Scarlet Lies

Chapter 1

"Casedy, why aren't you eating?"
I looked up in surprise as Urik spoke to me. "I...don't know," I admitted. "I had that dream again..."
Urik set his piece of bread down. "Tell me about it," he said, his brown eyes full of concern.
I leaned against the empty crate and sighed. "The ground was cold...and my clothes were damp. My wrists and ankles hurt. But I felt like I could run for miles. I felt like I would never die. But then everything went dark...and I was falling."
I sighed and took a bite of the already cold bread.
Urik smiled and ran his fingers through my hair. "It's probably nothing. I have to go."
"Again?" I asked, my voice shaky.
"Yes Casedy. I'm trying very hard to find us a place to stay."
I nodded and set the bread in my lap.
He smiled. "I'll be back before midnight. I promise."
I nodded. He stood and walked outside, leaving me alone.
Our home was the hollowed out basement of an abandoned building that was locked up too tight to get into. The roof to the chilly room leaked and our blankets were always soaked.
My jeans had holes in the knees and my jacket was beginning to get too small.
At only nine years old, I knew hardships life could bring.

"Casedy...wake up!" He whispered. I opened my eyes to see a beam of light shining into the basement. "I saw the theif run in there!" A voice screamed. I stood and grabbed my blanket, following Urik as he lead me out a back door. We ran as fast as our legs would carry us until we stopped in an ally, exhausted and tired.

Urik--
I stared at the park benches quietly. Where was she?
I turned, my eyes landing on the vendor. I could get Casedy a hotdog perhaps....
"Excuse me sir, can you please show me where I am?"
I plopped the huge map onto the vending cart, giving a fake embarrassed smile. "I'm trying to get to Reinor Street!"
The man stared in shock. "Um you see.. .we are...um..."
I leaned over the map, my coat picket right next to the table. I grabbed as many hotdogs as I could, stuffing their shiny foil into my pocket. "Oh I see now!" I said taking a step back. "Thanks!"
I grabbed the map and turned away, but my legs got tangled and I landed on my stomach. Shiny bundles of foil rolled from my pocket. "Theif!"

Casedy---
"Hey you kids! Wake up!" A gruff voice barked. "Get out of my ally before I call the orphanage!"
Urik lead me into the streets and threw my blanket around my head like a hood. Cars raced back and forth in the streets, people yelled angrily, and the air smelled of oil, gas, and hotdogs.
Snow had begun to fall while we were sleeping and our clothes were soaked. Our stomachs growled at the scent of hotdogs and our hands shook.
"Urik... I'm really hungry," I said, yawning.
"You should have eaten your bread," he said with a sigh.
Suddenly he pulled out a bundle of shiny tin foil. I almost squealed with delight. It had been so long since I had a hotdog. I grabbed it and proceeded to uncover it, but stopped. "What will you eat?" I asked.
Urik smiled. "I ate the bread yesterday, I'm not ready to eat again. You go on."
I was too busy biting into the not-so-warm hotdog, to see Urik look up in surprise.
Next thing I knew he wasn't next to me any more. I looked up sharply. "Bubba?"
"Little boy! Look out!" Someone shouted.
I heard the hideous screeching of tired and then I saw him. Eyes full of absolute horror as the enormous truck slammed into his body, knocking him into the ground.
"Urik!" I screamed and raced towards him. He was completely limp. Blood began to pool around his head and I realized with a jolt it was coming from his mouth.
So much blood....and it was all coming from him?
"U-Urik!" I stuttered. "B-Bubba!"
His eyes slowly rolled to me and he mouthed the word; "Run."
I looked up through my tears to see people staring and pointing. In the distance I heard sirens.
Oh no.
I touched his hand, tears running down my face as his head rolled to the side and he fell still. Then I ran as fast as I could, blinded by my grief and tears, and I lost myself in the crowd and the darkness of the ally as sirens filled the street.