The Chase

Karr's feet pounded against the cracked pavement, the jug of water still on his back.

"Dad, what's happening—"

His dad yanked him left, dragging him into a narrow alley.

Imani was right behind them, vaulting over a trash bag.

"I'll fill you in later, Karr." Imani hissed.

"Where are we going?" Karr yelled. 

"Quiet."

Their dad skidded to a stop. Karr nearly ran into him.

In the dim lighting, Karr noticed something he hadn't before—his dad was built. He always knew his dad was strong, but now, standing tense and alert, he looked ready.

His dad lowered his voice. "Both of you, listen. Stay quiet. Run to that alley over there." He pointed about a quarter of a block down. "If you're sure you're safe, get to the station and take the first train out."

Karr's pulse hammered. "Dad, what is—"

"We don't have time." His dad turned to him, eyes serious, but there was a faint smile. "I can trust you two to look out for each other, right?"

"I mean, of cour—"

"Shit." His dad's head snapped to the side. "They're already closing in."

"Ill meet you there." He smiled.

And without another word, he ran.

"Dad—!" Karr started, but Imani clamped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide with warning. She held up a finger. Quiet.

Karr tightened his fists, then nodded.

They waited a few tense minutes, frozen in place. The city around them felt eerily still. The sound of their own breathing seemed too loud.

"Alright, let's go."

As they ran, Karr couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The night was too quiet, every streetlight flickered at odd intervals. A soft scraping sound—like metal against metal—echoed through the streets and alleys, too faint to pin down. His heart skipped a beat.

What was that?

They turned a corner.

A figure stepped out of the shadows. Tall. Masked. Wrong.

It didn't move like a person. Its head tilted too far, as if listening. Then—a slow, deliberate step. Steam hissed from hidden vents. The air reeked of burnt hair.

Karr flung an arm in front of Imani. "Holy shit."

His breath came in ragged gasps as he pulled Imani behind him. His hands were shaking—not from the cold, but from something else. Fear, maybe. He wasn't sure. His heart thudded faster in his chest, and his gut screamed at him to run.

Another step. Hiss. Click.

"You wouldn't happen to be looking for a Ralph, would you?"

A long pause.

Then—a voice. Mechanical. Hollow. Amused. "So. He DiD HaVe ChIlDrEn."

Karr's stomach twisted.

Imani shifted beside him. He didn't have to look to know she was reaching for something in her bag.

The figure laughed. A shrill, glitching noise that made the hairs on Karr's neck stand on end. Steam blasted from its cloak. Gears clicked. Motors spun.

 It snapped forward like a puppet yanked by invisible strings.

Karr barely twisted away. Cold metal scraped his jacket.

"Drop!" Imani screamed. 

Karr didn't think. He hit the ground, eyes squeezed shut as sound and light exploded around them.

The thing staggered. But it didn't fall.

Karr's pulse throbbed. 

'What if I just ran?' The thought echoed through his mind.

He felt his foot step back ever so slightly. 

"Fuck that," he spat. Then, without thinking, he rushed forward. He leaped, boot aimed squarely at its back—

Click. 

He pressed the button a couple seconds before his foot landed on the thing. 

He heard the ratchet clicking on the gear, he heard the spring tightening and then BOOM. 

The boot sent Karr flying back into a steam pipe. 

'Ah shit.'

He put his hands over his head and braced for impact.

More importantly, the masked figure SMASHED into the ground. 

Karr scrambled up. "Run!"

Imani didn't hesitate.

They sprinted into the darkness, leaving the groaning figure behind.

Karr's heart pounded, and his arms throbbed in pain.. 

Behind them, something shifted in the darkness.

…

Karr's legs burned as they ran, lungs aching from the cold night air.

Karr's hydro jumper kept malfunctioning. The motor in his boot hissed with each step. He could feel the ratchet grinding, letting the spring compress and decompress. His remote control was useless now.

Not now, not now, he thought as his boot hissed with each step. But there was no time to fix it. They had to move faster.

They veered into another alley, shadows stretching tall along the walls. 

"Dead end," Kar cursed. 

Before they ran back Karr heard a low, pulsing hum and a set of heavy footsteps. He grabbed Imani's sleeve, yanking her to a stop.

"I hear someone."

Imani's eyes flickered around the maze of alleyways.

"Karr."

He blinked. Imani was gripping his arm, hard. Her face was pale in the dim light.

"What do we do?" She asked. 

Karr took a deep breath. "Imani, do you trust me?"

"Of course I do. Just—what's the plan?"

"We get to the roof. Now."

…

"Are you ready?" Karr ran over to the opposite side of the alley, put his hands out in front of him, ready to boost up his sister. 

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Imani fiddled with the boot. 

'How high up is the roof? Seven feet? 8 feet? Maybe more.'

Karr smiled, "Of course."

Imani took one step. Then two. And before he knew it, Karr boosted her up with all his strength.

"Hup!"

' 8 feet, 9,12,13'

She began to slow down

'13…'

'14…'

"Agh!" Imani yelped as her fingers scrambled onto the edge of the roof.

After a heartwrenching couple of seconds, she pulled herself over.

"Oh my god, it worked!" Imani laughed, her voice light in the tense silence. She leaned over the edge, offering a hand down to Karr.

"Whoops—sorry, Karr! Let me help you up."

Kar looked at the building; it was two stories high, and the lights were out. There was a railing just outside the window of the second floor. 

There was a dumpster right to his left. 

He slapped himself across the face. 

"You got this, Karr."

He ran. 

He exploded onto the dumpster, then leaped, reaching for the railing. 

'Come on, just a bit closer '

After what seemed like forever, Karr's hand latched onto the railing.

 His bicep burned as he pulled up as hard as he could. Gasping for air, he looked up to see Imani reaching down. He winced and grabbed her wrist. With one final bit of effort, he and Imani were both up.

Karr collapsed onto the rooftop, his heart hammering in his chest.

"Who was that?" Imani asked.

"I don't know," Karr said.

He tried to remember all the times he would evesdrop on his dad, but he couldn't remember anything. 

What was important was that they were both up. They were both safe. For now.