Runt

Chapter 2

I woke up. I felt someone jabbing me on the shoulder. I rolled over and looked up. I saw Rat looking down at me.

"What do you need? You woke me up." I said and groaned. Rat smiled.

"I know I did." He said and laughed.

"We have to go on patrol." Rat continued. I sat up.

"Ok, give me a second." I said and Rat nodded. He drifted on over to Lice  and I got out of bed. I stretched and looked around. A couple of people were getting out of bed, but some were still sleeping. I stretched and picked up my shirt. I put it on and my hand automatically went to my sheathe, to make sure my knife was still there. It was, so I walked over to Rat and Lice.

"Who else is coming with us?" I asked Rat. Rat scratched his sandy hair and thought for a moment.

"Knuckles told me that you, Lice, Baldy and me are going. He also said that you're in charge." Rat said. I nodded. I usually wasn't put in charge of too many patrols. Soon Baldy came over.

"I'm ready." Baldy said and we all nodded. I took the lead as we crawled single file through the pipe and into the sewers. I could hear everyone behind me so I began to walk through the tunnels, listening for intruders. After making twists and turns for about 15 minutes I stopped. I was at the bridge. The bridge was two makeshift wooden planks put next to each other in order to make a bridge that runs across The Ditch. The Ditch is the tallest river of sewage in all of the sewers. The drop is almost 8 feet, and it drops strait into a dark, murky and slightly odorous river. I glanced back and I could just make out the 3 shadows of Baldy, Rat and Lice behind me.

"Are you guys ready?" I whispered in Sewer code. Sewer code is a secret code that only the Sewer gang knows, and it is mostly used in case of enemies listening. They both nodded and I glanced at the boards. My back stiffened as I stood up straight and took the first step. My foot made a loud clank noise as I took a second step. I focused on the sound of my slow breaths and my heart beating, and tried to drown out the sound of the water rushing below. I looked strait in front of me, and after what felt like a year I finally stepped onto solid ground. I sat down, and turned around. Baldy was walking across, and I could see the beads of sweat collecting on his bald head. Soon he got across, then Lice and finally Rat. I got up and motioned with my hand for everyone to follow me as I began to run in the darkness. I could hear their footsteps behind me, and soon I found myself at an intersection of tunnels. I saw a faint gash carved into the wall and knew that it was the place. I remember when I was 6 years old Lashes carved that into the wall to show that there was a manhole cover ahead. I walked over to the gash and looked up. There was a rusty ladder leading to a manhole cover a couple of feet up. I glanced behind me and saw the shadows of everyone waiting patiently as I jumped and grabbed hold of the rungs. I climbed and could hear the guys behind me as I gave the cover a hard shove and it budged a little bit. I pushed against it and it soon was out of my way. I climbed out and the hot air from outside hit my face. I climbed out and squinted in the light. Soon everyone else came out and I reached in my pocket. I pulled out four pairs of sunglasses I had stolen lately and passed them out. I put my pair on and sighed with relief.

I looked around and saw we were in an ally. I began to walk toward the end of the ally and they followed me. I soon came to the corner and glanced outside. A couple of cars drove by and there were many people passing each other.  Drat!  It was rush hour, and I hated rush hour. And I think I could speak for everyone in the Sewer gang. I looked back and everyone exchanged concerned glances. I shrugged and plunged myself into the crowd. I focused on trying to bump into the least amount of people possible because I didn't want to draw attention to myself. After a couple of minutes I finally made it to the market. There were vendors everywhere, and I fought my instinct to snatch something. I glanced back and made sure Baldy, Lice and Rat were still there. They were, so I made my was until I came to a vendor away from everyone else's. There was a burly man selling apples. The guys and I stood around the stand and acted like we were customers. The man studied everyone, and then his eyes landed on me. I tried not to flinch under his stare. I picked up an apple and felt his wrist grab my hand. I froze and looked up at him.

"Where is your parents?" He asked in a slight Russian accent.

"Oh, they're at another stand." I said coolly. He studied me and his eyes landed on my gold chain necklace and my sheathe.

"Why do you have knife?" He asked. I shrugged.

"For self protection." I said, which was actually half true. His eyes narrowed as he let go of my wrist. I picked up a couple more apples and acted like I was studying them. Suddenly I tossed all four to Rat, who bagged them in his sack. The vendor screamed and grabbed hold of me before I could run.

"I gonna give you a beating you never forget!" He roared, and dragged me into an ally. I kicked and screamed as he pinned my hands behind my back. And before you could say run, Baldy, Rat and Lice charged. Rat stood behind as Baldy tackled the man. I fell to the floor and quickly got up. I stood by Rat as Lice jumped on top of the man, too. Rat and I cheered on Baldy and Rat as the pounded the man with their fists. He let out some screams but they shoved a rag into his mouth. They had his hands and legs tied and leaned him against the wall. Baldy grinned as he cracked his knuckles. He sucked in a breath and sucker-punched the man in the face. The man's head drooped as he got knocked out. Rat and I then ran over and got to work. We untied the man and took the rag out of his mouth. We patted him down and searched him for any money. All we found was 50 cents, a lighter and a packet of cigarettes. I grabbed the loot and handed it over to Rat, who stuffed it in his sack. I turned to the guys and nodded.

"Are you guys ready to go before someone calls the cops?" I asked and laughed. They all nodded so I turned around and headed in the direction of the nearest manhole cover.