(4 - Hide and Seek) - OLD

   His breath came in a fast rhythm, strong, forced. Julian was running through the forest, evading the trees with his trained reflexes. He had been hiding for three days, but the men didn't leave. They had been searching him. But finally Julian needed to get out to get water and food. This had been the moment when they had found him. He had fled, but now they were tracking him down, the noise of the motorcycles already coming nearer. Julian didn't know where he was running, but he needed to get out of view, fast. But if he hid now, they would find him... and kill him. He stopped behind a tree, waiting, catching his breath. The menacing noise of the motorized vehicles came nearer, grew louder, and then... rushed past. Julian couldn't believe it. He didn't even try to hide behind that tree, but even so the men seemed to have lost his track. Sometimes one can't find the woods, because it's hidden behind too many trees, he thought and turned around the tree to look if someone had stayed behind. The noise was distant now, barely audible. No one, the forest was clear. Smiling Julian started walking. He needed a place to hide and to rest. In these times one needs a friend, Julian sighted and regretted that he hadn't any. He would go into the city, swim in the crowd, and be hidden by thousands of people living their lives. He would still need a place to spend the night, but Julian decided that he could decide this later. Now he needed to get out of this woods, which was humming because of the men searching for him.

   The men and women around him spoke, shouted and at the same time ran in all directions at the same time. They didn't stop because of him. To their eyes he was only a child lost in the hurry of the city. Julian hated these places. He just couldn't get used to the speed in which the inhabitants of this grey place were used to live. In the woods time didn't matter, only if he needed to go into the city it gained importance. He had needed half of the day to reach the city, wheeling through the fields, hiding at times. Now he stood in the middle of a huge, filthy city, surrounded by greasy buildings. He sighted and opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings. He strolled down a street, guided by the masses flowing in this direction. He felt uncomfortable. He felt exposed, as if a sign would point out everyone of his moves. He tried to get out of the stream of persons and entered a small cafe. He sat on a chair hoping that the chaos outside would soon calm down, when the people where at home with their families. Suddenly a great sadness overcame him and a single tear ran down his cheek. He had no one to spend the evening with, no one to love, only his grief.
   "Can I help you my son?"
   An old, kind looking woman had talked to him. She was sitting on the same table as Julian and was now looking at him. She was obviously worried.
   "No", Julian said in low voice. He hadn't the strength to speak louder. "I'm fine thanks."
   He looked down. Julian was aware, that the woman kept looking at him and he decided that there was no point in hiding it. He neded to talk about what had happened, he needed someone to trust. This lady tried to help and she seemed trustworthy. He looked at her again.
   "It's just... My father died a few days ago and... Well... It's normal that I'm in grief, isn't it?"
   For an instant the woman was shocked, but then smiled sadly. She seemed to understand. A waitress passed and the old woman whispered to her. The waitress quickly glanced at Julian and then hurried away. The boy didn't know what that was about, but it didn't matter.
  "I know how you feel", the woman said. "My husband passed away half a year ago. It still hurts, but you will learn to life with it. If you don't, the grief will devour you and you wouldn't be able to life anymore."
   The waitress returned and put a cup with hot chocolate on the table. Julian stared at it and then turned around.
   "I don't have any money. I can't pay for it."
   "Oh", interrupted the old lady, "don't worry about that. I'll pay it for you. You need something to warm you from inside. It will help you believe me."
   Julian didn't answer. He gripped the cup and took a sip. The drink was delicious. The warm chocolate ran down his throat and for a second the grief seemed to weaken. The old woman smiled at him.
   "Do you feel better now?"
   "A lot, thanks."
   "Glad I could help. But I'm afraid I need to leave now. Don't worry I've paid the bill, but you should go home soon, too. It's getting dark and I'm sure your mom is getting worried."
   A flash of grief appeared in Julian's eyes, but he raised his cup to hide it. the woman stood up, smiled one last time and then disappeared in the crowd. Julian watched the people rushing past the cafe and occasionally drank his chocolate. The woman had reminded him that he needed to find a place where he could stay, soon. The sun had dissapeared behind the tall buildings and the sky was turning red. The boy stood up, abandoning the empty cup and entering the hurry of the city again. He walked along the pavement and looked for a empty warehouse or a office building under construction. He needed a place where he could easily break in and where he would be protected for the night. Slowly he reached a calmer part of the city. Warehouses and factories lined up next to the street, some of them deserted, but all guarded. The men guarding the complexes watched him carefully. Maybe they thought he may be up to no good. They were certainly right. He would find an unguarded warehouse, break in and find a place to sleep. Julian turned around a corner and entered a darker street. He hoped there would be a place he could enter, but what he found was trouble.
   A group of five men walked towards him. They wore black overalls and black boots. They surrounded him, smiling, yet clenching their fists waiting for the fight to come. Julian knew he would stand no chance against these five adults, but even so they left him no choice, but to fight.
   "So", one of the guys said, obviously their leader, "what do we have here? A child! A frightened child! Have you lost your momy?"
   The men laughed deeply. Julian was aware, that they were closing in.
   "Should we help him find his way back, guys?"
   Again laughter.
   "So here is the deal, little one. We will beat you up, so hard that you will need an ambulance. Then we will take all your money and we call this ambulance. They will bring you back to the city and take care of you until your momy comes back. We have a deal? Good!"
   That seemed to be their signal, because all the men launched themselves at him, but Julian was prepared. There was one man behind him who had come too near and the boy kicked at him. He was surprised, when his foot made contact with soft flesh. The man held his stomach and collapsed, but the other guys, seeing their friend being hit, became furious. They had thought a small child alone would be easy prey. The leader hit him with his fist and Julian was thrown to the ground when the fist crashed into his face. Julian could taste a warm, sticky liquid and spat out, blood. One of the men kicked at him and the boy rolled away to avoid the blow. The foot missed his head by inches and Julian felt it rushing past. He stumbled to his knees, but another man kicked him in the back and he hit the ground again. Julian spat out again, more blood. It tasted bitter, kind of metallic. The men broke into laughter again. Slowly Julian stood up, he didn't know how he found the strength to do so, but he looked the leader directly into his eyes. He laughed louder.
   "It seems that we have a tough one here!"
   He pointed at the boy. Then Julian not only surprised the men surrounding him, but himself, too. He reached out for the hold out arm of the leader and broke it with a single blow. He didn't know from where this huge strength came, but it helped him. He heard a noise behind him and spun around, seeing a man running towards him. He lashed out with one foot and hit the guy on his chest. He collapsed instantly. the other men realizing that this single child had dealt with three of them already fled into the night.
   Julian saw them run, but couldn't really be happy about his victory. He stared down at his hands. What had happened to me? Suddenly a great weakness overcame him and he slid down the wall of a warehouse next to him. He closed his eyes deep in thought. He might have thought of getting away as fast as possible, but the tiredness was stronger. Slowly he dozed away.

   When he opened his eyes again the sun was gone and so were the three men. They hadn't seen him in the shadow of the warehouse, don't expecting to find him here again. He took in his surroundings. He was leaning against one of the abandoned warehouses and near to the place were he had been sleeping moments ago was a door. It was secured by a broken padlock and Julian could get in easily enough. He opened the door and it creaked loudly on its hinges. The inside was empty. A huge space with nothing inside. The warehouse might have contained a machine park or shelves packed with DVDs but now there was nothing left, only dust. Julian closed the door behind him and walked over to a corner of the room. Still he was thinking about what had happened with him when he had defeated the men outside, but now he was worrying about something else, too. How would he warm himself? The winter was approaching and soon the first snow would fall. He had warm clothes at home, but he couldn't return. There was no easy solution, this he knew for sure. These thoughts in mind he slept away again.