The Brass Clarinet

My legs were beginning to cramp as I sat motionless in my hiding place. I tried to slow my breathing, but I could hear my heartbeat drumming in my ears. I wondered if it could be heard in the deafening silence. I felt my calf muscle tighten painfully and as a reaction, I shifted my weight. The sound echoed and it was my fatal mistake…

Suddenly, the world around me erupted into a state of chaos. I knew my hiding place wasn't safe anymore so I jumped up, hidden behind a clump of trees and ran, ignoring the pain in my calf. I sprinted through the trees as fast as my legs could carry me ducking as different branches threatened to knock me over. I didn't know where I was going but I kept running. I could hear people yelling behind me and I knew guards must have been sent out to find me.

I couldn't keep running forever and I needed a new place to rest. About 30 yards to my left was a tree. From what I guessed it was about 100 feet tall with thick, sturdy branches. I turned and ran towards it. Jumping I managed to get my hands around a small branch. Using the momentum from running, I managed to swing myself around and land on a higher branch. From then, despite the constant pull from my half asleep calf. I started to climb. I was about 30 feet up when I heard the guards voices, forcing me to stop.

I couldn't make out what they were saying because of the pounding in my ears but I knew they were arguing. They kept pointing around which made me think they were looking for me. Suddenly, my foot slipped and I crashed to a lower branch. The guards looked up.

"Hey!" the first one called. "Come down here and hand over the clarinet, or we'll send someone up!" The second guard nodded, a scowl plastered on his face.

For the first time I remembered the backpack I had slung across one shoulder. Quickly, making sure the zipper was closed the full way, I repositioned it over both shoulders and continued to climb. When I though I was a safe distance up the tree I called down to them.

"If you want it, then come up and get it!" I kept my tone light and mocking. "Otherwise I think I'll keep it for a little while longer."

One of the guards yelled something again but I wasn't listening. I was searching for an escape route of some sort. Finally I spotted a crack against a boulder that could be used for a cave. I would have to wait for the guards to go away before I could head there. But would they leave soon?

I looked down to see where they were.They weren't there. I searched the whole area but I couldn't find them anywhere. I knew if I was going to move I had to do it now. Instead of risking the ground I jumped from tree to tree, occasionally slipping because of my calf which was starting to wake up.

Finally I reached the tree right in front of the cave and slowly climbed down the slender branches. When I reached the ground I dashed into the cave. Sitting down, I opened the backpack with shaky fingers. Inside I could see the clarinet. Made from pure brass, this was not an ordinary clarinet. All someone had to do was play a specific rhythm and they would have complete mind control over everyone in a three mile radius.

My job was to steal the clarinet and bring it to my boss, the president of the FBI. I was mainly on the squad because I was tiny and good at stealing things. Our job was to keep it away from people who would misuse it. I was just putting it back into the bag when the ground started to shake.

Pieces of rock and ash were falling down on me from the cave walls and ceiling. Coughing, I ran out into the open and felt the full impact of an explosion, sending me into the air. I landed with a thud under a tree. The backpack was lying about twenty feet away. I rolled over and tried to get up but my legs were aching. I had to crawl very slowly but I finally reached the bag. I had just grasped one arm of it when I felt it get ripped out of my hands. Through the smoke, I could just barely see the figure running away. As they ran I saw a piece of their jacket get ripped off onto a branch.

My head was starting to clear and I was able to walk again so I hurried over and looked at the ripped fabric. I could barely make out the letters but it defiantly said FBI. So I was just a pawn to them, they only wanted the clarinet. They were the ones that blew up the area. If I had died in the explosion they probably wouldn't have cared.

Only two things were clear in my head. Number one: The FBI had the clarinet. Number two: They were willing to have me killed in the process of getting it. The main question was still in my head. Now that they had it, what were they planning on doing with it?

I didn't want to move right away but I didn't want the guards to catch me. I decided to camouflage myself in the trees until I could move freely again. It went by slowly, but I finally managed to dig a tiny groove that would fit my body in it. Once I was lying down I pulled branches and leaves over top of me. I only hoped it would be enough to hide me.

I must fallen asleep because the next time I opened my eyes my head was cleared and I felt groggy. The stiffness in my joints seemed to have multiplied so it took me a while to sit up. I searched in my backpack for a few minutes before I remembered the clarinet was gone.

Finally I got enough energy to get up. I fell over a few times before gaining my sense of balance. Then I went in search of food. I couldn't find any berry bushes so I ripped off a piece of pine bark to chew on. It kept my mouth busy at least.

I knew my only way out of the forest was to go back to the same place I came in. I started back, following my old footprints which were starting to fade. I had been walking for about an hour when I reached the guards' building. I saw the broken windows and the burned roof and I knew the FBI must have stopped here before finding me.

I didn't bother trying to hide as I walked past. If there were any survivors they wouldn't be in any condition to stop me. I walked for another half hour before reaching the edge of the forest.

The nearest town was about five miles from here so I had to keep moving. I didn't want to risk hitchhiking because for one the FBI could be watching me. And besides, nobody picks up hitchhikers anyway.