“Don't panic” I repeated inside my head as I crouched unseen around the corner leading into the kitchen. I don't know how they reached the front door without me hearing them, however it was too late to do anything about it now. Peeking from the darkness I watched as at least a half dozen men or more came pouring into the apartment, laughing and talking over each other without a care in the world.
Fuck
“You're in a bad spot Done” my internal dialogue taunted me which was unfortunately an understatement. I glanced at the rear door in the kitchen and at the double cylinder deadbolt. The problem with breaking into places like this was the windows were barred and exterior doors could only be unlocked from either side with a key.
I had waited for days for this place to empty, for the timing to be just right, before breaking into the apartment next door. Busting upwards into the attic to crawl over the roof joists and down into this one. Leaving a hole in two different ceilings. I had expected to be long gone before they returned and therefore hadn't cared about the mess.
With a bookbag full of their money I recognized that mistakes had been made.
Now this group of bangers were between me and the staircase. If one of them comes into the kitchen, I'm busted. If one of them goes upstairs, I'm busted. If one of them checks their stash, I'm busted. If I so much as clear my throat or fart, I'm busted.
Given my wealth of options, I decided to make a run for the door. Opening it would drastically slow me down however it still seemed like my best chance. I couldn't tell how many of them there were but honestly it would only took one to shoot me.
“Not yet” my brain yelled at me as I tried to figure out the timing almost entirely by just listening to them as they turned on the TV. Breathe, I get just one shot at hoping they'll freeze from shock. I can't waste that.
Ready. I can hear the game on. All eyes will be on the TV. I tighten the straps on my bookbag.
Set. I drew several long, deep breaths as I positioned myself like a sprinter waiting on the starting pistol to fire. My heart pounded like a piston in my chest. My Chucks stuck to the linoleum tile perfectly.
Run!
I burst forward with such force that it felt as if the floor beneath my feet might've shattered where I launched. No more debating, no more indecision, no more scheming, no more fear, no more thinking whatsoever. Now there is only doing.
Down a very short hallway with a bathroom on one side and closet on the other, I shot from the darkness of the kitchen into the revealing light of the living room. Few things can catch people off guard as effectively as seeing movement where there shouldn't be any. Especially when it's moving as quickly as I was. The shock and fear responses around me couldn't have been greater had I been an actual demon leaping from the darkness.
Please god make them freeze.
The moment I had a straight line of sight of the front door I realized I should've prayed for something else. While the room of men I ran through froze with surprise the way I had hoped, one of them was frozen standing right in front of my planned exit. This big, slack jawed son of a bitch just stood there with his 40 oz like some kind of unintentional reverse bouncer.
Run
Instinctively I switched to a plan B in motion which really just meant I was reverting back to my original plan A. It was too late to stop now, I was literally in the middle of them. I sidestepped the glass coffee table in a single stride as one of the men there had the sense to reach for me. I was able to avoid it by simply lowering my shoulder on the side.
Mr 40 oz Colt 45’s eyes widened as he realized my trajectory and reflexively raised his hands to protect himself. I was coming straight at him like a guided missile. What he couldn't have known was that I wasn't attacking him, he was my bumper.
As the room behind me regained their senses, I rammed him, slamming his back into the door as I literally bounced off his body and shot up the stairs directly across from us. Tearing up them on all fours at one point before regaining my feet.
Run
I could hear the yelling and commotion behind me as I reached the top and turned towards the bedroom where I had originally entered. Lots of cursing mostly but also one guy yelling about their money. He'd obviously figured out right away why a strange white boy might be inside their apartment.
I could already hear them coming up the stairs after me. It didn't sound like all of them but it would only take one to stop me in this moment if I'm not quick enough. I didn't even bother with the bedroom door given it would've taken me as long to close it as it would for them to open it again and sacrificed my forward motion. Momentum was everything now.
Instead I ran straight to a dresser, hopped onto it and jumped. The hole I'd made wasn't directly above it but rather further along the wall near the corner. I hadn't exactly planned that hard on placement back when I popped through originally. It was an awkward angle given the low ceiling yet I dove without hesitation. I had to get it right the first time.
I couldn't believe it when my hands caught the joist. Yet my legs were swinging and I didn't have time for that. Before the first full sway I pulled my body up into a human ball to stop this motion. Immediately scrambling to lift myself into the hole. I could hear them in the room now and though I couldn't see, my mind pictured their hands mere inches from grabbing my feet and pulling me back inside to be beaten to death.
I had been careful to avoid the pink fiberglass insulation on my way in, however I couldn't have cared less about it now. Being able to worry about itching later would be a welcomed outcome to this situation. I crawled across the small space beneath the roof like a Japanese horror movie ghost to drop down into the apartment next door.
I could hear them through the thin walls as I dashed out the room and down the stairs. They weren't dumb, they'd know where I went and would be through the front door any moment. I quickly moved through a mirror reflection of the apartment they were in as I made my way to the back door in the kitchen. A door which thankfully had a perfectly normal lock on it. One I had jimmied to get in here originally.
The same time I popped through that door into the courtyard in the center of the complex, several of them were rounding the corner of the apartment building itself. I didn't waste time sharing a dramatic glance as they began yelling my location to the others.
Run
Take this however you want; however the fact is that black men are faster than white boys. It was as true here as it is in every Olympic games. It was something I understood very well in my current situation. I was impossibly quick however I knew I wouldn't survive this night through sprinting alone. No, leaving them in my dust was never an option.
These were hunting dogs chasing a rabbit and I intended to lead them on precisely that kind of chase. They all had my scent now.
Run
Rather than running straight for the gap between the apartments that surrounded the courtyard, I dashed for the derelict swimming pool area in the dead center. Obstacles and hurdles were my friend. Just because I wasn't faster didn't mean I couldn't outrun them.
I bound over the six foot chain link fence as if I were spring loaded at my ankles. I hopped to get my hands on the top railing, pulling to add to my existing upward movement, and swung my legs over easily to drop down on the other side. Leaving them with the choice of climbing in after me or wasting time by going around. The majority chose the latter.
I ran around the perimeter of the empty pool. Making sure to choose the side where the pool house itself was located so that anyone matching my direction on the outside would have a greater distance to travel in order to get around. I glanced over my shoulder at the pair who'd chosen to come in after me.
Getting back out was made even faster as I angled myself towards a stack of vinyl strap pool chairs. Hopping up onto them and over in two bounds. Once again simply swinging my legs over the top. I hit the ground and rolled forward back into my feet, not willing to waste even a second to regain my balance through trying to stick a landing. Motion is everything, I can't interrupt the forward momentum.
Pwrap-pwrap-pwrap!
God damn it, I hadn't expected any of them would be so crazy as to fire off a gun where they lived. I heard only one whiz though. Whoever it was was firing wild. Thank God for bangers holding their pistols sideways. However, it did change things. Obstacles alone wouldn't be enough, I'd need obstructions now.
Run
My legs pumped so hard that it caused my feet to flair outward slightly behind me as my arms matched with tight swinging motions. Exiting the complex through a gap I ran across the street and down an alley.
Try to keep up. You're all entering my turf now.
I knew the layout. I knew where the low fences were, where the fire escapes hung low, the placement of dumpsters, doors to empty buildings, which turns led to dead-ends and so much more. Those guys may work these streets but I lived here.
I took every single turn available to prevent being in their line of sight for even a moment longer than necessary. I wasn't interested in getting shot in the back today. Sprinting to slam into walls to change directions rather than wasting time to slow down and turn. I could hear them running behind me however they weren't danger close just yet.
I intentionally led them towards fences knowing I could get over them faster. Eventually taking advantage of an open back door, I dashed into the only kind of business open at this hour of the night. Running through a kitchen area that had been turned into a makeshift dressing room, I dodged past a pair of women who backed away in shock as I burst through the swinging doors into the dingey strip club this space now housed.
I was halfway across the open floor before anyone even noticed me. Vaulting tables and maneuvering away from the very few patrons inside. The bouncer didn't even react until the group of men appeared on the other end still on my tail. He yelled something though I have absolutely no idea what it had been. I simply dashed past the bar and out the front door back into the street.
I cut left down the street and opened up my stride. I needed to widen the gap in the brief amount of time I had before they finished maneuvering through that club. I had a solid block now when I heard them yelling again behind me. Even the brief moment it took them to look around and figure out which direction I had gone gave an additional 15-20 feet to the gap I was continuing to widen.
As I sprinted for my life, I spotted headlights approaching ahead of me. Ford Crown Victoria headlights. Cop headlights. This was not helpful. The last thing I needed was to try and outrun their Motorola on top of trying to escape these guys too. Even if I let the cop grab me, all that would've accomplished would be to save me in the moment. However, it would also give these guys an easy way to find out who I am. Which meant my death sentence would've then been inevitable.
I cut hard into another alley, my feet sliding out ahead of me as my hand dropped to painfully drag across the pavement. I don't believe the patrol car had spotted me, however the flashing red and blue lights led me to believe he saw my pursuers. A group of men running down the street in the middle of the night does give off an air of suspicious behavior.
Run
I knew exactly where I was going now and simply had to get there in time. If it worked, I'm home free. The only problem was, if it worked, it might also kill me.
As far as I could tell, there were only a few guys still behind me at most. I imagine the cop had caused the others to break away and get clear. My wind wasn't infinite which meant I had to make my move soon while I still had enough steam to manage what I'd need to do next.
I was sucking wind through my mouth now which was a bad sign. Not to mention the cramping pain in my side below my ribs. My body was starting to feel heavier with each step as my quads and calves screamed for a break. Thankfully I was in the right area as I dashed alongside my planned destination, but the timing wasn't right yet.
Just a little more distance between us. I put everything into that forward motion. Adrenaline nitrous in my veins. I only needed a few seconds beyond their line of sight.
Not this block. Not this block. Not this block.
Now
Run
I hit a 90° turn as if I were defying the very laws of physics and leaned into my sprint. My young body functioned like the perfectly designed machine of evasion my life had built it to be. I could see the low three foot railing out ahead of me, just beyond the other side.
Exploding from the alley I dashed across the street and dove head first over it and down to the Scioto river 30 feet below. Splashing into the water I immediately turned and swam back to the surface. There I treaded water and waited as I looked up to where I had jumped from.
Had they turned the alley corner before I dove, I was finished. All they'd have to do then beat me to any of the locations I'd need to climb out. However, if they hadn't…..
I watched and waited, gasping for air as I prayed to not see anyone look over the edge. It was so difficult to keep my head above the water I began worrying that I didn't leave myself enough energy to make this swim. I finally couldn't hold that position any longer and began slowly paddling towards the other side. I knew when I dove in I'd have to cross the slow moving river away from downtown in order to get out.
Though I wasn't looking anymore, I continued to listen as best I could. At this point I assumed that they hadn't seen me and chosen a direction I wasn't in. If I was right, they would've accepted they lost me by now. If I was wrong, there'd be executioners waiting for me on the other side. After all, I could see the bridge from where I was.
Swimming in jeans, a hoodie, Chuck Taylor shoes with a backpack is every bit as awful as you think it is. Especially given my state at that time. However I eventually drug myself out of the water like Darwin's fish trying to use its legs and lungs for the first time. A pitiful sight, yet triumphant at the same time.
I laid there looking up at the night sky as my body cramped and spasmed in every place and way it could come up with just to punish me for demanding too much of it. My lungs felt three sizes too small as I tried desperately to draw a decent breath.
After a time I forced myself to roll over and slowly rise to my feet. Walking away from the river and into my city's West Side. Not my hood, however it wasn't theirs either. I felt like the walking dead. I checked my bookbag and found that while it was thoroughly soaked, it was still intact as well. At least I wasn't a broke zombie.
Stepping out onto the street I turned to begin the long walk back to the safety of my stomping grounds. However, not even two blocks later, red and blue lights strobed my surroundings. I turned to look at the patrol car as it chirped its siren at me. Someone must've called in to report seeing a kid in the river.
God-damn it
Run
The only time I’ve ever run for my life like that wasn’t nearly as dangerous. But to an 11 year old running away from the postman after drilling him in the head with a perfect snowball from 50 feet—to me it was indeed life-threatening. He never caught me.
Very visceral Coleman. Wow.
Wow! What an excellent piece here that you’ve written. I’m exhausted just reading it. Are you writing a book about your story? You should!
When I was a kid I had to make a run for it. I had to run from a man in a car stalking me when I was walking home from the local rec center near my house after dark alone. The SOB was hunting me like an animal. He couldn’t catch me though as I too fast, small & very agile. Sprinting like a gazelle, had to hurdle fences cutting through yards. Thankfully when I made it to my street he wasn’t there. Made it home safe. I never walked home alone in the dark again. Completely different situation. I was only 10 though.