Commotion up the street

We hear a lot of noise just up the street, the sounds of panic and lots of heavy footsteps. Running footsteps.

It has to be them. They have to know that something is wrong by now.

“Come on!” I whisper, pulling Sasha by her sleeve. We go into an alleyway and look for a place to hide. A wood pallet leaning against a garbage can catches my eye.

“Under here!” I say, ushering Sasha in feet first, before joining her.

It’s tight, and we’re close together. We lay completely silent and still as the sounds of chaos grow louder and louder. They have to be close.

Sasha closes her eyes. I look to the entrance, and watch as a large group of soldiers run past it. They don’t enter the alley.

“They’re past. I’m gonna make sure they’re gone.” I whisper to Sasha. She opens her eyes and gives me a reassuring look. I crawl out from underneath and creep up to the corner, before looking around it. They’re heading in the direction of the apartment.

“Sasha!” I call. “Let’s go!”

We start walking. I put my scarf back on as we go.

“We just need to get out of town. Get to the country.” I say to her quietly.

It’s hard not to think about what might be happening at the apartment. My life has changed and the reality is beginning to set in. My life has been turned upside down.

They’ll figure out who we are. They have our books, they have the neighbors. I am basically a wanted criminal now, a fugitive. They’re going to try to hunt us down.

The walk towards the outskirts is nerve wracking. I am on edge the whole time. Every odd noise startles me, every sound could be a soldier coming to catch us.

We’re lucky, and don’t encounter much of anything. The buildings begin to thin as the town melts into the countryside. I breathe a small sigh of relief, but I know that we still have a very long way to go.