Run Boy Run
Sam knew that no matter how fast he ran, he could not outrun his demons. The only way to defeat them was to confront them head-on with an unwavering will and unyielding determination.
In an ironic twist, Sam's only option to beat them meant running—or rather racing—them. Mind you, his demons were not literal demons but a sibling pair named the Schmidt brothers. Beating the Schmidt brothers fair and square in a parkour race, with the grand prize of €1,000 on the line, was Sam's last-ditch effort to beat them and escape the place he had reluctantly called home.
Sam bounced on the balls of his feet, trying to keep his muscles warm. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Schmidt brothers glaring at him. Their ice-blue eyes, so different from his own green ones, were usually narrowed on him. If they weren’t stealing his few belongings or shoving him into the walls of their shared orphanage, then they were constantly reminding Sam that nobody wanted a teenager of mixed German-Asian heritage like him. And then there was his snow-white hair, as much a part of him as his pulse, serving as a bright beacon that only added to his otherness.
Sam took a deep breath and moved into the aisle of the subway train. Just one more stop, and then the race for his future would begin.
The brothers' glare settled on Sam's back, persistent and bothersome like an annoying fly he couldn't swat away. While their usual taunts bothered him a lot, in that moment, Sam felt an odd sense of peace, as if he'd become immune to the incessant buzzing of the brothers' disdain. One way or another, this would be the last time he saw them.
Despite the orphanage being the only place he'd ever known as home, the hardships he had to go through reached a boiling point for Sam, fueling a burning desire to leave. The merciless bullying and thievery from the Schmidt brothers had reached new heights, with their latest addition of physical violence pushing him to his limits.
Staying at the orphanage was no longer an option. The thought of enduring another day in that hostile environment was unbearable. To Sam, even the streets held more promise than staying put.
The previous week had been the last straw. Sam had returned from downtown, when the Schmidt brothers pushed him to the ground and into a small puddle of dirty water. While one held him down, the other stole his only good pair of running shoes.
Sam hated bullies and swore then and there that he would never let himself get pushed around by the brothers or any other bullies again.
A victory in today's race was a beacon of hope for Sam, a chance to break free from the constraints of his life. This race was more than just a thrill—it was his chance at a better life.
When the Berlin Parkour Circuit announced the surprise competition a few days ago, excitement erupted in the parkour community. Social media was abuzz with rumors of mysterious benefactors, the exact location of the racetrack, and professional sponsorships.
This race promised to be unlike any other, with a hefty grand prize up for grabs: €1,000.
Winning this race was Sam’s ticket out, and he was determined to punch it. The possibilities of what Sam could do with that amount of money seemed endless.
For the past few nights, Sam had imagined himself crossing the finish line in the first place, triumphant as he claimed the prize money. To do so, he had to run. Run with everything he had. Outrun everyone else. And when he did, the orphanage, its oppressive director, and the bullying Schmidt brothers would be nothing but a distant memory, a mere shadow in his rearview mirror.
Sam knelt down to tie his shoelaces, his eyes darting around the subway train. Taking note of his fellow racers, his gaze fell on a girl sporting a pair of diving goggles fastened around her head and a boy with a long, horse-like face. Sam had never met Horse-Face Boy before, but he recognized Goggle Girl, who had won the previous week's race, and he knew she would be his toughest competition. The Schmidt brothers, Peter and Paul, stood beside him, their faces tense with anticipation. A group of other racers pressed tightly behind them while two more groups waited by the train doors on either side.
WHAM!
Sam staggered back, feeling the impact of Peter's forceful shove. He hit the dirty ground of the subway train with a loud thud. Paul sneered down at him, a smug expression on his face.
"Don't even bother trying, Sam. That money belongs to us, and we always get what we want."
Sam gritted his teeth, his fists clenching. The Schmidt brothers had bullied him long enough. Today it would end. He felt a tug at his neck. His necklace had slipped from under his shirt and now dangled precariously. The leather string was worn and frayed, the three jade-green comma-shaped beads glinting in the train's ceiling light. One of them was chipped and cracked, a recent accident that still stung. The necklace was the only thing he had left of his mother, the only connection he had to a life he knew nothing about. He wouldn't let these bullies take that away from him.
Sam scanned the group of racers with a confident grin on his face. "Peter, you really shouldn't bother with me, but do you honestly believe you can run faster than any of those guys over here and over there?" he said, gesturing toward the other racers around them. Horse-Face Boy on the left, both groups of parkour racers on each side, and then Goggle Girl on the right.
"Especially her."
The other racers caught on quickly, turning to look at Peter with challenging glares. Sam could see the fear in Peter's eyes as he swallowed hard. He clearly hadn't anticipated being put on the spot by Sam, let alone receiving so much attention from the other racers just moments before the start of the race. Nerves and anxiety were written all over his face, and Sam knew that intimidating him had backfired on Peter. It was all to Sam's advantage.
Sam rose to his feet. His fingers trembled as he clasped the jade-green bead necklace hanging around his neck. He closed his eyes, murmuring a quiet prayer before tucking it under his shirt.
"Not today," Sam squared his shoulders, his mind set on winning. He wasn't going to let anyone push him around anymore.
The automated voice announcing the upcoming station jolted him back to reality. The subway train would stop any moment now, and the race would begin.
Sam braced himself for the chaotic crowd to enter and exit while, at the same time, a group of eager racers surged forward to start their race.
The train screeched to a halt, and Sam darted forward through the barely opened doors. He squeezed through with ease, his small frame making it easy to slip past the other kids. He looked back and saw the others struggling to escape the carriage, jostling each other and jamming the doors. Goggle Girl, Horse-Face Boy, and the Schmidt brothers broke free, trailing behind him a few arm's lengths away. A subway employee rushed past, trying to clear the hold-up.
Sam dashed up the escalator. Reaching the top, he gained a slight lead of about three meters. Though he knew it was only a slight advantage, it was enough of a head start, giving him the chance to become more familiar with the area.
The bright-yellow tiled walls of Wittenbergplatz subway station were swarming with commuters, leaving little space for Sam to navigate through. With people blocking his way, maneuvering through the crowded station was a challenge. Sam realized there was only one way out of the crowded station. With a jump, he landed atop of the handrail and balanced his way toward the exit on the opposite side of the hall with lithe grace, like an acrobat on a tightrope. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Goggle Girl and Horse-Face Boy following his lead. Meanwhile, the bulky Peter and Paul were nowhere to be seen, lost in the crowd's commotion.
Sam stepped out of the subway station and was greeted by the warm rays of the afternoon sun, which caressed his skin with a gentle touch. He paused for a beat to take in his surroundings, assessing the area. As he inhaled the crisp autumn air, he felt a surge of energy pulse through his veins.
A group of tourists clustered around a row of brightly painted Buddy Bear statues, their faces beaming with delight as they posed for photos. One of the girls held up a sign that read #tolerance, which was part of the message of the Buddy Bear project.
In a gap between the statues, Sam caught sight of a figure of a black cat perched on its haunches and gazing out at the passersby with its piercing, yellow eyes. Despite its plain appearance, the cat statue seemed to radiate an air of mystery and intrigue. Sam couldn't shake the feeling that the cat had blinked at him while waving its two tails. As he continued, he glanced back over his shoulder, half-expecting the statue to be a living creature.
A triumphant yell of an approaching shadow snapped him out of his short reverie. Immediately, Sam crossed the open space in front of the station in haste and leaped over a park bench onto the street, making a beeline for the towering entrance of the department store. A swift bike messenger nearly collided with him, letting out a string of curses as a row of honking cars joined the cacophony. But Sam didn't stop, he kept going, unconcerned with the people or vehicles, not even with a statue of a mysterious cat. His only concern was finding the quickest path to the finish line–and winning the race.
Sam’s focus sharpened whenever he was in the zone. Everything else became meaningless. It was almost as if a computer was running the numbers for the fastest route to his destination while considering his surroundings. He couldn't explain it, but a green mini cloud stretched to a thin thread only visible to him appeared before him and led the way.
Sam had seen the thin thread before, guiding him like a character in a video game. It wasn't a game, though—this was real life, and the thread showed him the quickest way to his goal. Sam didn't often feel heroic, but today it seemed fitting, considering he was facing his demons. He checked behind him and saw Peter and Paul catching up, while Goggle Girl lagged just a few steps behind him.
A disembodied voice spoke. "What are you looking back for? They won't be able to catch up," it said. Sam turned his head, but the voice didn't seem to belong to anyone in particular. Could it be his imagination? The small cloud had never talked to him before, and the sound of the voice was too close to him to be the mini cloud from up ahead. He could feel his pursuers coming closer, and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to focus.
Reaching the department store entrance, a security guard tried to grab him, but Sam managed to slip past. From behind, Sam heard the guard alerting his colleagues with a walkie-talkie.
Sam dashed into the opulent KaDeWe department store, and whoever had thought of routing the race through here must have known that a group of kids running full speed would be a recipe for chaos. A security guard, shouting for Sam to stop, trailed behind him.
The KaDeWe was second only to Harrod's in London. The floors gleamed like mirrors beneath his feet, and glass display cases sparkled with the world's most exquisite products. An explosion of luxurious scents assaulted his nostrils, making him wrinkle his nose in distaste. The overpowering floral aroma evoked a visceral memory of a foster care interview with a couple who smelled similarly. Sam shuddered at the memory and pushed it away. Despite the beauty around him, he was not here to shop; he had a race to win.
Sam scanned the crowded space, spotting two guards closing in on him from either side. He needed to find a way out, but the customers and display cases blocked his path. With the guards closing in, he darted between open pockets of space, maneuvering around tables and shelves. Suddenly, a group of mothers appeared, pushing their strollers before him and blocking his way. Panic set in as he searched for a way out.
As he looked around frantically, Sam's eyes caught sight of the invisible green thread that guided him in moments like this. It led him straight ahead towards two men, the space they took up offering just enough room for him to pass between them. Without a moment’s hesitation, he used their shoulders to vault over their shaking hands, propelling himself forward.
As he soared past the confused and angry men, Sam felt a rush of adrenaline. An open path to the exit was now within his reach, and he quickly made his way toward the doors. Behind him, Sam could hear the panting of his fellow runners, including Goggle Girl and the Schmidt brothers. He knew the exhausted security guards would be no match for them, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph as he continued to stay in the lead.
Sam pushed open the glass double doors and stepped into a tranquil garden courtyard, hopeful that the chaotic crowd had slowed down his pursuers, giving him a chance to gain some distance. But before he could take another step, an intense jolt of electricity coursed through his body, locking his muscles as he crumpled to the ground in a heap, the concrete rushing toward him.
