Part 5: Escape Through the Amsterdam Canals
Cold rain lashes my face as I run blindly through the dark alleys of the Amsterdam Jordaan. Behind me, I hear Marcus cursing and heavy footsteps echoing on the cobblestones. He is right on my heels. My lungs burn from exertion and cold, but I dare not look back. The blue dossier in my backpack feels like a heavy brick, but it is my only shield against my family's lies.
I duck into a narrow alley leading to the canal belt. Fog hangs thick over the water, making the historic facades look mysterious and threatening against the sky. I hear a boat slowly passing by, but it is too far away to call for help. Marcus is close; I hear his breathing echoing between the high walls of the old warehouses. When I stumble over a loose paving stone and fall onto the wet stones, sharp pain shooting through my knee, I realize I am trapped.
There is no way out here. This is a dead-end alley by the water. Muffled steps approach the corner. A hand grabs me by the collar and roughly hauls me to my feet. It's Marcus, with a venomous grin on his face. "Did you really think you could escape the Vance family, Lucas? You're just as weak as you were at seventeen." He raises his arm to deal me a solid blow, but suddenly a shrill siren sounds in the distance. Blue flashing lights illuminate the facades. The police are approaching at high speed. Marcus stiffens, lets go of me, and whispers, "This isn't over, boy," before turning around and vanishing into the mist.
