Escape

He ran as fast as lighting, hoping that his pursuers will not be fast enough to catch him. His miniature eyes darted around the wilderness that he was trapped in. Enveloped in a pungent concoction of sweat, dirt and his own excretions, he had nothing in his mind except to escape.

He could hear the pursuers shooting into the air. The crisp, yet terrifying sound of the bullet rang in his ears. It sent chills down his spine. He curled up into a ball and held tight, breaking out in quiet sobs. He prayed to God to let him live. He was too exhausted to carry out his promise. ‘After this… Just one more rest.’ He thought to himself.

He woke up at dawn with numerous earthworms surrounding him. He brushed them off plainly and peeked through the spaces between the Canatilla shrubs. He detected no signs of movement except the pair of chipmunks scampering about with their bushy tails swinging behind them making the surrounding leaves rustle. The heavy steel chains that bounded his legs were weighing down on him like how his heart sank like a stone.

He thought of his older brother, Januar, who sacrificed himself for his escape. He remembered his promise: to run for his freedom. “Its better if one of us gets to live and to see the world again rather than being in living hell.” He used to say.

Then, the scene came back to him. It was at the Jania mining site. Both brothers were working at the corner of the mine where the security was slack. Januar decided that that was the day in which they will attempt to escape. As planned, he will pretend that he was sick and cause a commotion with their comrades at a corner to attract the attention of the guards. Later on, his younger brother will flee by the opposite route from the camp and finally escape.

He knows well that after this ordeal, his brother would have to go through severe punishments and even death depending on the mood of the Boss. He pleaded to God for giving his selfless brother another chance at life.

He cautiously stood up, still afraid that they might come out of the blue all of a sudden. His body was rigid as his paranoia got the better of him. The endless days of having to live in fear with only plans to escape occupied him. Elaborate plans were thought out and sorted. Fantasies became reality for few, and he was one of them. ‘So far, so good.’ He reassured himself.

He took out his current most prized possession -a compass as small as a bottle cap. This will be the tool for his escape, an advantage that he will have compared to the rest of his comrades who tried before him and were re-captured.

He waited for it. Once the needle stopped and pointed to the north, Omak took off, just like a phoenix after rising from its ashes.