Unexpected 10: Lightning & Rush

Chapter 45: Tip...Toe...Tip...Toe

"Please, don't! DON'T!"  Matthew yelled, begging for his life. His feet were already bordering the fragile edge of the flooring. The wood panels and boards were not in condition to support much weight.

"MOVE!" the man yelled angrily, pushing the tip of the weapon deeper into his ribs.

Matthew grimaced as he took a glance next to his feet and gasped. It was a long way down! There was no way he could take more steps forward, he was already tiptoeing along the side! He turned around to face the armed man with a frightening look. He placed both hands up in fear, staring at the weapon.

The second man pointed the automatic weapon at the boy, while guarding the empty door space in the entrance. Much of the building was still wrapped in panels, plastic covers and other parts had lost all lumbar support. The place just wasn't a great pick to practice any type of balancing act!

The angry man pushed Matthew again, making him turn around and face the exterior. He almost stumbled, as he tried keeping his balance.

GASP

"Oh my God!" Matthew said after a long gasp, realizing the man's plan involved the next building. It was easily 25 feet away and didn't really count as a safe landing zone either way.

"HURRY UP!" urged the man with the gun.

"What do we do?" asked the second man, pacing nervously back and forth between them and the door.

WEEEEE OOOHHHH

WEEEE OOOHHHH

"You are surrounded. There's no way out. Let the kid go and things will go smoothly." said the male voice loudly, over the speaker phone. The voice came from way below, where five patrol cars had lined up surrounding the bottom floor of the building.

"Ain't no way I'm getting caught. We're getting outta here!" said the mad man holding the gun to Matthew's back, snapping back.

First, he took out a bundle of plastic strips out of his pocket. Then, he grabbed the boy by the arm, made a gesture as if to push him off and when the kid began to beg and cry, he slammed him against the ground, hard. The boy felt the man tuck his arms back, as he pulled them close aggressively and tied them behind his back with several of the strips. He pulled the plastic so tight, Matthew groaned and whined.

"Owww!" he complained between sobs.

"Shut up!" the man said, shacking him hard. The man grabbed the gun with both hands and pulled it back over his head. As he was coming down with it, aiming at the boy's back, he heard the sirens again.

WEEEEE OHHHH

WEEEE OOOOHHH

He froze. He knew the police would be coming up the stairs in a blink of an eye, which meant he had to make a move. Now!

"What do we do?" the second man asked again, this time even more desperate than before. 

"Let's go!" urged the other, as he grabbed Matthew. He pulled the boy up abruptly and pushed him forward, making the kid stumble and almost lose his footing. His left foot slipped and a lone pebble fell down, then hit the pavement down below.

"C'mon, man! Those guys said we getting paid whether the kid lives or dies. Just drop 'im and let's head out." complained the guard, as Matthew turned back frightened.

They're getting paid to kill me? What? Matthew thought scared, staring at their weapons.

"We can get extra cash from his pops if we keep 'im longer." said the assailant, pushing the gun deeper into his back. "Either you jump or I'll push you!" he said as Matthew stood at the edge of the platform, where the construction had not been finished. There were a few planks, plastic coverings and some scaffolds, but no wall.