Children of a Lesser God

Chapter 14: Motivated Jogging

Laz ran. He didn't think Bill would shoot him, but crazy people can't be underestimated.

"You god damn cyclops, what the hell are you doing?" Laz had always trusted his grandpa. But he had no idea why the hell he would leave him with this maniac.

"HAHAHA, run run run as fast as you can. Otherwise, your in for a world of pain." Bill was riding along behind Laz as he ran. The trails leading through the forest were pretty well traveled so he didn't have a hard time keeping up

Laz was running as fast as he could. He had never done this kind of running before. Even in school, he only ever paced himself when running in gym class and never gave it his all.

He knew he couldn't keep up this pace all day but he didn't want to slow down either.

BANG

A small dead tree next to him practically exploded as he ran past. Bill zoomed forward once again after laying the rifle across his ap.

Laz practically jumped forward as he raced along the path. The weather was pretty clear today and the cool air was a blessing for Laz's burning lungs. As he kept going, he was looking around for any idea on what he could do.

Going down the path would allow Bill to chase and shoot as he pleased, but running into the thicket would slow Laz down considerably. Of course, it would also slow down Bill.

He turned left suddenly and jumped over a fallen log. Bill pulled up and leveled the rifle.

Laz's ears twitched, he could almost hear the sound of the metal scraping as Bill pulled the trigger. Time seemed to paused for a moment as Laz focused. He would have closed his eyes if he wasn't trying to avoid low hanging branches.

BANG

He knew where the shot was coming from. It was almost like having eyes in the back of his head.

He was going for the calf on his left leg.

Laz jumped while swinging his leg around, doing a perfect 360 degree turn in the air. The bullet flew past and hit another tree while Laz regained his balance and continued to run.

"WELL DONE! IF I CATCH YOU, I CAN SELL YOU TO A RUSSIAN BALLERINA TROUPE," Bill roared while revving the engine. He turned off the path and continued the chase, expertly guiding the 4-wheeler through the openings in the trees.

"YOU FUCKING CYCLOPS, I WILL PRY OUT YOUR OTHER EYE WITH A RUSTY SPOON," Laz roared as he kept running.

The race kept up all morning with one running and one chasing. Bill kept the distance between them at a minimum of one hundred feet. Once he reached that distance, he would aim the rifle and fire, aiming at various parts of Laz's body.

He legs, arms, back and even his ass became a target. Laz would jump, duck, roll and do whatever else he could to avoid the shot. Had he not had his weird super hearing, he would have been hit many times. He knew Bill was serious but had no idea how he knew Laz could avoid the shots.

Bill was basically stumped at this point too. He had tried aiming at every part of this kid and yet he was able to avoid it. There was no way that was possible, but it was the truth. At the same time, he knew the kid didn't know he was using rubber bullets so he was trying his hardest to avoid it.

Although Bill didn't understand it, it worked out better this way..

Laz's breathing was labored, he muscles burned and he could barely see straight, but he kept running. There were no more thoughts in his head other than to keep moving. He didn't understand this. He didn't know why this old man would want to kill him, why his grandpa trusted him or even if he could make it. He just kept running.

Most people don't experience this kind of life and death situation during their lifetime. It makes for a good movie plot, but people hunting people is normally the work the deranged killers.

Laz wasn't going to make time for his feelings, or beg or plead for it to stop. He was going to just keep running.

In this case, he had to thank the crazy bitch from the other night. She showed him what it meant to be powerless. He came face to face with death for the first time in his short life and was able to develop a will to live. Thanks to that, he didn't bother with useless thoughts and instead just kept going.

Sometimes people lack that. They live in a nice safe place that causes them to lose the primal desire to survive.

Laz had heard those survivor stories where someone almost died and came back a different person, loving life and wanting to be a better human being.

'Fuck that,' Laz thought, 'I'm not dying a virgin.'

He never once thought that Bill wasn't serious although he did seem to feel like something was strange from the bullets he fired. They didn't sound the same as the one coming from the glock.

Due to his lack of experience, he couldn't figure it out.

Up ahead Laz finally noticed the chain link fence outside the tree line. Beyond it stood a corn field that seemed to stretch out forever. It was a blessing for his weary body to see.

His mood instantly perked up and Laz felt the energy deep down to keep going. It was a fine bit of refreshment after the hours long torment. Bill however, had a different idea.

'Well, might as well. I don't think he will break anything,' Bill thought as he aimed the rifle.

Laz's blood was pumping. With the fence in view, he knew he was almost safe. This crazy run made his body feel like lead, but his heart was beating with an intensity he had never felt before. The thrill, the terror, all of it. He could feel it in his veins.

Click...

This was it, Bill's final shot. Even though his feet kept him moving forward, Laz had focused again on the sound coming from behind him. He knew he could do this.

BANG

BANG

BANG

'FUCK ME.' Laz didn't even think. He knew all three would be coming for his back. Diving forward, he stuck his hands out in front if him to catch himself and remembered his hand was still in the brace. He couldn't bend it.

In the fraction of a second that he had before he hit the ground, he channeled the surging energy in his body, tensed up and cranked his hand back as hard as he could, breaking the brace. With his hand free, he was able to push down on the ground and fling his body forward, doing a forward flip.

The first bullet flew over as he went down and the second one sailed over as he was coming back up.

He almost made it.

The last one crashed into his back as he was coming up and sent him flying. He hit the fence face first, coming to a crashing stop before being flung backwards. When he finally hit the ground, he was face up, looking at the sky.