The Watch – Part 224:

(Tom’s perspective)

‘Hey, stop,’ the Police Officer shouted the moment that I turned my back and ran.

‘Hey, watch it,’ someone shouted as I nearly ran into them. It took them a couple of seconds to realise that I was being chased by the Police and that I needed to be caught, but I was already recovered and running off. I didn’t look back to see their reaction. The path is mostly clear of people, allowing me to run at a decent speed, but not fast enough to get away from the Officer behind me. I didn’t have to look back to know that he was right behind me, but it’s only because of the occasional dodging a person here and there, I was able to keep the lead, however as soon as it opens up, I knew that I had to push myself.

I have no idea where I’m heading, and at this point I’m too afraid to ask. I don’t even know whether running is the best thing to do, and I’m too afraid to ask that as well, especially when I just know that it would distract me. I can’t let myself think too much. All I can do is run.

I’m not paying attention to the roads. All I’m doing is turning this way and that. I can’t run back to the campsite. That’s the first place anyone will look. I have to find a new place. But before I can do that, I have to get rid of this Police Officer.

He was evidently a lot fitter than I was, which made the fact that I was able to stay ahead of him, and for quite some time all the more surprising. But it did come with a cost. It wasn’t long before I was out of breath. My legs were screaming at me to stop and my lungs were trying to suck in as much oxygen as they could to keep my body working. Even though I could feel my body wanting to stop, I forced myself to continue. All I have to do is find a place to duck into and hide. Once there, I can recover and think about what to do next.

I saw an opening for an alleyway coming up. I ducked in there, knowing that the officer saw me and was still following me. I shouldn’t have turned down here. So many obstacles. Bins on their side, rubbish littering the floor, and many puddles of water where the sun has been able to evaporate yet. Jumping over one of the bins, flying through the air, and landing back on my feet, my aching legs gave way from underneath me and I fell to the floor, but my momentum carried me forward and I rolled into a position that allowed me to clamber back to my feet and continue running, but I had lost the valuable lead I had on the officer. I could hear his footsteps right behind me. I needed to pick up the pace, but I’m not sure if my body will allow me. My foot slapped one of the puddles, drenching my ankles and spraying water up my leg, and then I had to dodge the many bits of rubbish.

Eventually, I burst free of the alleyway worse for wear than before I entered it, but I had to keep going. I got very lucky back there, but I don’t want to risk it again. From now on, until I’m absolutely sure that I can get away with it, I will be staying on the paths.

The paths were a lot clearer than the ones before, allowing me to pick up some speed, but unfortunately, allowing the officer to do so as well. He’s right behind me. I refuse to get caught.

My heart is beating faster than ever before, my lungs are sucking in so much oxygen at once, and my legs were continuously being pushed to their absolute limit. I didn’t have to look behind me to know that the officer is right there, only a step or two away, and always gradually getting ever closer until he is able to grab me from behind and bring me to a stop. I can imagine him holding out his hand, his fingertips so close to the back of my T-shirt. I don’t know how I did it and I doubt I would ever know, but I’m glad it did. I pushed myself even more, and I sped up, gradually, slowly, but I was going faster than I’ve ever ran before. I should have tripped up over my own legs, but I didn’t. I should have collapsed because of exhaustion, but I didn’t. I should have dropped unconscious because of lack of oxygen, but I didn’t. I cannot explain what happened, but I was running faster than humanly possible… Maybe? Maybe I had finally reached the point where it just didn’t matter anymore, that I had gone beyond my limit, and therefore set a new limit. All I knew was that I was pulling away from the officer. I knew that I was escaping. My body didn’t care how long I was running for. All achiness in my legs went away, my lungs didn’t hurt anymore. It was simply one of the weirdest experiences I’ve ever had. All the people who were walking along the path looked as if they came to a standstill mid-step, and that they all cleared a route, allowing me to run right through without having to dodge, yet the officer has to.

There’s a junction up ahead. The traffic lights are on red and the green man is showing. Then the traffic lights changed from green to flashing amber. If it was safe for them to go, the traffic will start to move, and because I’m nowhere near the lights, I won’t be able to get across before the traffic starts flowing fully once more. But I was running so fast. I wasn’t worried. Before I knew it, I was running across the road. I was far enough away from the officer that the cars were able to start moving before he reached them. Of course, the Police Officer has the power to stop the traffic, but by the time he gets across the road, I would be long gone. And I was.

Another alleyway entrance sprung up. I dived into it and saw a dumpster. I knew it was the most clichéd hiding places you can get, but it’ll have to do for now. Usually, when you are running as fast as you can, it takes a couple of seconds for you to kill your momentum and stop, but I didn’t have to do that. I dived behind the dumpster and came to an immediate stop. I wasn’t out of breath; my legs weren’t aching. I cannot explain what happened or how my body was able to cope with it.

But the moment I did stop, the achiness shot back up my legs, stronger than ever, and I fell to the floor. I have to pray that the officer isn’t going to see me because I won’t be able to move for quite some time.

Now I can start to think what to do next.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)