The Thief

3: Got to go, Gingerbread

Embers P.O.V.

Whistling to myself, I enter a café in Brooklyn and order a coffee. Today has been tiring and I am in desperate need of caffeine. I sit down in the corner seat and watch the rest of the room.

I have only one weeks supply of food and cash because I didn't find anyone with that much money on the streets today. It is a Thursday so most people are getting paid tomorrow.

I take out my sketchbook and begin to draw. I picture the roads of New York with all the people walking down them and I sketch out the scene. I put detail into each little person: the smiles on their faces, the purpose with which they walk.

I turn the page and begin to sketch the other side to the city. I draw the poor people, huddled in tight corners begging for money. I draw the drunk thugs coming out from a pub abusing those around them. I draw everything which I hate about this city.

I lean back into my chair, a tear caught in my eye. Why can people not see the horrors around them? Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and think. I start to daydream.

***

The bell on the door rings and I look up curiously. Across the room stands Pumpkin Head staring directly at me. She smirks.

Telling myself not to panic, I smile and wave. "Hey Carrots!" I call in a happy voice.

A flash of anger crosses her eyes then she hides it and smiles sarcastically back. She crosses the room and sits opposite me on the table. "I need you to come with me."

"Sorry cheeseball but I have other things I need to do." I reply with a grin.

"I wasn't asking."

"Oh, well too bad." I say and sprint for the door. I manage to dodge the arm she shoots out to grap me with and run. "Got to go gingerbread!"

She growls and sprints after me. My sketchbook lies on the table. Too bad, I'll have to leave it behind.

The chase begins...

I take a sharp left out of the café followed by a second down an alley. The redhead follows at my heals. Grabbing a fire exit I swing myself up and sprint to the top.

Pulling myself onto the roof, I feel a hand pull down at my ankle. I kick out with my second foot and use her face as a booster. I stand up and sprint across the roof, jumping onto another and glance back. She is still following and looks even angrier than before.

I see a higher roof and take a runup, using a chimney to launch mysef up. I roll and continue across the roof leaping across an alley to another.

I feel something hard hit my leg and I realise she throw a knife at me, hitting me with the hilt. I fall over, but pull myself back up again to continue. I waddle across the roof before stopping, realising I can't escape right now.

Turning around I grin at her. "Good chase orangutan! Though throwing a knife at someone is technically illegal..."

She stares at me before replying. "So is stealing." Pulling out a pair of handcuffs she starts to walk towards me.

"I wouldn't call it stealing, more spreading the money out between the rich and the poor Jaffa Cake."

"Oh so your Robin Hood. Well I'm sorry, but your life of crime is over."

"Bad luck Little Red Riding Hood, you should try not to mistake the Big Bad Wolf for a weak old lady." I grin and swing my legs out, attempting to kick her feet out from beneath her. She graps my foot and yanks so I flip to the side and skid across the roof.

She runs at me and swings her fist at my face. I dodge to the side and knee her in the stomach. She turns and kicks, pushing me to the ground. I roll and spin, blocking her next punch.

We duel for several minutes, landing the occasional hit on each other bit not many. She runs towards me and grabs my arm, twisting it behind my back. I flip backwards and yank her over my shoulder landing on top of her. I punch her in the midriff, winding her and turn to run.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." She says. I look back to see her pointing a gun at me from the ground.

I smile, hoping she is bluffing and begin to walk away. "You wouldn't shoot a kid." I call over my shoulder.

Suddenly, I hear the gun fire and time seems to slow down. I watch as the bullet heads towards my leg and make a decision. I had to get away, if they took a blood test they'd know my secret anyway.

Black mist seems to rise from the ground and surround the gun and bullet. The bullet shatters into millions of tiny pieces and avoids me completely, falling to the ground like glitter. The gun starts to fall apart and I watch sadly as the darkness engulfs her completely.

She stares at me with shocked eyes, unable to move or fight back. I mouth to her I'm so sorry before she falls unconscious, collapsing on top of the roof. Now the government and all its agencies will be after me. They will follow me wherever I go.

I run away as fast as I can. My feet thudding against the rooftops with a desperation I haven't felt since that night I ran away.

There is no hiding for me now. It's time to leave New York behind.

***

A/N Yes, Ember has powers. They will be explained more later, don't worry. Thanks again for reading, I hope you are enjoying it.

-TheBookThief11