I stood completely still, barely breathing. The sun was rising, slowly illuminating the sky with its bright glow. My clothes were ripped to nothing more than tattered shreds of cloth, yet still I stood tall, barefoot in the dawn. My body was numb to such an extent that it took all of my strength just to remain upright and on my feet.

I heard them in the distance, forcing their way through the foliage in the forest, but still I remained where I stood. I heard the dogs barking loudly as they picked up my scent. I composed myself, putting on a brave face. I was standing on the edge of a cliff and I didn’t know how I came to be there.

I could smell the salt on the wind as it raised the salty spray of the ocean upwards. I turned around, swaying from side to side like a leaf in the wind. I leaned forward – just far enough to keep myself from falling onto the jagged rocks which awaited an unlucky victim at the bottom of the cliff. A strong gust of wind whipped what was left of my clothing around me. A few pieces of cloth gracefully floated away, carried on the shoulders of the wind.

I am a 12 year old boy, wanted by the FBI and I don’t even know why.

I was aroused from the most amazing dream by a loud banging on the front door. It had sounded like cannon fire to me, and I heard my parents open the door. I opened the door a smidge, allowing no more than a slit of light in. I heard the visitors saying that they were “from the FBI” and that they were “coming for the boy”.

I quickly peeked through the door to catch a glimpse of our visitors. There were three men standing in our living room. Two were giants wearing suits, and the other one was slightly smaller, with a lab coat on. I was filled with fear, and I don’t remember much after that.

I remember one of the goons pushing my mother aside as he tried to make his way towards me. My mother hit the wall, then the floor – and then didn’t move. I remember my door literally bursting open for no apparent reason, sending shards of wood directly towards the strangers. One of them hit the floor, like a marionette with its strings cut, and the rest is muddy in my mind.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the dogs burst through the foliage, closely followed by the FBI agent and the scientist. The dogs barked and snarled in an attempt to frighten me.

But I’m not scared anymore, as I lean over the edge of the cliff and whisper “Sorry mom”.