2 Beginning of the Race
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Before Will went to sleep, he set an alarm for 10:30 AM so that he could have an average day. Something that he hasn't had in a while. When he woke up, he noticed that the violent rain had left. The sun had shone through the blinds in William's room.
Dust drifted past Will's eyes in a sunbeam as he sat up. The sheets were ripped and Will's foot had slipped through.
He shook his foot out and fumbled out of bed. The wood under the tainted carpet creaked as he walked over to the plastic bin that had held his clothes.
Most of the clothes were old and had stains that never came out. They were also either too big or too small.
William rummaged through the bin until he found some clothes that didn't have wrinkles or stains. He took out a shirt and jeans and changed into them.
That was when he had heard a knock on his door.
He tried to get into his jeans and leaned towards the door. He flopped onto the ground as he pushed the doorknob down.
The door opened, and he noticed the landlord's face.
"William, you're late on rent again," the landlord said, looking at Will confused as his jeans were falling off.
"Yeah, I know, I'll get it by Thursday," said Will, nervous about what the landlord would say because today was Monday.
"How about you get it today?" said the landlord.
"Mr. Shalan, I'm sorry about that but I don't have wor-," stopped Will.
"Save your excuses and get me my money by Wednesday or you're out! Understand?" said Mr. Shalan.
"Understood. Have a good day." said Will as Mr. Shalan walked off and straightened his suit.
He was always in a suit, no matter the circumstances. Will put his shoes on and walked out as the sun blinded him as he walked down the stairs.
He walked to the underside of the stairs as it was where he always kept his bike. When he got to the end of the stairs, his bike wasn't there, and the cord was cut.
This was common, and that's why Will never spent more than $50 on a bike or any other form of transportation.
Therefore, he doesn't have a car; he's afraid he'd wake up one day and it would be gone.
"Really?" said Will, nearly punching the railing of the stairs. He was furious, and he wanted to find his bike. "Well, I guess I gotta walk," said Will as he walked away.
He walked in the heat of Mors Tiones, 102 degrees today. He sweat heavily as he walked to the nearest bodega with $50 in his pocket. It was like Florida in the summer.
Will waited for a car to pass through the gate, and then he walked out behind it. As he walked along the sidewalk, a car pulled up beside him.
There were two people in the front and one person in the back.
"Hey Will, what's up?" the man in the car said. He was wearing a tank-top and a hat that said 'Ride or Die' on it.
These people were always saying 'Hi' to him, but it wasn't a friendly gesture. That's what Will's intuition told him, at least.
"Nothin'," said William as he speed walked down the sidewalk. "What's wrong, Will? You good?" a guy in the passenger's seat said.
As Will looked in the back of the car, he noticed something; the person back there was gone.
That was when Will ran. Something shady was going on. He knew what they were trying to do, and he didn't want any part in it. Someone was about to rob him and he knew it.
Adrenaline pumped through his blood as he ran. The car slowly followed behind him. He nearly tripped, but kept his balance.
Will was a fast runner, and he had won many races in the past, but he knew he couldn't outrun a car... but he did.
Once the car was out of his sights, he stopped and realized he was at the bodega. He walked through the uneven parking lot and onto the sidewalk.
He opened the door and saw the cashier, his best friend Sam whom he had known since he was kid; "Hey Will, how you been man?" said Sam as he and Will did their secret handshake.
"I've been good, how's business?" asked Will.
"It's been going through highs and lows." said Sam.
"I see what you mean," said Will while he grabbed a bag of Hot Rheetoes.
"One ninety-five," said Sam. Will handed him a 50 and Sam exchanged Will's money with his change. "Bye, Sam," said Will as he walked out the door.
He noticed that same car from earlier. It pulled into the parking lot and Will took off. He ran about halfway to his apartment and stopped.
He had to catch his breath. His lungs felt like they were being crushed. The sidewalk didn't help as it was cracked and uneven, like the lot near the bodega.
As Will's apartment came into view, his phone rang. He took it out of his pocket and answered, "Hello," he said.
He didn't want anyone to call him right now. It was his boss. "I'm calling you just to remind you, you got work tomorrow night," said Will's boss. "Yes sir, I know," said Will.
"Alright bye," his boss said. The phone hung up, and he was at the foot of the stairs.
The complex had rugged planks all around, rusted black railing, and rough stones glued together to make the steps of the stairs. Will unlocked the door to his apartment and opened it.
He sighed and fell onto his bed; cracked oped the bag of Rheetoes and put his hand in. He fell asleep.
When he woke up, it was 9:00 PM. He checked his phone, and he had five texts from Sam. They said in chronological order:
"Hey, let me know when you get back," 12:00 PM.
"And if the Rheetoes were stale," 12:30.
"Hey man, you okay?" 4:56.
"I saw you run from the bodega earlier what was that about?" 5:49.
"Lemme know if you're safe" 6:00 PM.
Will texted Sam back, saying that he was fine.
Then Will fell asleep. When he woke up it was still dark, five o'clock. "Maybe I'll just watch the news," said Will.
He watched it for hours until something came up.
"And it was at this bodega that the shooting went down. One man is dead," said the reporter.
"Wait, that's Sam's bodega." said Will as he picked up his phone not listening to the news. He texted Sam saying, "Are you okay?", that was when he looked toward the TV.
"The man dead is Sam Fern, an employee here at the bodega. He was only 22 years old. The police are searching for potential suspects right now. Jim; onto you," said the reporter.
Will tore up, and he was shaken by what he was hearing. He buried his face in his bed and yelled into the mattress.
"Why? Why? Why?!" William screamed angrily in a teary voice.
The night appeared too quickly that day and Will got into his work clothes and walked to work.
The moon had shone brightly that night and the stars were plentiful. The wind was merciless as it shook trees and made William sway.
This night felt cold and soul-less. No one was there. No one. Will's family was gone. Will's only friend was gone. It was only him.
He walked through the chilly night, stuck on Sam's death. When Will got to the warehouse and started doing his work, time began flying by.
Will's shift was over before he knew it.
He grabbed his coat off of the hook and walked out as the light in the warehouse's front flickered. While he was walking home down a slim asphalt road, a man begging him for money stopped him under a streetlight.
"I don't have any money sir, I'm sorry," said Will.
That was when Will felt the shivery feeling of iron against his head.
"Run your pockets," said a different person behind Will. Without thinking, Will spun and twisted the guy's wrist, but the man didn't let go of the gun.
About four shots went off, but no one got hit. The initial homeless man started running away.
Will and this guy were wrestling with a gun, and that's when three shots went off.
They stopped struggling.
The man laid on top of Will, not moving at all. Will pushed the man off and stood over the man under a dim streetlight.
He saw that the man was lying on the ground and he wasn't getting up. He felt the man's wrist and realized that it was slowing down.
Then it stopped, and that was when it rained. Will looked down at his hands and noticed the blood being rinsed from them. It was frightening. What would happen now?
Will he go to jail? He didn't know.
He kept the gun though because it might have his fingerprints, and he thought no one was around. Will picked the man up and threw him into a dumpster.
Then Will began speed walking towards his apartment. He waited for a car to open the gate, and then he went in.
He ran up to his apartment and opened the door. Will turned the light on and paced back and forth.
His heartbeat sped up as he was getting more and more nervous. "What just happened?" said Will. He hit the wall and thought about what he should do. He thought about taking his bike, but it's gone. Walking would've been a good idea if it wasn't so slow. Hitchhiking is too dangerous. Then he thought about stealing a car. Which car, though?
It had to be a car that wasn't too noticeable. It had to be... a phantom.
He looked outside and noticed a Grey 2017 Goyoetae Hamry. That's a common car. Will hastily grabbed everything he needed: his wallet, some clothes, a screwdriver (to change the plate), gloves, and some food.
He couldn't take his cell phone' cause they'd track him, but he should hide it just in case. He opened the door and left the keys on top of the molding.
The temperature had dropped tremendously and humidity was on the rise.
Will walked to the car and tugged at the door; it was unlocked. He completely opened it and put his stuff in the passenger's seat. Then he sat down and turned the engine on.
"Lucky, it was unlocked," said a woman outside of the car. Will looked to his left and saw a double barrel pointed at his head. She had pajamas on, so she was probably going to the MacRonald's drive-thru or Walmart.
"Get out," the woman said firmly. Will snatched the keys and put the car in reverse and drove off like he was in Fast & Curious.
He shifted gears again and put the car in drive as he sped off. She fired at him and it nearly hit a tire. He was getting closer to gate as it was closing. He stomped on the gas pedal and barely scratched the side-mirrors of the car as he escaped.
That was when he realized the car had navigation. He zoomed out on the map and clicked Seattle. The map showed 19 hours and 24 minutes.
"Great, a road trip," William said out loud.
