I made my way up the massive stairs leading out of the arena and stepped once more into the bitter cold. Since the game had ended, the weather seemed to get colder, making me shiver despite myself. I decided I'd run a good mile or so home today. As my feet pounded against the asphalt, I decided I'd make dinner tonight. Jerry had always had a special place in his heart for meat lasagna, and because this was his last job, I thought he'd like to have his favorite food to eat when he came back. That pleasant thought was interrupted as I was running across a busy street. A massive red truck was running the red light, with me caught right in the headlights. Obviously, I moved out of the way before it hit me, but it was a narrow miss. After that, I continued my run, albeit a little more carefully.

Before I knew it, I was pounding up the steps to our dodgy-looking apartment three at a time and nearly ran into the door in my haste. I reached in my pocket and took out a key before fiddling with the lock and letting myself inside.

“Jerry?” I called out. I didn’t actually expect him to be home, but you never know how long it takes him to finish a job. I walked into the kitchen and opened up the freezer. I fished around inside until I had found the correct lasagna and started preheating the oven. Then, satisfied that the kitchen could be left alone, I went to my room and dropped the sweater which I’d kept on due to the cold and lack of coat rack by the front door.

I snagged a new book off the shelf to the left of my mattress and opened the covers. I’d always had tons of time alone while Jerry was out with various jobs, and because I didn’t attend school, I wasn’t exactly overflowing with friends.

Anyway, because I was alone a lot, I had taken up tons of hobbies. I liked to cook, read, and work out. I also fought professionally for my age group. I loved to immerse myself in the stories of others; it passed the time and held my interest as I constantly asked myself what I would do in each situation. Jerry was aware of my hobby and had bought this book for me on his way back from a job a few weeks back. This particular novel was one where the main character gets hit by a car and transported to a fantasy world. I was only on chapter two, but I had high hopes! I settled into the sapphire blue bean bag chair in the corner of my room and continued reading.

As I was setting the plates at the dinner table and beginning to worry that something had gone awry at Jerry’s latest job, I heard three powerful knocks coming from the door. Although I practically sprinted to the door and unlocked it for my Father, I greeted him happily and immediately led him to the dinner table I had just finished setting. Most children would ask how work was but with his profession, I was better off unaware.

We settled into a cheerful mood filled with talks of the future and joy at finally getting his pay from the boss for about two years of contracts. The way it worked was each contract he fulfilled; his boss would tally up the total and add it up until payday. Jerry said he had invited the boss to come over anytime tonight and to expect a knock. After dinner, we watched TV together, and I washed the dishes before turning into my room to get some sleep.

I awoke to something that sounded uncannily similar to glass shattering somewhere in the house. I groggily picked myself out of bed and tried to throw a shirt on when I heard three or four men yelling in loud voices. I crept out of my room and tiptoed down the hall until I reached the living room. I peeked my head around the corner and froze. There, sitting with his hands tied behind his back on the couch, was my father, a pained expression plaguing his normally gentle face. In front of him stood a man dressed in all black with a gray cowboy-style hat on his head. Perhaps six feet tall with pale skin. The hat didn’t seem to fit with the rest of his all-black ensemble, but that wasn’t the most striking feature he had. The most prominent thing about the man was the sleek ebony pistol he had aimed straight at my fathers' temple.

“Jerry, I'm sorry it had to end this way. In fact, I've never seen a man quite like you. Unfortunately, feds are cracking down on most of our operations, and I can’t afford to keep you on the payroll. I appreciate all the hard work you’ve done until now. Sincerely, thank you. Any last words?”

My head was spinning, and I suddenly felt nauseous. I had finally jumped that final step and felt like I was part of a family, so why? Why was this man here to take it away? How come everywhere I went, nothing permanent ever awaited me? I was not about to let this stuck in the 1900s fucker kill my dad. I was thinking of what to do when my dad spoke.

“Let's at least go somew-.” He cut off abruptly and swung his unbound legs aimed in a kick for the man's stomach area. Simultaneously he moved his head to the right to get out from under the gun barrel. This was as good a chance as I’d ever get to attack. I stormed into the room in two powerful strides, my earlier weariness erased. I was finally in range of him when suddenly the man fired his weapon. I watched helplessly as my only real connection to this world slumped over, lifeless. I saw red; nothing mattered more to me other than killing the man in the hat. It was an almost primal feeling. It felt natural. Just like I knew I had to drink water and breathe to survive, I needed to kill this man in the hat. I was so tunnel-visioned that I didn't notice his subordinate take a gun out of his coat pocket; I didn’t notice when he clicked off the safety. I didn't even register the first shot that pierced my leg, nor the second through my skull.

The last thing I saw before everything went black was the blurred figure of Jerry slumped over the couch. The dream that was supposed to be the start of a new life ended before it could begin.