Prologue

New Orleans, Louisiana

“Roger...,” someone whispers behind me menacingly.

Stopping to catch my breath isn’t an option! I don’t even know where I am going. I stagger, limping down the street as twilight quickly approaches.

The abandoned and run-down houses that surround me motivate me to find refuge.

Where though?

Scared and cautious alley cats look up from their dinner as I hurriedly limp by them. Some of them take off. They probably sense that the angel of death is right on my tail and do not want to come face to face with him!

While other cats continue their buffet inside black trash bags like I didn’t matter.

Hours ago, the stranger had caught me and broken my glasses. My left eye is swollen shut, and I’m nursing a bloody nose. It was from the repeated assault on my now bruised and bloodied face.

Hesitantly, I wipe the crimson liquid from my busted lip with the back of my sleeve, trying to get my bearings.

I quickly turn around as the hairs on my back stand at attention! The ominous silence sets my fear level at an all-time high. He is after me, and I feel there’s nowhere to hide!

I stop.

I can’t do it anymore; I tell myself as I bend over, my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath again. I place a hand on my chest. Feeling my heart beat like it wants to leave my body. I feel like I’ve been running non-stop for hours. Darkness is now creeping up on me, and I’m past exhausted.

No! I stand tall with little confidence. I must keep running!

A street lamp shines above me like a spotlight as it occurs to me that the sun has completely set.

The irony!

Alone is how I feel. I am the only person in the world hunted by a shadowy figure that hasn’t given up. I slowly look around, hoping and praying I find anyone!

Hopefully, a police car!

I run toward a black, parked car, resting my hand on it. Carefully I scan the area, silently hoping and praying I don’t see him.

I instantly still when I catch my reflection in the car window. The person staring back is me, but unrecognizable. I can’t believe it! I slowly touch my face to ensure the image looking back at me is, in fact, me.

I wince in pain.

Whoever this maniac is has a vendetta. I will not give up until I feel safe again! However, that will prove impossible. Every way I turn, I feel more lost. Where are the police when you need them the most?!

I look up. I see a bolt of lightning through the dark sky and gray clouds. Dread washes over me. At this point, I am out of breath and out of a will. Breathing hurts, running hurts, everything hurts! I cannot stop! I will not stop! The moment I do, that young man will find me and kill me.

Clutching to my arm, I silently sob in pain as I remember what led to this horrible moment.

Two hours ago

“Mr. Olsen, sir? How’s the campaign going?”

My driver, bodyguard, and I were sitting at a red light. I looked up from the newspaper at my driver. I smiled at him as we made eye contact through the rearview mirror.

“It’s going great, Matthew! I am up in the polls by forty points,” I said, winking at him.

“I’ve said it from the beginning, sir! You’ll get that senate seat! After that, the White House,” Jared, my bodyguard, said, turning to me with a smile on his face.

I laugh. “Now, now! One thing at a time. I don’t even know if I want the presidency.” I was telling the truth! “I just want to do my part and help the great state of Louisiana. That’s all!”

I nearly fold the newspaper and carefully place it on the seat next to me.

“Don’t be so modest, sir!” Jared said, turning back around.

The light had just turned green when two bullets, coming through the windshield, hit my driver and bodyguard in their heads! The guttural sound of the men made me freeze for a split second.

I leaned forward, looking at my bodyguard as I realized what just happened! Quickly, I covered my head as both men slumped in their seats. My mouth opened to yell in horror, but no sound resonated.

I stumbled out of the car, looking around as I landed on my back. What had just happened?

I looked around horrified and couldn’t see anything or anyone! Standing carefully and looking back into the car, I noticed that Jared and Matthew were, in fact, dead.

In a panic, I tried to pull my cell phone out of my pocket, but it fell onto the street. I bent over quickly to retrieve it but felt intense pain in my left forearm. I looked at it and saw a small, black knife protruding from it. I yelled in pain and disbelief as I pulled it out and ran. Someone was trying to kill me!

I ran for my life!

Present

I look up from the car window when I suddenly hear laughter and music a few blocks away.

Mardi Gras!

Maybe if I run into that crowd of partiers, I will lose him!

I run down the street, turning now and then to see if he is still behind me! I can’t see him unless he is hiding behind the parked cars or running above the buildings. However, I know he’s out there. He was watching me. Waiting.

With a sigh of slight relief, I make it!

My running turns to a slow pace as happy partygoers surround me. I heave another sigh of relief as I look around.

Witnesses! That crazy man can’t touch me now! Right?

The colorful lights illuminate every corner of the street. The sound of laughter and music surrounds me as I look for a place to hide. I bump into young and old as they celebrate such a joyous occasion here in New Orleans. One I love very much, up until this point!

There are so many people here. Indeed he will not find me here.

I need to use this crowd as protection as I cower behind everyone. I am short, so I know the stranger can’t see me. I don’t want the man to find me. This big gash on my arm will be the least of my problems if he does.

In the middle of the crowd, I turn, bumping into someone. I don’t pay it any mind. Something far worst is out there.

I still don’t see him.

“Hey, watch it, old man!” Yelled a young, blonde woman.

“I-I am so sorry!” I let go of my wound, holding my bloody hand at the partygoer. She takes one look at it and makes a face of utter disgust. I begin to turn away from her when I see him!

Fear has me paralyzed!

The man is standing a few feet away from me. He slowly starts to walk towards me, as panic rises in me! It was like a lion getting ready to pounce on its prey.

I have to get away from him! But how?

“No!” I yell. I grab my bleeding arm and run up the street, bumping into more oblivious individuals.

“Please, someone help me!”

I grab onto anyone who will look at me. When the young partiers turn and see I had left my blood on them, they lash out and walk away from me.

“What the f-!” Yells a tall, young man. He sees the blood on his shoulder. With utter disgust, he suddenly grabs me by my collar and pulls me towards him. Hate turns into rage. I try to tell him I need help. Tears pool in my eyes and slide down my face.

“Please, help me! I beg you! I am Senate nominee Roger Olsen! Someone is after me!”

The young man doesn’t want to hear it. Instead, he pushes me to the ground. I land on my left knee, causing me to yell in pain.

“Please, he’s after me!” I continue to sob, pointing towards the area where the stranger was last. The young partygoer and I look in that direction.

He’s gone!

“You’re bat crazy, man! And if you’re Olsen, I’m the queen of England!” He turns around, looking at his friends. Odium is written all over his face.

“Look what that old asshole did! He probably got his ass kicked for stealing.” He looks at his arm and walks away, showing his friends the blood I left on him. His friends laugh.

I struggle to get up. At this age, it’s complicated. The more I run, the more it feels like my knees will give up on me.

I can’t believe this was happening to me! No one even recognizes me.

Once on my two feet, I limp further up the block, hiding between people. Everyone around me is still unmindful of who I am or who is after me.

I wince in pain, looking around. I don’t know which hurt most now; my bleeding arm or my throbbing knee.

I immediately stop and decide against going further up. The maniac will find me for sure! I’ve been running for hours now.

I don’t know how, but he is everywhere I turn. I am terrified!

I have to hide and fast!

Turning around, I spot an alleyway. Trying to gather the last of my strength, I limp toward it.

I cautiously step into the dark and damp alley. My mind is racing as I keep looking behind me.

I decide to walk against the wall, ensuring I cover myself with the darkness of the alleyway. I hold my breath as I press my back against the wall. I am carefully looking up and down the alley, not wanting my attacker to walk by and see me.

Sighing in relief, I close my eyes and put my head against the wall. I am someone who has always vowed to be good all their life. And I have, always.

So who is this man? What kind of torture is this? What have I done in a previous life to deserve such torment? Have I wronged him? Someone else? Or is it just plain misfortune that this maniac saw me in the car hours ago and now wants to play Russian roulette with my life?

After a minute or so, I begin my walk again. I’m halfway through the alley when I hear something fall behind me. I turn!

Nothing.

I am in so much pain, and it’s becoming difficult to breathe. The sweat dripping from my forehead keeps falling into my one good eye, making it harder for me to distinguish anything. I squint, trying to detect movement down the alley. The wind suddenly starts to pick up, and thunder roars above me.

A storm is coming.

There is a dumpster on the right side. Not paying attention, I almost trip trying to get to it, causing pain to radiate from my knee up to my leg. I stifle a scream.

Once I get my bearings, I can sit on the table next to the dumpster.

Just five minutes.

I need five minutes to catch my breath, rest my swollen knee, and try to cover up the big gash on my arm. I close my eye and take a deep breath.

The wind starts to pick up. I take it as a sign not to stop. I look for anything I can use to cover my bleeding arm.

“Roger,” someone whispers.

I immediately jump up from the table. My heart hops into my throat. I am so scared!

He found me!

I cautiously begin to limp to the front of the dumpster. I place my hand on it and slowly peek my head around.

There is no one there. I sigh in relief. Maybe it is the wind?

That sound is a sign that it’s time to move. No doubt he will find me soon. Unless he already has.

I move away when I feel a hand behind my lower back. Another hand grabs the back of my neck, and the unknown force lifts me effortlessly into the air!

The person slams me against the dumpster and then throws me onto the table, breaking it!

The wind is knocked out of me!

Tears blur my vision. I close my eyes as I grab my back, pain radiating up to my neck. It’s excruciating! I slowly open my eyes to see my assailant, but no one is there. However, I know better. He is here, like a game of cat and mouse. He has his paw on my tail.

I turn slowly, coughing and crying.

“Please,” I whimper, trying to crawl away. “Who are you? Why are you doing this?” I look all around, terrified to see him again.

The man suddenly walks into view in front of me. He slowly bends over and stands me up by my collar. I groan in pain.

“Roger Olsen,” he maliciously says as he pushes me against the wall. I am mortified! A flash of lightning lights up the alleyway. I can see my attacker for a split second, but there’s nothing to see.

My attacker is in a black suit and black sunglasses and stands in front of me, showing no emotion.

Thunder roars around us!

“H-How do you know my name? Please, tell me why you are doing this?”

I hold my shaky hands in front of my face, bracing for the next attack. What is this maniac going to do with me?! Tears will not stop running down my cheeks.

The man slowly retrieves a phone from inside his jacket. He hits two buttons and puts the phone between us. The man just stares at me. He never moves an inch, never showing any emotion.

The phone rings a couple of times, and a woman picks up.

“Hello,” says a familiar, cheery voice.

“Hello?” I ask in confusion and fright. I look around, praying someone will stumble into the alley and see us.

“Roger?” The female asks over the phone.

I snap my head towards the phone. I know that voice! “Lori!?” I am so relieved! I exhale. “Oh, God! Lori, listen to me! There’s a madman here! I don’t know what he wants! Help me!”

The man and I look up when we both see the downpour of rain that comes out of nowhere. Another sound of thunder roars around us.

I look back at him as he lets me go and produces a gun, holding it against my neck. I gulp and don’t say another word.

“I know, Roger. I know he’s going to kill you,” Lori says nonchalantly.

What? My blood runs cold as she speaks.

“I hired him to do it,” Lori says as a matter of fact.

The color drains from my face. I’ve known Lori since high school! Over fifty years! Why would she hire someone to kill me?!

“Why? I don’t understand! Why are you doing this to me?! We’ve been friends for a long time,” I begin sobbing.

“Yes. I know that. But, you see, I must get that senate seat. You’re my only competition, and I need you out of the way. You will win, and I don’t want that to happen. I have big plans for myself. I will take anyone out that stops me from becoming president one day.”

Sinking into the wall, I realize I am going to die here. I look down at the gun. The man extends his fingers to the butt of the gun and grips it tightly.

“Oh, and don’t worry! I will look after your wife and daughters. I promise.” Her voice sounds cold.

More tears continue to escape my eyes. If Lori’s capable of doing this to me, no way will she care for my family.

“Kill him now. And I want that proof,” Lori says casually. The line goes dead.

“Lori, please, no! Don’t do this to me! “I cry out, looking around. “Please, anyone! Help me!” I yell at the top of my lungs.

No one hears me. Between the loud music playing on the street, the thunder, and now the rain, no one will suspect anything in a dark alley.

The man places his phone back in his pocket and then takes off his sunglasses, putting them in his breast pocket.

The rain starts to fall faster and angrier as thunder cracks in the distance. It’s as if the storm is cheering the man on, giving him the perfect cover for what he is about to do.

My hands continue to shake as I hold my bleeding arm. These are my final moments on earth. I close my eyes and think of my beautiful family, how they will never see me again.

“Don’t be afraid,” he whispers as I hear him cock his gun. Lightning suddenly brightens the entire alley. That’s when I get a good look at his face.

His piercing, green eyes have me frozen in place. They convey no emotion at all. Just a sinister look like he has done this countless times before.

These emerald eyes are the last thing I see before he puts his gun to my forehead. I close my eyes and immediately drop my hands to my side. “You don’t have to do this. Please,” I whisper to him. I choke back a sob. “I have a family. I will give the senate seat,” I beg in a defeated whisper.

I open my eyes again as the man tilts his head to the side and nods. He pulls the trigger twice, making sure I am dead.