My heart raced as I pushed the petal to the floor. Tires spun until I got it under control. The Dodge Challenger changed gears and jolted forward with great speed. Helicopters came closer, while police cars raced in from behind. Shit! “So uh, how’s this working for you?” The villain in the backseat asked. I didn’t need to look back to see the smirk on his face. “Shut the hell up and put the gag back in your mouth, I’m trying to concentrate!” I hissed. “And what’s the poor hero gonna do about it?” He challenged. I grabbed a throwing knife from my belt and chucked it behind me. There was a squeak of pain from the villain, telling me I got his hand. “Ow, you son of a...” he was cut off by the sound of gunshots. Damn it!
(2 hours earlier)
“I’m going to put a stop to whatever it is you’re planning!” I challenged. The villain let out a chuckle. “Sure, you do that, sweetheart. But I don’t think you quite understand.” He circled me. His cologne sent my head spinning. “What did you do?” I growled. He stopped in front of me and lifted my chin. “I looked into your past,” he paused for effect. “So?” “So, I found, that you haven’t always been the nice guy. You‘re a criminal, but covered it up with your good deeds,” he smirked. “I’ve changed,” I muttered. He came in close and I could feel his breath. “Not to the government, you may be covering your past with good deeds but the government won’t care what you do now. They will only think of you as what you were.” The sound of helicopters shook the warehouse. “Come out with your hands up!” I growled deep in my throat and punched the villain in the temple. There was gasp as he collapsed on the ground, unconscious. “If the government is gonna get me, they’re gonna get you too,” I whispered. “But for now we’re gonna escape and you’re going to behave.”
(Present)
The villain spat out his gag again, glaring at me through the rear view mirror. “This is hardly following regulation-“ I yanked hard on the steering wheel, sending the car spinning into an empty parking lot. I turned in my seat and saw him flinch a little. “We’re both on the run from the government, I don’t trust your evil ass not to stab me in the back literally or figuratively. And I’m this close to losing my temper.” I held up my hand and my fingers were already touching. “So if you spit that gag out one more time, I’m going to pull up at the next shop we pass and buy something that will really shut you up. Understood?” The villains unmasked eyes narrowed, obviously resisting the urge to lick his lips. “Why don’t you come back here and try me?” I groaned deep in my throat and slammed on the gas. Jerking the car forward.
It felt...amazing. All my life it seems like I’ve never had the time to be alone. It’s almost scary how good it felt to sit in this park alone. The smells were so fresh and it sent shivers down my spine. I laid on my back staring up at the partly cloudy sky. Small aspen trees tried hard to block my view. The smell of the grass under me was refreshing. That’s when something odd struck me. It was silent, too silent. There wasn’t a single noise, no cars honking, no chatter rising from the streets. Just silence. It’ll pass soon enough, it always does. After a few moments it almost felt unbearable to sit in silence. There had to be some noise. I stood up and walked toward the city again. The closer I got to the y’all buildings, the more uneasy I felt. Something definitely wasn’t right. I started at a soft jog that turned into a sprint. I reached the city and continued running. There was nothing, no one. Every car was deserted in the streets and things blew around in the suddenly cold wind. Panic rose inside of me. It’ll be fine, it’s probably just a dream, you’ll wake up soon. But no matter how many times I pinched myself I never woke from any dream. It was real. The silence was real. “No, no, no,” I hissed under my breath. I rounded a corner in an alleyway and it led to a crowded street. No one moved a muscle. They were standing there frozen. I waved my hand in front of people’s faces, but they never responded. That’s when I saw a flicker of movement. “Jason!” Someone screamed my name. My heart skipped at the noise. I turned and saw Miki. “Miki!” I yelled as I ran toward her. We concluded in a hard hug. “What’s happening?” She sobbed. “I don’t know,” I whispered as I held her tight. “Over population has led us to this sickening state, now we must deal with it. Everything will be legal for twelve continuous days. Stock up on supplies, because they’ll be gone in no time. At the siren, The Apocalypse will start.” A voice came from everywhere at once. “Everyone is against everyone,” Miki whispered harshly to herself. Her eyes found mine and it made my heart hurt. “I’m not going to let you die, we’ll make it out alive,” I promised. She nodded and that’s when the siren went off. Everyone came back to life and the noise and fighting started. “Oh no.”
