My stomach grumbled at the sight and smell of lunch. I could not wait to eat, and it was driving me crazy. But what was driving me crazier was Maria. Just the simple thought of her face made me smile, and the feeling was grand. I wished I could tell her more about my past, and I wished I could know more about hers too. What her likes and dislikes were, her favorite color, the movie that moved her to tears, or the places she’d like to visit. And then someday, when I can repay her goodness back, I can take her to this place, or watch the movie with her, or simply paint her room with the color she wanted. My thoughts were interrupted, however.
Without warning, Paul slammed the door open, and shouted, “Lunch!”
It was surprising, and it made my heart jump a little bit, but the classless expression on his face was too funny it made me laugh hard.
He shot me a ridiculed look when I quieted down, then said “Alright. You and my sister are being weird today. Did you smoke weed or something?”
“What?” He lost me.
“Nothing. It’s just not in your character to laugh like that. You were all serious and mysterious earlier,” he replied.
“Oh.” I was about to say I was simply overjoyed, but a familiar car -- one that brings bad news for rabbits like me -- entered the road of their farm and headed towards their little house.
Panic crept back once more. I knew I shouldn’t have lingered too long in this house. Now, I have put Mark, Paul and Maria in deep danger. I brought the misfortune of the outside world to them.
“Whoa… Who could that be?” Paul said as he walks back towards the door. Before he could open it, however, I pulled him away.
“Listen, Paul,” I whispered in a panic. “Those are bad men. Remember when I told you I got in trouble? Well, they are the trouble, and they will be looking for me. They will pretend to be cops or other forms of authority, and they might force you to surrender me, but I want you to play dumb, okay?”
The kid shook his head in confusion, but I can see the panic spreading in him too. “What? What should I do?”
“Just answer the door, but don’t let them in. If they ask for me, tell them you don’t know anything about what they are saying, okay?”
The poor kid just nodded at my instructions. Though I wish I could handle things myself, I couldn’t. Otherwise, I’d put them in even graver danger. Killing members of The Saints will only aggravate the whole gang, and besides, I don’t want to take another life anymore.
I gave him one last look -- the look of trust between two men, two brothers -- and this time, he nodded more confidently. I scrambled back in the kitchen to hide from view, and hoped and prayed to the Man who I’ve been calling to quite frequently recently.
Despite the drowning sound of raindrops, I could clearly hear the car pulling before the house, and after a few heartbeats, a knock came on the door. Without opening it, I heard Paul say, “Yeah?”
“Good day, sir. We’re from the local police unit and we’re currently tracking down this man. Have you seen him?” I supposed they showed a picture of me.
“Hmm. No, I don’t think so,” Paul answered. He was acting and he was pretty good at it.
But he lost all conviction when the gang member replied, “Are you sure, sir?” The guy’s tone changed from friendly cop to a full-fledged Saint’s member -- threatening and deadly -- and I felt sorry for the kid for having to up with this for me.
Paul didn’t answer immediately, and I’m pretty sure his confidence was rattled by the guy’s response. “Y-yes?”
No reply.
Then I heard the barking of dogs.
Holy sh--!
I forgot about the dogs! There’s no way to escape from them, and more importantly, no way to hide. Our Rottweilers were trained to relentlessly track down targets, and when they find them, it’s almost impossible to outrun or fight them off. Unless you have a gun, and you’re mad enough to put a bullet through an innocent dog, you’re dead.
Then I heard the man said, “It’s alright, sir. We brought dogs along. He might be hiding somewhere in the corners of your farm. We’ll sniff him out for you.”
My panic reached new heights. For the first time in my life, I didn’t know what to do. I would know how to act if I only needed to save myself, but I needed to save the people in this farm as well. If the Saints discovered they were hiding me, they will kill them without a doubt, too.
My mind rushed through ideas, but there were none. I was already preparing to jump and reveal myself, and just come up with a plan along the way, but then I heard the barking soften. I think they just ran towards the opposite direction -- not towards the house. Then I thought of Maria.
To be continued in Book 2
“The Liberation of Victor”
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