Stolen

The Encounter (5)

Moonlark's POV:

I wake up the next morning and decide that I can't stay here. Keefe's nice, but I don't want to stick around and see his reaction when he finds out I'm a thief. Plus, that Tam guy is just plain annoying. The only reason I've stuck around this long was to see if he could make a worthy accomplice. But, of course not. He's too ...him.

I get out of the bed that Keefe loaned me and stretch, yawning. There's a door next to my room that leads to the bathroom, so I can shower.. I get dressed and pack up what little belongings I have - the money I stole from Dex, another extra change of clothes, and some hair supplies. Plus the cloak and food Marella gave me. I count the money from Dex and frown. There's about three bags less than I stole originally. Tam. The Boy. Scowling, I sneak into his room, careful to not disturb him, and find that his stuff is dumped on the floor, as if he didn't bother to unpack. As if he plans to leave too. Oh well. As long as he doesn't get in my way. I grab my three bags of gold and rush out, smirking at the hot pink things in his room.

With all my things stuffed into a backpack I found in my closet, I slip out of the house, pausing only to leave a note for Keefe, explaining that he was a gracious host, but that I can't stay. Once I'm outside, I head straight for the apartment that caught my eye on the way here.

I purchased it a few years ago when I realized that if I had to escape Eternalia, I would have to find a place to stay. So I bought it, and the landlord didn't question why an 18 year old girl was buying an apartment, or how I got my hands on that much money. I was grateful for that, because I don't even want to think about what could have happened if he had told the royals.

Now, inside the living room of my new home, I survey the place, checking to see if anything is out of place. Nothing unusual, and the weapons hidden across the apartments are where they're supposed to be. You can never be too careful, especially as a wanted criminal.

~~~~~~~ Time Skip ~~~~~~

Tam's POV:

As I crouch in an alley, covered by shadows, I watch the merchants on the street pass by, laughing and talking loudly. They won't have as much money as people in Eternalia, since all the rich people live there, but they make decent coin. Especially if they travel a lot. A merchant dressed in fine clothes catches my eye, and I decide to rob him. Naturally.

The Moonlark wasn't in her room when I woke up, and she left a note saying that she was leaving, not wanting to cause any trouble for Funkyhair. Yeah right. I know she took my gold - not counting that it was technically her gold, since I stole it from her - and left. I also know she left because she didn't want to be near me, not when I'm a threat to her money. I scoff quietly. What a brat.

The merchant's leaving now. I rise from my crouch, my muscles aching from being in one position for too long, and begin scaling the side of the building. I climb onto the rooftop and jump onto another, trailing the carriage that the merchant is in. It stops in front of the bank, the man waddling inside. He carelessly drops a pouch of gold on the floor from his already full pocket. Seeing my chance, I quickly snatch it up and bolt for the pillar, covered by shadows. I relax in the knowledge that no one saw me.

"You thief!" a voice shouts from behind me.

"AHHHHHHHHH!! YOU PSYCHO!" I squeal, jumping about five feet in the air. The Moonlark leans against the pillar, smirking at my reaction.

"You thief!" she repeats, scowling as she walks towards me. "You stole my gold. You'll pay for that." she jabs my chest. She's really close to me now, and I can see the way the sun brings out the gold flecks in her brown eyes, lighting up her whole face. She notices me staring and blushes prettily, a rosy pink spreading across her cheeks.

"Alright, alright," I mutter, pretending to be annoyed. It's not even close to what I'm feeling, but I don't even know what that is. I toss her the pouch I just stole with a huff. "Happy now?"

She catches it with one hand and raises an unimpressed eyebrow, turning around. "Good enough for now," she says over her shoulder, already walking away. I run up to her, easily keeping pace. She looks at me. "What?" she asks.

"I don't want to keep bumping into you only to fight over money, so let's call a truce." I suggest, mainly because I want to see her again without fighting over gold.

"No," she replies flatly, and makes to walk away, but I grab her wrist quickly without thinking twice.

Moonlark's POV:

I struggle against him, but he holds my wrist firmly. "You know the saying, right?," he asks, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?"

I consider this. I'm on the run, in a city I've never been to, and I don't know anyone except for The Boy – Tam, I think that's his name – and Keefe. The rest of the world is my enemy.

I sigh. I wish Aaron was here. He would tell me to do what's right, and for now, the right thing to do is lay low. The more people who go after me, the harder it is to hide. I'll need some allies to help disguise me, and help me steal food.

"Fine. But only because I don't want to get caught," I grumble.

The Boy - Tam – smiles. "Good. But that also means you have to come back."

Of course. Nothing's ever free around here. I groan, but reluctantly agree. "Well, at least help me get my stuff back."

Tam scowls, and the sight is so satisfying. "What stuff?" he asks.

I smile. "The clothes and books I bought, of course."

"Well, as long as you come back, I suppose it's fine." Tam releases my arm, which I completely forgot about. "Now let's go."

Tam's POV:

What did I just do? I definitely did not just invite my enemy in crime back to where I'm living. Right? No, no way. Well, not because I wanted to, I did it because Keefe missed her. Yeah. And because Wylie wanted her there too. I didn't invite her because I'm starting to like her. No way. Well, at least Keefe won't be annoying just me now. That's why I did all that. Yeah. Of course.