A Prison Of Blood And Ice

Chapter one

Zoe White

I sift through the crowds like a ghost. The best part of being short is the fact that I go completely unnoticed and being unnoticeable is what I need to be, when it comes to stealing.

Saturday morning markets are the best. I love the adrenaline I get when I pick something up that I haven't bought. It's the thrill of knowing anyone could see you and arrest you at any moment.

Usually my best friend, Noah Hall, comes with me. It feels weird being alone, but he had his little sister to baby sit.

My sister, Clara, is away in America working so that we can get a little money. Ever since Aunt Selene got the plague, it's as though the floor fell from beneath my feet. The only money coming in was from her and now Clara and I have nothing.

I steal all my food from Saturday's markets.

When I looked out of my window, before I left, the sky was grey and dark, so I anticipated that it would be cold. Wearing my khaki green parka was a huge mistake. My intention was to be inconspicuous, but when everyone is wearing belly tops, it's probably not the best thing to wear. I slip my hands into my pockets, faux fur lines the inside. I'm sweating.

I head towards the bread and cake stall. The woman who owns the stall is serving a customer, a great distraction. I wander over, acting normal.

"Is this a Victoria sponge?" Asks the lady.

Quickly, I grab one tiger loaf and stuff it under my coat, holding it tightly to my tummy. I back away from the stall and head towards the glass sky scraper.

Buskers hang out near there. Some people play dramatic music on their violins; they play so fast you begin to question if the instrument will make it out alive. Other people choose to sing. I go there because I love music and there is a lot of cash I can steal.

Crowds of people move forward. I'm being trampled on by everyone.

"Zoe!" A familiar voice calls out. Its husky. I turn my head round and see Noah waving to me. He pushes a lady out the way and she spills the contents of her bag everywhere. I catch a glimpse of some expensive jewellery. Remember her face, I say in my head.

"What are you doing here!" I exclaim, when Noah throws his arms around me. He's too tall and his arms are so long. They wrap around me and suddenly, I'm flying. He's lifted me right off my feet. He sets me on my feet and grins.

"I came because you wouldn't survive a second without me," he says with a smirk. I'm tempted to punch him.
"I could, for your information," I reply, harshly.
"Hmm... Okay."

Noah runs his hand through his dark, chocolate, brown curls. His eyes are fixed at me but something has changed in his expression. He looked amused but now he just looks sad.

"What's up?" I ask. Noah just shakes his head and drags me into a dark alleyway. There's a leaky pipe-so the sound of dripping water bounces off the walls and repeats itself a million times like a parrot.

Noah leans against the wall with one foot rested against the white bricks that have been painted terribly. He has his hands in his jeans pockets

"I challenge you," he says in a complete monotone.
"To what?" I reply, looking at him in the eyes.
"Go out there, grab everything we need and meet me back here. After half an hour I will come after you, so prove to me you can do this, without my help." Confusion crossed my face. Why does he want me to do this? All I say is,"okay."

I leave the dark and damp alleyway. A part of me is scared to leave Noah behind. It's creepy in there and not to mention the brutal attacks and murders that occur on Saturday markets.

I start off power walking and break into a sprint. I grab a wallet hanging out of someone's pockets and then grab an apple. What else do I need? More food.

Meat stalls and vegetable stalls aren't very far away.

When the lady behind the meat stall turns around to count her money, I grab a joint of lamb. There's crimson blood in the bottom of the packaging, it's gross. My stomach drops when I hear a gunshot.

Everyone screams out in panic. I stand immobile. It came from near the alleyway where I left Noah! I drop the joint of meat when soldiers come marching with rifles secured over their left shoulder. One of them glares at me and I suck in a breath. All I need to do is find Noah.

An old, frail man with a walking stick limps toward me. I run at him and shove him out of the way. He falls to the floor with a loud thud.

I feel like I'm in one of those dreams. Those dreams when you have to run so fast and far, until your lungs almost burst. My chest is tight and hurts. I'm sprinting, incredibly and unbelievably fast. Anyone would think I'm running to save my life but instead I'm saving someone else's.

Noah is fine. He is alive. He is fine. I tell myself constantly. I refuse to think of the alternative. I have known him for so long, since I was five years old. We would sit in my back garden and play on the ancient, rusted swing set.

Nothing would ever be the same without him. We are practically brother and sister.

I catch sight of the alleyway and run into it. I was right, the murder happened here. There is a pool of blood. Where is Noah? He's not here, he's gone! All my fears come true. I scream in panic and feel my knees buckle beneath me. There's no trace he was ever here.

Checking my watch, I see I've only been gone twenty minutes. He hasn't gone to look for me, not yet. So where is he? He's alive, I think.