetvile - aa 5**

- **Torentter - ss 10**

- **Miledemi Six Miles - tt 60**

Ridetvile was the closest, merely five transits away. Kyle tapped **aa 5 (Ridetvile)**, and the interface promptly vanished. A portal emerged, its blue aura pulsing with anticipation. Once ready, it dimmed, and a sign declared, "**Ready.**"

The boys stepped through the portal, which snapped shut behind them, sending a code to their Hi-Watches—devices that kept the government apprised of every citizen's whereabouts and ensured their safety with a daily allowance of points.

Upon arrival at **aa 5 (Ridetvile)**, a mere ten-minute walk lay between them and the gates of Barile Forest. The gates glowed an ominous red, signaling the area's prohibition. Jake and Kyle scoured the perimeter, seeking a breach.

A mere five minutes later, they found it—an unguarded point of entry. They slipped through with bated breath, careful not to trip any alarms. Inside, the forest unveiled its splendor, a stark contrast to the city's steel and concrete.

"**So this is why the government banned it! It's like another world hidden within the city!**" Kyle gasped, awestruck by the vista before him.

"**We have to explore this, Kyle,**" Jake urged, his grin wide with the thrill of adventure.

Kyle stood transfixed, his fear mingling with wonder. Drawing a deep breath, he steeled himself.

"Alright, let's do this," he declared, his voice was weary

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Mass Chapter Release starts from Chapter 10.

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