It was all over the news. For probably the first time since it was established, this tiny town got some publicity. I know that many here love the attention of the newspeople, but I hate it. They get on my nerves...something's just off about those people. Me and the other misfits in the town, we stay as far away from them as possible. We'd all rather they not find out about us.
The rains, of course, just had to go and change everything. They refused to stop their endless pouring. They refused when the river started to rise. They refused when the river broke its banks and started pouring into town. They refused when every precious artifact in this town was lost as the water rose. They refused even when they heard the children's cries as the river started consuming lives. Finally, the sky stopped them, sending the wind to blow the clouds away. It took about a week for the river to reach it's normal depth again.
But the destruction remained. The river had done a lot more damage than people had originally thought. Millions of dollars were lost. Not that I care. I never had much to begin with. But the river had taken away the one really valuable thing this town had--its antiquity and natural beauty. It had never been enough to attract tourists, but once it was destroyed, I guess it was interesting enough to attract the news reporters. They seem really sorry that it's gone, even though they never cared about it before the flood.
The whole reason I chose this place was for its lack of publicity. Now, it's no longer entirely safe. I need to choose another place, but something is holding me back. For some reason, I don't want to leave. I should have known it would be all too easy to get attached to one place. I should have broken my ties earlier, but it's hard to find such a catch as this. Attached or not, though, I should leave.
At least now that the water is gone there's a lot more trash lying around. This means more clothes, blankets, and other necessary things for survival. Most of it's covered in muck, but a blanket is a blanket no matter how dirty it is. I can always wash it. There's also much more unguarded food, making it a lot easier to get what I need.
It's been more than a week, and the stupid reporters are still hanging around. How much more information do they need? I don't think there's anything they don't know about this place anymore, except for us. We're good at keeping unnoticed.
The others are asking me if we should do anything about them. I just told them to stay away, stay hidden, as they usually do. What else could I say? I don't want anyone getting arrested, and if anyone attempted to get the newspeople to leave, they'd attract way too much attention. I can't afford to lose my anonymity, and neither can they.
I can't say I like the way they look up to me, though, always asking me their questions. The only difference between us is that I'm taller than most of them and older than all of them. Plus, I'm from out of town, and I don't say much about myself. I've heard the rumors they spread about me. In their eyes, I've got more experience. I really don't. So I try to keep my distance from them as well.
I was on a hunt for some extra clothes the night the reporter found me.
The days have been gradually getting colder, and I needed to be prepared for winter, wherever I may be at the time. As soon as the sun had set, I went to one of the safest rubbage piles I knew of in the town. I was pretty sure that there'd still be some treasure left. I had hidden myself well in the shadows, and was going through a pile of abandoned wreckage as quietly as I could, when the small of my back started tingling. Call it silly, or stupid, but that was my body's warning signal for danger.
I immediately froze. The best thing to do when you know you're hidden and practically invisible is not to move.
"Come out," a female voice called. "I know you're there. I want to see you."
***
That's all for today. I'll finish the story tomorrow. :)
Today was the first day of school...it went better than I thought it would. How's school going for you guys?
REMINDER: If you haven't already, go read, like, and comment on Hunger. Once I hit 25 likes, I'll give the money I've saved to an organization that helps the poor. I'll continue to do so with each set of 25. Also, I'll add an extra dollar for everyone who comments.
YOU ARE READING
Flooded
Short StoryRyan is an orphan living in the streets of a small town. Most of his life has been spent in the streets, and he's become an expert at hiding. He hides from everyone--from the police, from his fellow street-dwellers, from the public. But recently, as...
