Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4567 | Page 126

I walked over to the wall, I had to be quick and quiet. Another guard would come in around 20 minutes. When
I reached the base of the wall I looked around. Thankfully I had chosen the least guarded place, and anyways the
government was trying to stop people from illegally coming in, not going out. I looked up at the 10 meter high
wall. This would be a hard climb no doubt, but I climbed things everyday. I could do this. I took a deep breath,
tied part of the rope around my waist, tied another knot and aimed at a brick sticking out at the wall. After a few
throws I got it looped around the brick and tightened it. I then looked for gaps in the rusting wall and pulled myself
up, the ground disappeared beneath my feet. Higher and higher. I did this well until I reached the brick on which
the rope was tied on. It would be harder here as I didn’t have a stable grip. I put my foot on the brick to give it a
rest and steadied myself.
I removed the rope and scanned the wall above me for another loose brick. I found one a slight distance away and
frowned, frustrated. I couldn’t use that one it was much too far. I looked up higher and saw one. Giving a quick
thanks to the Gods I threw the rope up, making sure not to lose my balance in the process. It took me longer this
time and I was disheartened by the eighth time. Gritting my teeth in frustration I tried even harder and pushed my
arm forwards with all my strength, I watched anxiously as it flew through the air. Quickly and quietly it looped
itself around the brick I wanted it too. I smiled and continued my climb upwards.
After 5 minutes with each time I pulled or pushed myself up I lost more energy and soon I was panting. I felt
exhausted. I didn’t know how much longer I would be able to climb. By now my arms barely had any strength.
Reaching up my fingers just managed to grasp a brick in the wall. I stopped for a while and regained my energy and
continued my exhausting climb. I was more motivated each time I got closer to the top. Finally after a few minutes
I reached.
I swung my leg over the final brick, pulled myself up and fell face flat onto the stone wall ungracefully. Then I stood
up, brushed myself off and breathed the fresh air, still panting. The air surrounded and clung onto me. I was finally
up, all that climbing had come to use. I was one step closer to freedom. I looked out at the city behind me, a
breathtaking view, red, orange, blue, green. No wonder it was called the Jewel of China. Curved roofs that built
its skyline, the rare tall buildings sticking out like a sore thumb, rivers flowing through it, streaks of blue like
ribbons complementing the picture full of memories, some fond that I would treasure forever and some that haunt
me day and night. I looked away, it was in the past now, my past, a part of me that I would never be able to remove,
it was the home of my childhood. I looked away. Now I looked ahead, towards the bright sun that would guide
me to my future. I took a step forwards, threw one last glance behind me and never looked at the city of Shanghai
again.
I walked towards the edge of the wall and saw a moat surrounding it, it was definitely home to dangerous creatures.
Guards from the Qing Army surrounded that, looking off into the distance. I sighed heavily, this would be a hard
task no doubt, but it wouldn’t be one of my failures. In fact it would be my greatest success, I would make sure
about that. I made my preparations to climb down when I heard a shout. I mentally smacked my forehead, I had
forgotten about the guards on the wall! I saw a guard running towards me, clear determination in his eyes to catch
me. I turned in the other direction and thankfully didn’t see any other guards in sight and ran.
Step after step I sprinted forwards, running yet pacing myself. I had to tire this guard out otherwise there would be
no hope of me escaping and he would catch me and I would face the same fate as my parents. No. I would go at
all costs to make sure that didn’t happen. I would live up to my parents name, not die in it. I gritted my teeth and
continued running. I climbed the steps to the next guard post and if I hadn’t been in my current situation, would
have laughed at the sleeping guard on his chair. I took quieter steps as I passed him, slowing my pace down a tiny
bit, then ran full speed ahead.
When I was about 10 meters away from the guard post I heard yelling. It was the definite sound of the guard who
was pursuing me yelling at the one who had decided to take a little snooze. Taking advantage of this I ran even
faster, I had to hide. I had to get them off my trail, it was most unfortunate that this chase was on a wall with
nowhere to hide. Then I stopped, the most unobvious thing to do would to stop running. I turned back instantly
and ran back towards the guard house and hid under the descending steps.