Let it Burn

 It was late afternoon. The cool air flows through his room sending shivers through his body. It's currently 2001, 6:30 in the afternoon. It's a cold and freezing night cuddled up in his blanket. The sun is slowly setting leaving a beautiful pinky orange sky. It doesn't take very long for the sky to turn a dark navy blue. The moon glistens in the sky, a beautiful sight. It would be a perfect night but it's far from it. The house is filled with yelling and banging. Dave, a young 19 year old boy, Also jobless and living in the back of his mother's house. His eyes glisten with tears, as he storms off to his room. Dave has light coloured skin which is easy to burn under the sun. His hair is always greasy but when washed its beautifully silky. Before all the yelling and fighting, Dave lived a decent life. Being able to walk around without a care in the world. Found to always be in the sty of his room, Dave never was the clean type. Dave obsessed with strawberries and girls, was always seen to be in love with basketball. He had a passion for the game. He was always seen playing the game, until a few weeks ago.

One breezy cold day, Dave rushes home. His heart drops to his feet hearing three loud thuds at his door. After around five minutes, the thuds stop. But suddenly, he hears footsteps outside his door. Frozen in the spot he couldn't move. Luckily, it was only his mother. His mother finds out about the money and the gang and that he owes a huge sum of money to a dangerous gang. The bedroom door swings leaving the door to bash into the wall leaving a hole. The sound was like a bomb. Shouting and screaming fills the air. His heart pounds through his chest hoping no one outside hears the yelling. What feels like an eternity later, his mother storms out of the room slamming the door shut behind her. She storms back in. She tells dave to pack his things for the safety of their family. Dave frantically tries to convince his mother to let him stay and that nothing will happen. She doesn't want to hear it and she leaves. By the next day Dave is at his friends house crashing on his couch. He decides he doesn't want to risk being caught so he runs. He runs and runs. He eventually finds himself in Bracken ridge. He manages to get himself a small job at a gas station. A few weeks pass and Dave thinks he's in the clear. Suddenly, one evening he sees a familiar face. The leader of the gang. He panic's and runs down the first empty street he can find. He takes a breather thinking he lost them. They emerge from the streets cornering him. Guns and knives are pulled out. Hes shaking like a leaf in the wind. The leader holds the gun to his head and threatens to pop his head off if he doesn't get the money by the end of the month. They disappear leaving Dave and his heart pounding through his chest. He slowly makes his way back to his shift and end up finishing his shift.

While heading back to his little apartment, Dave stops at the bank and gets the rest of his money out. A month flies by in the blink of an eye. He's short. He counts over and over again, hoping he's counting wrong but he's not. He panic's. After awhile, Dave brings himself together, and goes to work to face them. Their already there waiting for him. He freezes dead in his tracks, inhaling the smoke filled air. Dave slowly approaches and hands them the bag of money he owes. Eventually, they find out he's short of cash. Hoping they will give him extra time, he begs and pleads. They end up jumping him, and leave him laying on the floor unconscious. Suddenly, Dave's eyes shoot open and he's laying in a hospital bed. Everything's a sudden blur for him. Weeks later he's discharged and back at his job. He walks in to the smell of sweat and cigarettes. The cool air still manages to find its way through his thick winter jacket. His lips clattering together and his hands shivering. His mum makes a sudden entrance. The door softly clicks shut. Despite the smell, he still can smell his mother's scent. His silent plea says everything. By the end of the week Dave is back in his mother's house. He explains his situation and his mother offers to pay back the remaining amount. She gives him the envelope with the remaining money and says to make things right. But instead of giving the money to the gang, he takes off with the money. He runs to God knows where. 20 years pass and hes still running. It is said that he is still running from the gang. It's only a matter of time till they find him.