I round the corner of the building and all I can hear is the rising heartbeat in my chest.
What the hell am I doing?
I hear the sound of several pairs of boots hitting the stone alleyway. One of them shouts, "Broker! Get back here!"
The strong feed on the weak. Likewise, the rich feed on the poor.
Thank God. They passed me. Drawing out a long sigh, I rub my head in frustration.
My long fingers slide down to my pocket, revealing a beautiful gold chain necklace. I shove it back in my pocket. This must be the third close call this month! The muscles in my body relax as I slide down the wet stone wall. My eyes slowly close and everything goes black.
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"Micah?"
I'm suddenly awake and I touch a throbbing point on my forehead. I look down at my hand to see blood.
"Micah, what happened? No, more importantly, what happened to you?"
Ugh. Why does she have to always be so protective?
"I'm fine, Piper. I'm pretty sure I can handle myself."
It's been five years since I have said that and actually meant it. Five years ago was when all hell broke loose in my mind. My older brother, Camden, was always protecting me. He was a second pair of parents to me. However, something led me to hate my brother for him making me seem so weak and defenseless. When he lied there on the ground, I finally felt the urge to be my own person. I wanted to be better than him. I still can never escape him, or the past. Wherever I go, everyone constantly compares myself to him.
I snap back to reality when I see her light green eyes flash with worry. I quickly realize that she located my wound. She crouches down next to me to get a closer look at it. I manage to hide the blush that creeps up onto my cheeks.
She winces as she moves my long, brown hair away from the re-opened cut. She asks with a giggle, "You sure about that?"
"Yeah, It doesn't even hurt, don't worry about it." I say with a fake smile.
Lying. A great attribute of mine. It actually hurts like hell. When I jumped the Opulent I didn't expect him to pull a knife out on me or even use it. As soon as you could say "unfair", there were several of them chasing me down the night-abandoned road.
Piper stands up and holds out a small, pale hand to take mine. I grab for it and she pulls me up. She fixes the collar of her blouse, and tucks her curly ebony hair behind her ears.
"Did the Opulents get you again?" She says in a mother-talking-to-her-baby voice. Piper playfully nudges me in the arm. She's obviously joking with me, since she is an Opulent herself.
However I have a better comeback. I smirk as I pull the gold necklace out of my pocket. "I believe it's the other way around."
"Micah! Aunt Madge is going to scold you again, just like that other time when..."
"When I broke her favorite China set? When I almost set the house on fire? When we almost got caught taking together? Look, Piper, I know I'm not perfect."
Her face turns from her usual happy-cheery self, to a sad, forlorn expression. The kind of face like she just witnessed a death. "Micah, I...I didn't mean..."
Here we go again.....
"Piper it's fine, just let me rely on myself for once.....or twice, ok?" We both smile and agree it's about time to head back home.
We laugh as we walk down the long streets of Emberse, where I do most of my underhand work. Piper's freckles being defined every time she smiles.
We are careful not to let anyone know that an Opulent and a Broker are friends. It's not that big of a deal anyways. What a silly rule, apparently we're the only two who think to oppose it.
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As we reach Aunt Madge's house, (Piper's aunt, I'm more of an adopted family member than anything) there is a group of Opulents watching us. Examining us. They know something's up. We are, after all in their territory. Piper nonchalantly pats my back telling me to 'straighten up'. I have acquired the nasty side effect of being a Broker, the slouching. Even if I manage to wear a white suit and a top hat looking professional, I will be slouching. I walk with my back straight and my head high, showing pride. Most Opulents are proud. If I am going to get past them I will have to act the part, too.
I lock arms with Piper, acting like I am escorting her to her home. She gives me in response, a confused look. I talk through my teeth to her, saying, "Just go with it, ok?" She finally gets the point and giggles, resting her small head on my shoulder.
We are almost past them now. I lead Piper up the steps of her aunt's house, and we stand on the porch.
For the grand finale, I reach into my pocket and pull the gold necklace out, my fingers lacing with the chain. I never noticed until now, but it has a small bird adorned to it. I remember, when Piper told me that she wanted to be like a bird. Being free to do whatever you wanted to do.
Unhooking the necklace, I put it around Piper's neck. She untucks the strands of hair stuck under the chain, and admires the bird charm. I can tell she is blushing, but I don't say anything.
"It's a Dove." Piper's voice cracked as she said this, tears swelling in her eyes.
"I..you don't like it?" I quickly take those words back to see that the tears in her eyes aren't of sadness, but of joy.
I almost stumble backwards when she embraces me. The only other time someone hugged me was Camden. Just now noticing my arms were awkwardly hanging at my sides, I return the hug.
"I love it. This is the best gift someone has ever given to me, even if it is stolen." Her voice is muffled against my shoulder. I can't help but smile. Sometimes, Piper can be a pain, but she is really cute right now.
She pulls away as she dabs the corners of her eyes with her blouse. I see that the Opulents have gone now. I forgot about them.
"Let's go inside and see what auntie can do with that cut of yours.", Piper smiled. I forgot about my cut too.
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(I know, there is a lot going on in the first chapter, but I promise you it will get so much better and cuter! Thank you so much for whoever reads this! Every read, vote, and comment helps! I love you all and I hope you like my creativity!) ~Anna
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Breaking Away
Teen FictionEmberse is a broken city with only one rule. "No Broker shall ever converse with an Opulent, and vice versa." But that's not what Micah and Piper thought. In the midst of all of the fighting and the separation in the city, Micah and Piper constantly...