Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4567 | Page 125

Escape fron the Past
Island School, Uttamchandani, Vedika - 14
P
erched on the top of a tree I sat quietly, not daring to make a sound. I observed the how the soldier moved
carefully, he appeared almost mechanical, his movements so robotic it was inhuman. All the army guards
seemed to be programmed. This was the fifth guard I had observed today and he, too, like the others had the same
movements. This one however was a slightly less robotical, he was obviously tired which proved that they were
humans. I knew the routine by heart now. I got ready as the guard made his next turn, loaded my blowgun and
blew a dart at him. The dart flew steadily with speed and accuracy as it reached and launched itself in the soldier's
neck. I held my breath as I waited for him to react, the last one called out for backup when he got hit. Luckily I
had made this dart even more powerful than a normal one. The soldier gasped and his hand instantly reached his
neck but before he could pull it out he collapsed. Breathing out a sigh of relief I smiled. Finally.
Finally I could get out of the old walled city of Shanghai. My family had been falsely accused of murder and had
been sentenced to severe punishment. My mother and father had been killed. I was forced to go on the run,
trapped in this torture chamber of Shanghai. I wasn’t allowed to leave Shanghai as I was considered a fugitive.
Knock. Knock. Knock. My mother’s voice called out to me to open the door when I saw two guard officials
standing there. My mother walked into the room and stopped short when she saw them, she firmly told me to go
to my room. However I didn’t and I stopped to listen to the conversation at the door.
“Mr Wong claims you have killed his wife.”
“What? I haven’t killed anyone!”
“Your family has been accused of murder. There is evidence leading up to this.”
“Murder? But we haven’t…”
“You have a trial to prove your innocence on Thursday at 4 o’clock sharp.”
~~~~
I walked into the room to find my mother crying in my father’s arms. I ran to her and cuddled up next to her.
“Whats wrong?” I asked concerned for my mother.
“W-we lost the trial.” She sniffed.
“Trial?” I questioned innocently.
“Xiao Wen go to bed.” My father ordered.
~~~~
I was sitting at home playing with my dolls and my mother was knitting. She had barely left the house since the
trial. A sharp sound of a gunshot ripped through the silence of the air making both of us jump. She looked around
fear present in her eyes and called me close to her. I sat on her lap when the door got broken down. Guard officials
stormed into the house and grabbed my mother. I fell off her lap as they dragged her out of the house. I ran after
her just in time to see her on her knees and them shoot the bullet in her head. I ran out my eyes swarming with
tears, I may have been young but I knew what had just happened. I leant over her and then realized she wasn’t the
only body there. My father’s body was also outside the house, his eyes were closed and there was a bullet wound
in his forehead. He wasn’t breathing.
The soldier was lying on his side with his mouth open in the most undignified way. I chuckled as I passed him. I
quickly checked through my bag for my equipment and dropped my rope on the floor next to a puddle. When I
bent down to pick it up I looked into the crystal clear water and saw my own reflection. I saw my short brown
curly hair, cut in the latest fashion. With waves it flowed down the back of my head. I saw my eyes, cold and hard,
brown chocolate orbs, filled with determination and hatred. I remember when my eyes use to sparkle when I
laughed, but after the government ruined my life I didn’t laugh anymore. I gently touched the water, feeling the
cool surface beneath my finger, sending ripples through the mirror of liquid, breaking the image.