Chapter 56: Two men
It was a quiet urban morning. Adam was hidden from view by an oak tree whose leaves were rustled by a light wind. He looked up and down the street one last time. It was deserted.
Unaware of the life-or-death situations unfolding in this quiet neighborhood, the world continued to sleep. He moved after lowering the baseball cap over his eyes.
He did not move. He took off running. A blur of movement carried him to the side of his own house, followed by a silent run across the street. With quick simplicity, he jumped over the wooden fence that surrounded the property.
His movements were precise and economical as he landed gently on the grass. In his own backyard, he was a ghost.
He touched the rusted and cold drainpipe. He placed his weight on it, and it protested with a groan. He ignored the noise. He began to climb. The rough metal supports holding the pipe to the wall provided a firm grip for his hands. The brickwork provided a toehold for his feet. It was a long, slow climb.
Every action was planned and a calculated risk. He would fall to the ground with just one slip or misplaced hand. He avoided looking down. His entire attention was fixed on the window on the second floor, which was where he was going.
His muscles burned as he made his way to the window ledge. Holding on to the drainpipe with one hand, he looked into his own bedroom through the glass. It was miserable. They pulled the curtains.
The room was dark. Carefully shifting his weight, he tested the window with his free hand. A habit from a simpler time in his life, when his main worry was slipping out after curfew, he had always left it unlocked.
The only way in for him now was that simple habit.
With a gentle sigh, the window slid open. He dragged himself up and through the gap, crouching silently on the floor of his bedroom. Without delay, he closed the window behind him.