Created

Part 2, Chapter 2

Trellis

San Fransisco ,2594

19 year old Trellis, or, as his friends called him, Swipe, made his way out of The Hole, in which he, and all of the other homeless people in San Fran lived. The Hole was located in what used to be the San Francisco bay underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. The bay dried up, along with almost half the water on the planet, when the solar storms wreaked havoc on Earth 7 years before.

Swipe walked past main street and looked into a clothing store. He saw rows upon rows of very expensive pairs of jeans, t-shirts, jackets, and shoes. He could just barely stopped himself from drooling. Swipe looked down at his own tattered and worn clothes and sighed. according to the clock in the store, it was 1:05. He didn't have time to shop. But, then again, he thought, An adrenaline rush will give me a boost to make up for the lost time. He had decided. The note had said to bring a change of clothes. Emphasis on the change.

Swipe walked through the door and a little bell rang. He looked at the blonde cashier and flashed a smile. She blushed and looked down for a couple of seconds. She then looked back up and smiled back. Trellis often had that effect on women.

Swipe walked down the first aisle and grabbed a tan cargo pants. Something he could move in just in case things went wrong. He then walked to the shoe aisle and picked out a pair of black and red tennis shoes. A rarity. The price tag on it said $95.

He continued to look at clothes until he picked out a full outfit. Along with the pants and shoes, he got a black t-shirt, a leather jacket, and a shiny watch. The shirt had a picture of a llama on it, but he didn't care. Llamas attack if provoked. So did he. He proceed to the changing room where he swapped out his clothes for the new ones, then, Swipe threw his old clothes out. He wouldn't be needing them anymore. He ripped off the price tags, and looked in the mirror. The shirt was a little small around his muscular biceps, but he would manage. He walked out of the changing room and right past the cashier. She looked at his clothes funny and he gave her another smile. He could practically hear her heartbeat quicken it's pace.

He casually walked out of the store and around the corner. Dumb Blonde, he thought. Swipe looked down at his new clothes and remembered why everyone Holeside called him Swipe. He learned from a very young age how to con people. By six, he could lie his way out of juvie. By 8 he could outrun most grown men, and by twelve, he could steal from people's pockets while they were talking to him and the poor suckers didn't realize it until they went back to their houses and thought that they misplaced their wallets, necklaces, rings, and sometimes even belts, if they were shiny enough.

He glanced down at his watch. 1:23. A mile and a half left to go. He needed the adrenaline now. He looked at the scene around him. Stores and shops surrounded him. He eyed one particular fruit stand where the guy manning it looked just fast enough to give him the boost he needed.

While Swipe walked up to the stand, the guy's eyes never left him, and never blinked. He knew Trellis was trouble. When Swipe got there, he simply stood and did nothing. The guy's shoulders loosened as he realized he wasn't going to take anything. That was what Swipe was waiting for. He kicked one of the four legs of the stand, and it snapped, sending the whole cart crashing down, spreading apples, oranges, and watermelon everywhere. Swipe ran away. He was right about the guy's speed as he tried to catch Swipe.

Swipe felt the newfound "Fear Energy" coursing through his veins, making his muscles stretch and breaking the limits the normal body had. Most people let adrenaline happen naturally. Swipe used it as a tool.

Legs moving, arms pumping, wind rushing. Trellis ran faster than he ever could normally. He risked a look backwards and didn't see the shop keeper. He put up a good fight, Swipe thought.

He looked at his watch. 1:27. Three fourth's of a mile left. No adrenaline remaining. We'll have to do this the hard way.

Trellis ran as fast as he possibly could. His legs started cramping, and his lungs were burning. He couldn't keep sprinting like this, but he had to. He risked a quick look at his watch. 1:29. One fourth of a mile left. He couldn't make it. But then, something strange happened. Natural adrenaline started coursing through his veins, giving his legs renewed energy. He got a sudden speed boost, and then knew he was going to make it, even though it was fast fading. It had been so long since Swipe had been in an actual hurry.

Swipe looked ahead and saw a long black limo with tinted windows. The watch read 1:30. He heard the limo's engine start up, and he got another taste of desperation. He ran as fast as he could. After about three seconds, he caught up, and pounded on the window. The car stopped, and Swipe had to jump out of the way as it opened. He got in.

"I was wondering when you'd show up." An old man sat on the other side of limo facing him.

"Sorry 'bout that. Just got a little caught up in shopping." Swipe gestured down at his outfit.

The man gave a knowing smile. "I'm sure you did. My name is Alfred. If you need anything, just let me know. I am your humble servant."

At that moment, Trellis knew he was going to enjoy that car ride.