Hello friends! Hidden Lotus here. So recently I picked up some writing, and decided I'd post a story here to see what you guys think. Now, this is my first story, so criticism and feedback is very appreciated. Please tell me what you think!
Chapter 1: Stealing More Than Money
Life can be pretty funny sometimes. Like it just seems to think on its own, and say "You know, I don't think this speck of dust belongs here, or is important enough. I'm gonna put it over here, and make the lives of countless other specks depend on it." This wasn't exactly Victor's thoughts on life during his last hours on Earth, but that would change soon enough.
"Dammit!" Victor said. He could hear the chuckling of his friend and his skateboard skittering across the pavement behind him.
"Nice face plant!" Jace yelled.
"Shut up, Jace." Victor replied.
Victor got up, brushed his jeans off, and grabbed his skateboard. Jace was still laughing. Victor had only recently picked up skateboarding, and probably should've known he couldn't clear that curb yet.
"You good?" Jace asked.
"Yeah, I'm good," Victor said.
"Alright," Jace looked at the unlit streetlights, as if they would turn on any second. It was starting to get dark. "Shit. I should probably start home. Mom hates it when I'm late."
"Ok, I should probably head home too. I'll catch you later."
Victor waved at his friend, and turned towards home. It was a few miles away, but he figured he had time before it got too dark. He walked, skateboard in hand.
Victor was 19 years old, just out of high school and had no plan for his future. He was about 5'11, white, and pretty skinny. He had short brown hair, and was wearing black sneakers, blue jeans, and a brown T-shirt. He always prided himself on being a nice guy, and would always have a good sense of humor.
The sun was just falling while Victor was on his way home from a quick stop at a fast food restaurant. Stretching before him was a long and empty street. He always hated this road. He couldn't help but feel eyes on him. Someone was watching him.
Victor quickly turned around. He swore he had heard someone walking behind him, but there was no one. Victor continued walking down the lonely street.
Just a little ways later, Victor heard someone speaking behind him. He turned again and saw two men following him. They stopped and turned away, trying to look like they weren't up to something.
Victor quickly spun around, and started a fast pace down the road. Time to get outta here, he thought.
He could hear the shuffling of their sneakers behind him. They were catching up. Victor saw an alley to his left. He didn't want to try and outrun them on the street, and he knew he couldn't go any faster on his board. He decided to go into the alley, in hopes of losing them.
He turned into the alley, and almost ran into the tall fence that was blocking it halfway through. It was a dead end.
"Whatcha runnin' from, kid?" Victor heard one of the crooks say. Victor turned back to the two men. One was a large man, wearing dirty and ripped jeans, and a leather jacket. He was shirtless underneath the jacket, his belly and chest showing. The other was much more lean, wearing a stained tank top, and surprisingly clean looking jeans. Victor would guess they were around 30 years old each.
They were blocking the way out of the alley. His heart was pounding in his chest. To his right was a dumpster, and above it was a fire escape. Maybe..- Victor's thought was cut off by the two men.
"Hey!" the big one shouted. Adrenaline was coursing through Victor's veins. He was terrified. His only chance was to go for the fire escape.
The men were approaching Victor now. The lean man spoke in a deep voice.
"Ok, give us any money you have, or-" Victor bolted towards the dumpster and leapt up on it
"Hey!" they both yelled. They were sprinting now. Victor turned towards the fire escape. It was pretty high. No time for second thoughts, though. He jumped as high as he could, and barely caught one of the railing bars.
He grabbed hold with both hands and pulled himself up. He got over the railing, and started making his way up the stairs. Taking a look back at the men, he saw the large man was having trouble getting onto the dumpster. The skinny man was having more luck, but couldn't reach the fire escape.
Victor was less worried about the two men now. He actually found it funny how they were having so much trouble getting up to him.
Victor turned away from the two men and continued climbing the fire escape. There's gotta be a way inside on the roof, he thought. He noticed that the building he was on was an apartment complex.
Once he was on the roof, he quickly spotted a door leading inside the apartment building. He ran to it, and jiggled the handle. Locked.
Victor ran to the edge of the roof. Maybe there's another way down, he thought. He looked over the side of the building, and saw a balcony below him, with a woman sitting in a chair, smoking a cigarette.
"Excuse me, Ma'am?" Victor called out. The woman jumped, almost losing her cigarette. She looked around, and finally spotted Victor above her.
"Yes?" she replied.
"Can you please let me in through the door up here?" Victor asked.
"Well, what're you doing on the roof?" was the woman's reply.
"I don't have much time to explain. I'm being chased by some crooks. Can you let me in please?" Victor hastily said.
"Oh! Of course. Be there in a second!" The woman disappeared into her apartment. Victor sighed and turned around to head to the door. Suddenly, his head was thrown back as the force of a fist smacked against his face, turning his world into a blurry mess.
He landed ass-first onto the gravel, and was quickly pulled to his feet by his assailant.
It was the lean man, and he held a knife against Victor's stomach. He shoved Victor back to the edge of the building. Victor planted his hands on the flimsy, rusty bars keeping him from falling.
"I'm only gonna ask you once, kid! Where's your damn money?!" the man demanded.
"I don't have any money!" Victor yelled.
"Wrong answer!" the man pushed Victor against the bars. They creaked and moaned, and did not last long under Victor's weight. They broke underneath him, and Victor grabbed hold of the man's shirt, trying to stay on the roof, but the man jabbed his knife into Victor's hand. Victor screamed, and lost his grip on the man's shirt. He slipped off of the roof, and was falling.