Chapter 1
It was a bitter December night. Snow glided down from the star scattered sky. A singular light cast a small shadow against the abandoned toy shop which creeped along the wall like a crab. The rain started to pat the rusted pillars of Gloucester Quays.
Jacob ignored all of the harsh weather and looked straight ahead. He clenched his frozen fists, like a newborn kitten, to have a bit of warmth. He walked cautiously towards the checkpoint trembling with fear. The aggressive wind forced the doors open with a crash following after. He looked back, making sure someone wasn’t following.
He saw the emotionless guard forcing a family away at gun point. He was up next. Trying to look big, he took a leap, hopeful he could get past and not be turned away like last time. It’s drilled into his head. In the distance he could hear kids who were hysterical with laughter. He could see it the checkpoint was in front of him insulting the family’s getting turned away.
“Come on then, I have a family to see,” shouted the guard, beckoning Jacob forward. “Why do you need to get through to the other side?” he rubbed his hands menacingly . Jacob flinched.
“I just need to make a few deliveries for my dad’s shop.” The guard held out a gloved hand, gesturing for his pass. Jacob was so envious looking at the silky, perfect glove, but he kept it all down. The pass was a flat piece of paper in pristine condition. He looked at him, then abruptly waved him through. Jacob politely said “thank you very much”. He walked through the door and was met with a wave of warmth unlike the ghetto if you ever went in you would get shivers.
A few seconds later it got crowded, and even though it was night, it was like it was the middle of the day people dressed in suits and dresses. He walked through, there were building towered high as the sky. It was a stunning sight marble roads smothered the town and black cars drove on the clean roads. But he was still ignored by everyone. He wanted to be seen by everyone. Every time he came here the same thing had happened. He wished his father could see but he wasn’t – not after what happened to mama. Jacob pushed through the crowd of people to get the delivery trying to block out all the bad memories.
He wished he couldn’t be a foreigner just for the rest of his life so he could see the rest of Gloucester. His family would be by his side and all of the foreigners live outside the ghetto. If only all foreigners could live here. If only they could see what it’s like to live in the ghetto. His dad’s words shook him “remember what had happened to mama keep your head down or you will end up like her,” he said with tears rolling down his face.
Without warning, a hand grabbed the back of his top and Jacob was shoved over onto the ground with force. The man pulled out a knife and pushed it against his neck. Jacob shoved the man and ran towards a glowing light in a small hut. The mugger had caught up with him. On the verge of crying.
“That parcel is mine, hand it over,” he said in a low grumble, pointing at the parcel in Jacob’s hand, “plus any money you have on you. Hurry up, people will be coming around here soon,” Jacob was about to hand over his tips when he saw an old tatty door with a rickety shed behind. He sprinted towards the door and crouched just behind it. He heard the loud footsteps thumping on the ground. Jacob sprinted but he was blocked in by an abandoned hound.
The man’s bulky shadow towered above him like a building. It reached out and choked him. The wall mocked him. He thought he wasn’t going to make. He turned around to see a broken window in the shape of a child. Jacob sprinted towards the fragmented window and jumped into the creaky shed.
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