Chapter Thirteen-New Beginnings

Chapter 13

A pair of arms grabbed me and pulled me up to the surface. I gasped for air as the water dripped down my face. I started to choke on the water I had swallowed and started to swim again. A sharp pain shot down my back as I tried to breathe again. I was laid out on the ground by the river, I rolled onto my stomach and coughed on the water I had swallowed. I panted trying hard to breathe in and not choke on water.

I looked at my rescuer through my blurred vision.

“Kirk.”

“Sorry, it’s kind’a hard to stay away when your son is drowning.” He said.

            I wasn’t sure whether or not I should have been happy or annoyed. I couldn’t focus until I had gotten the water out of my lungs.

“Where’s Carmen?”

“Up there.” Kirk said. I looked up at the bridge that towered over us, Carmen and Don and a few other people looked over the edge at us.

“Milo?! Kirk!” She yelled.

“We’re alright, where’s Jack?” I asked.

“He ran to the other side of the bridge and into the woods!” Don yelled.

            I looked across to the other side and saw Jack running. I got up and started back to the water.

“Wait, Milo.” Kirk said.

“Thank you Kirk, but I need to go after him. Who knows what he’s capable of.” I dove back into the water and swam across the choppy water and crawled out.

            The trees and bushes stood still, I listened for any movement. Somewhere close by couple a bushes rustled. I ran into the forest trying to make as less sound as possible. I saw Jack and he saw me and ran. I dashed after him catching up after a few short seconds. I was only inches from him when I made a jump and tackled him to the ground.

“Get off of me!” he shouted.

            He reached for something in his pocket and kicked me off of him. I got up while he did the same. He pointed the barrel of a gun at me and I stood my ground.

“You don’t want to do this.” I said to him.

“Course I do.”

“No you don’t.”

            He cocked the gun, “It would’ve been fine if you hadn’t have stuffed your nose into my business.”

“Jack, you can end this.”

“No.”

“Look you got a home, you got a mom who probably loves you, and you can’t just waste it all on someone who understands.”

“You have no idea what it’s like.” He growled.

“Yes.” I said, “I do.”

            He lowered the gun, “No.” he suddenly raised it and pulled the trigger.

            The shot of the gun blasted through the forest sending birds flying through the air. I suddenly fell to the dirt floor tasting the blood in my mouth. I kept my hand on my stomach, I heard nothing and while I struggled to stay conscious trying to focus on the dirt and rocks and not lose consciousness.

            Bright lights surrounded me as I lay still, not wanting to move. Once again Kirk had got to me.

“Don’t worry bud.”