By

Sofia T,

Zoe Z,

Vincent N,

Damien M

Escaping Custody

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Market

Chapter 2: The Hearing

Chapter 3: The Trial

Chapter 4: The Stake

By Zoe Zamora, Sofia Torres, Vincent Nguyen, and Damien Maubourguet

(Blue)

(Green)

(Red)

Escaping Custody

Table of Contents

Page 4

Page 12

Page 20

Page 26

By Zoe Zamora, Sofia Torres, Vincent Nguyen, and Damien Maubourguet

(Green)

(Red)

(Purple)

Loading...

Loading...

Chapter 1: The Market

Loading...

Looking over my shoulder, I spot two guards coming in my direction. I dash over to a small alleyway between two houses.
Phew.
Walking down the passage, a smile of relief on my face, I see a shadowy figure sitting against the tan wall.
I proceed with caution, but as I get closer, I realize that it’s a young child.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked, kneeling to level off with their face.
“I don’t have anywhere else to go,” They answered, mumbling.
“Are you lost?”
The kid shakes their head. “No, I just don’t have a home.”
I nod, pursing my lips. “I see. When’s the last time you had a meal?”

Loading...

“Right, well…” I trail off, weighing my options. “I could get you some food over in the market. I’m Marius, by the way.”

Loading...

“Really? I can’t believe it! I’m Quincy!”

Loading...

The boy stands up eagerly, practically running to the market. I follow close behind him, determined by any means to get him some food.

Loading...

The kid adjusts themself on the dirt ground. “I can’t remember. A week ago, maybe. It’s been a long time, and all I can think about is how hungry I am.”

Loading...

Loading...

“Right, well…” I trail off, weighing my options. “I could get you some food over in the market. I’m Marius, by the way.”

Loading...

“Really? I can’t believe it! I’m Quincy!”

Loading...

The boy stands up eagerly, practically running to the market. I follow close behind him, determined by any means to get him some food.

Loading...

We walk past a market full of delicious treats. Bread in one corner, honey in another. My stomach rumbles at the mere sight of them.

Suddenly Quincy stops at one stand, eyeing the basket of bread in the corner. “That one! It looks so good!”
Without batting an eye, I pluck a loaf of bread from the stand and frantically hand it to Quincy. We both take off running, hearing shouts and “Hey!”s behind us.
I run down an ally, losing Quincy in the process, but the guards are still hot on my tail.
I need to lose them quickly. On the right, there is a large crowd of citizens. On the left, there is an empty road that leads on for what appears to be miles. Which direction should I run? 

Right? Or Left?

(Turn to page 8)

(Turn to page 10)

TURN RIGHT

I lose them in the large crowd, but the citizens push and shove me around, expressing their distaste for me. I guess stealing food from them doesn't make a very good impression.

Suddenly, the guards shout: 

“We need that man! We offer a reward!”

As if in a trance, the citizens stare with money in their eyes, leering and latching onto me in the process. I run as fast as I can until a middle-aged man tackles me to the floor.

I start fighting back. I push the middle-aged man off of me and start running. It's not easy. The crowd is reaching in to grab me, so I have to constantly push them off.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot the same man lurch toward me, and the next thing I knew, I was down.

“We got him.” One of the guards said with a slimy grin on his face.

They have a tight grip on my shoulder,

pulling me away into custody. I can’t escape. 

(Turn to page 12)

TURN LEFT

I run down the road, searching desperately for a way to lose them.

I don’t know what to do, I don’t have many options. A couple of minutes pass by, and I decide on a plan. If I drop, shake, and run, it will work. Here goes, 3...2...1… and— I feel a tug at my arm. There the guard stands with his hand tightly gripping my wrist. I was caught. 

I spot an alleyway, so I gain speed and make a swift turn into it. A small grin makes its way to my face, but it’s no time to celebrate yet. My sprint doesn’t falter as I make my way between the houses, that is, until a group of guards runs in front of me, blocking my path. I instinctively start walking backward, but my back hits another guard.

They trapped me.

One of the guards ties my wrists behind my back, and I wince as the rope burns and chafes my skin.

The tug of my arm was enough to get me to sweat. I thought of running, but, if they caught me again, I would have no chance of life even if I were to beg on my hands and knees. I could do nothing, I could not run, scream, or fight, it would only make it worse. I thought of Quincy, I hoped he would be okay all alone out there, for he is only a young child who knows nothing of the world. If they catch him, they will have no mercy. I must make it out alive for Quincy, he needs someone to be with him.