Chapter 4— The Photograph

I continued to leap from roof to roof, building to building, wall to wall, it felt like I could see the whole world from a distance; it was fascinating to me and for a moment I could forget what I was, and when I knew I was far away from my hometown— from the police men, I rested on the tallest building I could find— like a bird on a tree. I stood there watching, waiting and listening. I could hear everything, every sound, every noise, every person, it was loud, too loud; deafening even. I covered my ears with my palms but that didn't seem to solve anything, maybe I had to find a quieter place, away from the city.

But where could I go? I hadn't travelled much even though I was a 30 year old man. I never really felt the need for me to leave Baton Rouge, to leave Elias and Delia, to leave my craftsmanship. I even hoped I would start a family of mine in the city, we could live happily in my parents house... I didn't know where to run to, I decided within me to stay on the roof top for the night and in the morning I would have a plan ready.

The roof top was really uncomfortable and slanty but I loved the view and the freedom I felt, I ruffled through my bag and brought out a picture of our family— me, when I was 5 years old, dad in a buffy brown trouser and short sleeved white shirt, his brown thick hair well combed backwards with a thick curl dangling on his forehead, his slim mustache gave him a masculine and a French look at the same time. I stood in between my parents; my mum stood beside me with a large smile and her left palm resting gently on my little shoulder, she wore a kind of bright coloured long sleeved gown, I couldn't really tell if it was a pink, red or grey gown since the photo was in black and white, but I was sure of how beautiful she looked, she had brown hair too, it was nicely curled but I could see only a part of her hair resting on her right shoulder cause she wore a feather hat. At the background of the photo I could see a man riding on a chariot with four horses, there were other persons in the photo as well, it seemed like a busy day and everyone was doing their own thing.

I can't recall anything from that day but I knew I was five from the date scripted below the photo, it was 25years ago March 1895 way before the war came in 1917...

That photo filled me with a sense of peace, I could almost no longer hear the city. I quickly noticed another writing above the photo, it was in French and it read:

"Des souvenirs heureux dans une ville merveilleuse de la! New Orleans, USA, par Pere Prints".

Suddenly I felt a rush "New Orleans... New Orleans" I whispered the words repeatedly with a nod, finally there was a place I go to and surprisingly I had been there before with Mum and Dad but they never told me about a place other than where we lived in.

By first light I'd begin my journey down to this New Orleans, there was hope after all... I thought.

I released a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on my cheeks, I stretched out my body length on the roof just close to the edge, I folded my hands underneath my head, my left leg bent half way above me while the other leg laid folded beneath the left leg. I looked up at the sky for a few seconds taking the stars into mind I closed my eyes and prepared to sleep; although I never felt tired despite all running today but sleeping was one way to make the night go faster.

I waited and waited for sleep to take me but it didn't, I could still hear everything so loudly... "If I could just sleep, merde!"

A sound startled me and my eyes opened wide, my heart began to race, in a swift motion I stood up and quickly flung my bag around my shoulder. I glided through the roof so easily to get a better view of where the sound came from. I couldn't believe they came after me all this way, "Damn these police men!" I punched my fist in anger. Their car sirens blared up the streets and awoke everyone else who had been asleep. They couldn't possibly have known where I was, could they? Have they been watching me all this time? It's like they had a death wish or something.

"Police! Freeze!" They shone a very bright light on my face all the up where I stood on the roof, the light was blinding but I never blinked.

"Put ur hands up in the air and stay right where you are! We've got you surrounded!"

And they were right, I was really surrounded by more police men, more cars and more bullets, more than the ones that came before!

"Why can't you all just let me be?" In my fury I growled at them.

"You are under arrest Mr Damian for the murder of Doctor Mario Philip!" The micro phone made his voice sound louder and more deafening to my ears.

When he mentioned about the doctor I had killed, my anger intensified, my veins popped out from my neck and arms, tears welled up in my eyes... I wasn't angry at them but at myself!

"I don't want to hurt anybody else please just go!" I growled again.

"Open fire!" The command was given and it had to be obeyed, I knew what would come after. If only would listen for once, even from a distance I could hear the pumping of their blood, I could smell it and even taste it already, I remembered how sweet and salty it was, I remembered how warm and thick it felt on my tongue, I could recall how filled and satisfied I was after I drank; with just one sip I was addicted... How could I hold myself back from taking another sip, another bite, when the world couldn't stop me how I could stop myself when I knew not what I had become.

The shooting began and the bullets touched my cold hard skin without even a bruise. This time they brought an archer with a bow and arrow, I chuckled at their stupidity and determination. The arrow flew with the wind, it came straight at me but when it touched me it felt like a tiny little sting.

"Can you see now that your weapons are useless against me?" I raised my arms and opened them wide towards them with pride.

They brought out another weapon that seemed like a bomb, I wouldn't lie I felt uncertain when I saw this, deep down I knew they could finally kill me with this bomb. My first instinct told me to run but I didn't, let them come at me with everything they've got so they could finally put an end to my misery. So I stood there within the light waiting for my death.

"Release the blow!" he commanded.

The bomb released from its shackles, it came at me with a roaring sound and with a thud it hit me and exploded at once, I fell on the hard roof forcefully and for a few seconds the night lit up with fire, when it went out all that was left was a thick black smoke!