The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty

She panted as she ran speedily across the street, the armed police men chasing after her like a wanted criminal.

She was breathing so heavily, her bag hung around her neck and dangling in the air.

Unfortunately, she stumbled over a stone and fell on the floor, hurting her arm In the process.

"Ah", she winced as the pain niggled at her.

Remembering the cops were after her, she jumped on her feet so she could resume running, but a bullet flew above her head and she froze.

"Don't move!" A voice yelled.

"Hands in the air!"

"Now!"

She folded her lips and lifted her hands above her head. She could feel them coming close from behind.

"Interlock your fingers behind your head and get on your knees" another said.

Their guns were all pointing at her.

"I haven't done anything wrong" Octavia replied, her voice sounding a little hoarse.

"Get on your knees, kid! Now!" Another yelled and she did as they said, falling on her knees.

"Just let me go" she growled. 'I don't wanna hurt anyone".

The police men looked at each other and scoffed, probably finding it amusing, how a teenager could threaten them.

"Get her bag. Quick!" The chief snapped and one of the men rushed to her, aiming for her bag.

Octavia's heart skipped as she was determined not to let go of the bag.

Yes,,she had stolen, but she wasn't ready to let go of the money.

"I told you.....to let me go", she grumbled just when the police man was about taking her bag

She snapped her neck and a strong invisible wind kicked him off his feet.

He yelped as he flew in the air and landed far away, on the hard grassy floor. It was a rough fall and he passed out.

The rest of the men looked at each other in shock, then back at Octavia.

They cocked their guns and pointed it at her and immediately, same thing happened to them. They were swept off their feet and made to fall hard on the floor.

They were close to unconsciousness.

Octavia cleaned the blood that rolled down her nostrils and jumping on her feet, she continued running away.

*

She was more than happy she'd been able to secure the money, she needed it badly. Where she had to go was extremely important.

She got to the train station and booked a ticket and she made sure she took the last seat. She always preferred being in the dark and alone - quiet.

Well, you could say she was quiet, but mess with her, and you'll quiet can also be crazy.

In no time, the train was moving to her destination.

*

*

The train came to a stop and just like everyone else, Octavia got off and proceeded to the road to get a cab.

She had the cap of her sweater over her head and kept her gaze on the floor.

19 year old Octavia was one weird lady. She was pretty, blue eyes, and mostly acted like a psycho.

Octavia's life has been a rough one as she grew up in a polygamous family. Her mother died while she was 7, leaving her and her sister to their impossible father and step mother.

Her sister - Mica - had left home few years ago when she had an embittered problem with her father. She left the family, telling only Octavia where she was headed. But few days ago, Octavia realized her sister wasnt the only one that had to leave the family. She realized she could no longer be a part of them.

Her hands were in her sweater pockets as she walked along and finally got to the roadside. It was almost evening.

She boarded a cab and made sure the cap of her cardigan was properly over her head.

"Wow! Nice eyes you've got" the woman beside her in the cab had said, and Octavia cringed.

She thought of saying thanks, but instead, she just covered her cap properly and looked out the window. She hated talking to strangers.

The rest of the drive was silent with just the car's FM producing a little entertainment, not like Octavia paid attention to it, anyway.

So many thoughts kept flying through her mind as she leaned her head on the hard window.

She thought of her life, her sister, and the family she left behind - the pathetic family.

All she wanted was to be away from them - far away and hope she never gets found.

She got to the area she wanted and in a low gruffy voice, asked the cabby to stop.

She got off, paid him from the cash she had, and continued walking to her destination. She knew there was nowhere she could ask the cabby to take her there.

She lowered her head as she walked, her bag around her neck and her hands lost in her trouser pockets. A stranger looking at her would find her suspicious, pretty and suspicious.

Her steps were fast and smart and finally. She got to the restricted territory, going through the thick bushes and not having any specific plan in mind of how she was going into the building.

She could sight it, the tall beautiful building above the forest - like place. And just when she was getting closer, they showed up.

"Stop right there!" She heard a husky voice from behind and stopped moving immediately.

From the footsteps, she could tell they were many.

She heard the cock of a gun but, still didn't move. She didn't have plans of attacking them because she felt they were people from the building and she was in their territory.

"Raise your hands above your head and turn around,,slowly" another instructed and Octavia lifted her hands, but didn't turn around.

"Who are you? And what do you want?" The first boy asked and that was when she turned around, slowly.