Chapter 1

"Roger...," someone whispers behind me menacingly.

Stopping to catch my breath isn't an option! I don't even know where I'm going.

The stranger had caught me, hours ago, and broke my glasses when he punched me repeatedly in the face. My left eye is swollen shut, and I'm nursing a bloody nose!

He is after me, and I feel like there's nowhere to hide!

I can't do this anymore; I tell myself as I bend over, my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. I feel like I've been running non-stop for hours. Darkness is now creeping up on me, and I'm past exhausted, but I must keep running!

A street lamp shines above me like a spotlight. I look around and run towards a black, parked car, Resting my body against it, I look around for the person who's after me.

I instantly still when I catch my reflection on the car window. The person staring back is unrecognizable. I can't believe it! I slowly touch my face to make sure the image looking back at me is, in fact, me.

I wince in pain.

This maniac has a vendetta! I will not give up until I feel safe again! However, that will prove impossible. Every way I turn, I feel more lost. Where are the police when you need them the most?!

I look up. Through the dark sky and gray clouds, I see a bolt of lightning. Dread washes over me. At this point, I am out of breath and out of a will. Breathing hurts, running hurts, everything hurts! However, I can't stop. The moment I do, that young man will find me and kill me.

Clutching to my arm, I sob in pain as I remember what led to this.

Two hours ago

"Mr. Olsen, sir? How's the campaign going?"

My driver, bodyguard, and I were sitting at a red light. I looked up from the newspaper at my driver. I smiled at him as we made eye contact through the rearview mirror.

"It's going great, Matthew! I am up in the polls by forty points," I said, winking at him.

"I've said it from the beginning, sir! You'll get that Senate seat! After that, the White House," Jared, my bodyguard, said, turning to me with a smile on his face. "No more New Orleans. You'll be able to see these multi-colored sunsets from the balcony of Washington, DC!"

I laugh as I look out of the black sedan window. I enjoyed the sunsets. No matter where I was. "Now, now! One thing at a time. I don't even know if I want the presidency. I just want to do my part and help out the great state of Louisiana. That's all!"

"Don't be so modest, sir!" Jared said, turning back around.

The light had just turned green when two bullets, coming through the windshield, had hit my driver and bodyguard in their heads. I immediately leaned forward, covering my head, as both men slumped in their seats! My mouth opened to yell in horror, but no sound resonated!

I stumbled out of the car, looking around! What had just happened? I slowly scanned my surroundings around, not seeing anything or anyone.

Looking back into the car, I see Jared and Matthew, were in fact, dead.

In a panic, I stood, trying to pull my phone out of my pocket. Shaking violently, it falls onto the street. I bent over quickly to retrieve it, but I felt intense pain in my left forearm. Looking down, I saw a small, black knife protruding from it. I yelled in pain as I pulled it out and ran. Someone was trying to kill me!

I ran for my life!

Present

I look up from the car window when I suddenly hear laughter and music a few blocks away.

Mardi Gras!

Maybe if I run into that crowd of partiers, I will lose him!

I run down the street, turning now and then to see if he is still behind me. Unless he is hiding behind the parked cars, I can't see him. However, I know he's out there. He's watching me.

My running turns to a slow pace as happy partygoers begin to surround me. I heave a sigh of relief as I look around.

The colorful lights illuminate every corner of the street. The sound of laughter and music surround me as I look for a place to hide. I bump into young and old as they celebrate such a joyous occasion here in New Orleans. There are so many people here. He can't possibly find me here!

I need to use this crowd as protection. If my assailant finds me, this big gash on my arm will be the least of my problems.

In the middle of the crowd, I turn, bumping into someone.

"Hey, watch it, old man!" Yelled a young, blonde woman.

"I-I am so sorry!" I let go of my wound and hold up my bloody hand at her. She takes one look at it and makes a face of utter disgust. I begin to turn away from her when I see him.

The man is standing a few feet away from me. Even though he's a couple of yards from me, I can still see how big he is. The black, leather topcoat, suit, and glasses look incredibly haunting. He smiles at me as he tucks both hands into his pants pocket.

He starts to walk towards me, slowly, as panic rises in me. It's like a lion getting ready to pounce on its prey.

I have to get away from him! How?!

"No!" I yell. I grab my bleeding arm and run up the street, bumping into more oblivious individuals. "Please, someone help me!"

I grab onto anyone who will look at me! When they see the blood, they lash out, walking away from me.

"What the f-!" Yells a tall, overweight young man. He sees the blood on his shoulder. He suddenly grabs me by my collar and pulls me towards him—a look of pure rage and repulsion on his face. I try to tell him I need help. Tears slide down my face.

"Please, help me! I beg you! I am Senate-nominee Roger Olsen! Someone is after me!"

The young man doesn't want to hear it. Instead, he pushes me to the ground. I land on my left knee, causing me to yell in pain.

"Please, he's after me!" I continue to sob, pointing towards the area where the stranger was last. The young partygoer and I look in that direction.

He's gone!

"You're bat crazy, man! And if you're Olsen, I'm the queen of England!" He turns around, looking at his friends. Odium is written all over his face.

"Look what that old asshole did! He probably got his ass kicked for stealing." He looks at his arm and walks away, showing his friends the blood I left on him. His friends laugh.

I struggle to get up. At an old age, it's challenging. The more I run, the more it feels like my knees will give up on me.

I can't believe this is happening to me! No one even recognizes me.

Once I'm on my two feet, I limp further up the block, hiding between people. Everyone around me was still unmindful of who I am or who is after me.

I wince in pain, looking around! I don't know which hurt most now,

my bleeding arm or my throbbing knee.

I immediately stop and decide against going further up. That murderer will find me for sure! I've been running for hours now. I don't know how, but he was there, every which way I turned. I am terrified. I am violently shaking now. I don't know if it's due to fear or cold.

I have to hide and fast!

Turning around, I spot an alleyway. Trying to gather the last of my strength, I begin to limp toward it.

Cautiously stepping into the alley, it's dark and damp. My mind racing as I keep looking behind me. I decided to walk against the wall, making sure the darkness covered me. I hold my breath as I press my back against the wall. Carefully looking up and down the alley, I don't want my attacker to walk by and see me.

Sighing in relief, I close my eyes and put my head against the wall. I am someone who has always vowed to good all their life. And I always will. So who is this man? What kind of torture is this? What have I done in a previous life to deserve such torment?

After a minute or so, I begin my walk again. I'm halfway through the alley when I hear something fall behind me. I turn!

A cat jumps out from one of the trash cans and dashes down the alley!

I close my eyes in my relief.

I am in so much pain, and it's becoming difficult to breathe. The sweat dripping from my forehead falls into my eyes, making it harder for me to distinguish anything. I squint, trying to detect movement down the alley. The wind suddenly starts to pick up, and thunder roars above me.

A storm is coming.

Not paying attention, I almost trip over a broken chair! It causes pain to radiate from my knee up to my leg. I bite into my right arm, trying to muffle the screams! The problem brings tears to my eyes.

Once I get my bearings, I sit at a table next to a big, blue dumpster.

Just five minutes.

All I need is five minutes to catch my breath, rest my now swollen knee, and try to cover up the big gash on my arm.

The wind is starting to pick up. I begin to look around, trying to find anything I can use to cover my bleeding arm.

"Roger," someone whispers my name.

I immediately jump up from the table. My heart hops into my throat.

In a panic, I look around! Did he find me?!

I cautiously begin to limp to the front of the dumpster, placing my hand on it, and slowly peek my head around.

No one there! I sigh in relief.

I cannot sit here and wait for that man to strike. It's time to move. No doubt, he will find me soon. Unless he already has.

I begin to move away when I feel a hand behind my back. Another hand grabs the back of my neck, lifting me into the air! The person slams me against the dumpster and then throws me onto the table, breaking it!

He knocks the wind out of me!

Tears blur my vision. I close my eyes as I grab my back, pain radiating up to my neck. It's excruciating! I slowly open my eyes to see my assailant, but no one is there. However, I know better. He's there! Like a game of cat and mouse. He has his paw on my tail.

I turn slowly, coughing, and crying.

"Please," I whimper, trying to crawl away. "Who are you? Why are you doing this?" I look all around, terrified to see him.

The man suddenly walks into view in front of me. He slowly bends over and stands me up by my collar. I groan in pain.

"Roger Olsen," he maliciously says as he pushes me against the wall. A flash of lightning lights up the alleyway; fear has me paralyzed. For a split second, I can see my attacker's face. There's nothing to see. He's in the topcoat, black sunglasses, and stands in front of me, showing no emotion.

Thunder roars around us!

"H-How do you know my name? Please, tell me why you are doing this." I hold my shaky hands in front of my face, bracing for the next attack. What is he going to do with me?! Tears will not stop running down my cheeks.

The man pulls a phone out from inside his topcoat. He hit two buttons and puts the phone between us. The man just stares at me, never moving an inch. The phone rings a couple of times, and a woman picks up.

"Hello," says a familiar, cheery voice.

"Hello?" I ask in confusion and fright. I look around, praying someone will stumble into the alley and see us.

"Roger?" The female asks over the phone.

I snap my head towards the phone. I know that voice!

"Lori!?" I am so relieved. I exhale. "Oh, God! Lori, listen to me! Help-!"

The man and I look up when we both see the downpour of rain that comes out of nowhere. Another sound of thunder roars around us.

I look back at him as he produces a gun and holds it against my neck. I gulp and don't say another word.

"I know, Roger. I know he's going to kill you," Lori says nonchalantly.

What?! My blood runs cold as she speaks. "I hired him to do it," she says as a matter of fact.

I start to shake. All of this is because of Lori?

I've known her since high school! Over forty years! Why would she hire someone to kill me? "Why?! I don't understand! Why are you doing this to me?! We've been friends for a long time," I say, beginning to sob.

"Yes. I know that, but you see, I must get that senate seat. You're my only competition, and I need you out of the way. You are going to win, and I don't want that to happen. I have big plans for myself. I will take anyone out that stops me from becoming president one day."

Sinking into the wall, I realize I am going to die here. I look up at the gun. The man extends his fingers on the butt of the gun and grips it tightly.

"Oh, and don't worry! I will look after your wife and daughters. I promise." Her voice sounds cold.

More tears continue to escape my eyes. If Lori's capable of doing this to me, no way will she care for my family.

"Kill him now! And I want that proof," Lori says casually. The phone beeps.

"Lori, please, no! Don't do this to me! " I cry out, looking around. "Please, anyone! Help me!" I yell at the top of my lungs.

No one hears me. Between the loud music playing on the street, the thunder, and now the rain, no one will suspect anything in a dark alley.

The man places his phone back in his pocket and then takes off his sunglasses, putting it in his breast pocket. The rain starts to fall faster and angrier! Thunder cracks in the distance! It's as if the storm is cheering the man on, giving him the perfect cover for what he is about to do.

My hands continue to shake as I hold my bleeding arm. These are my final moments on earth. I close my eyes and think of my beautiful family, how they will never see me again.

"Don't be afraid," he whispers as I hear him cock his gun. Lightning suddenly brightens the entire alley. That's when I get a real, good look at his face.

His piercing, green eyes have me frozen in place. They convey no emotion at all. Just a sinister look like he has done this countless times before.

These eyes are the last thing I see before he puts his gun to my forehead. I close my eyes and immediately drop my hands to my side. "You don't have to do this. Please," I whisper to him. I choke back a sob.

I open my eyes again as the man tilts his head to the side and nods. The darkness of the alley shrouding his facial features from me. Ironic that the dark of night helps this man.

He pulls the trigger twice, making sure I am dead.