Undead King

Chapter 2:

    I exit an alley and start walking down the street looking at the various shops. It's getting kind of late so the streets are pretty empty and most of the shops seem to be closed. I'm hoping I'll find an open farmer's stall and a general store. Since it's currently corn season it should be pretty cheap and a general store should have some pots and pans. My last set was

"oomph". Is the only noise I can make after getting pushed to the ground and getting the wind knocked of me.

I hear a girl say "Sorry"

"Hey you! Get back here!"

"Again sorry, but I gotta run!"

As I lift my head up I see a girl disappear into the alley way I just came from. She must have been the one who had knocked me over.

"Hey kid you alright? You see which way that damn'd thief went?"

I slowly stand up and turn around and try to catch my breath only have it taken away again at the sight of a short grubby man who looks like he's never even heard of a razor. He's wearing what I could only guess was a smock at some point with a general store logo on it that was somehow uglier that he was.

"Come on kid, I don't have all day" He says impatiently.

"Yeah I'm fine, and she went that way," I wheeze as I point in the wrong direction. As he starts to take off I ask "Hey who are you and what did she steal?"

"Hmm? What's it to you? Listen kid I appreciate the help, but I don't have time to sit here and play 20 questions." he replies with obvious disdain.

"Whatever." I grumble as he runs off. Now I'm glad I pointed him in the wrong direction. Usually I can't stand thieves but at the same time, people don't usually steal from general stores due to their moderate security with little payout. And given how filthy he looked almost no self respecting crook would even look at his shop.

No, I'll bet she stole something essential like food or toilet paper. Besides I may not like thieves, but I refuse to tolerate such blatant rudeness. At least the thief apologized for knocking me over.  The shop keeper on the other hand sounded more disappointed that I hadn't slowed her down more when he asked if I was okay.

Petty theft is usually just banishment around here, but I'm willing to bet the shopkeeper would have pushed for execution. Anyway I still need to find a farmer's stall and general store. It'll be to dark to see properly soon and I want to make sure I can sneak back out in time.

"Hey thanks for covering for me, and again I'm sorry for knocking you over. You're not hurt are you?"

I look to my right and there's the girl the shopkeeper was chasing. She's wearing a faded orange T-Shirt and light blue jeans that are slightly ripper near the knees and ankles. Her dark brown hair looks greasy and unkempt, and if I were to guess, I'd say she's in her early 20's. "I'm fine, but shouldn't you be long gone by now?" I ask tiredly.

"Nah, even if he catches me there's nothing he can do since I hid the, uh. Um, you're not an undercover cop are you?"

"Would it make a difference if I was?" I ask as I start to walk away.

"Yes it would. Hey! where are you going?" She replies as she tries to catch up. "You know, you're a pretty fast walker."

"Thanks I guess. Listen I'm kind of in a hurry, is there something you need?" I ask as I look at the slowly dropping sun. Looks like it'll be another half an hour before the night guards come out.

"No not really, I just wanted to make sure I didn't hurt you to badly. 

"Well don't worry as you can see I'm"

"And was wondering if there was someway I could make it up to you." She says nervously and begins too look at her feet.

"Even if I was cop?" I smirk

"Yes even if you were a cop."

"Even if I asked you to bring me to what you stole?"

"Hey you have no proof that I stole anything" She huffs.

"Ha ha, relax I'm just messing with you. I'm not a cop and to be honest if you're willing to, I actually could use some help."

"It's not nice to mess with people you know. Anyway what is it you need help with?" She says with a mildly annoyed expression.

"I need to find a farmer's stall and a general store. You wouldn't happen to know where one or both of those are would you?"

She cocks her head to the side and says, "Well given how dark its getting I'd say all the farmer's have packed up and gone home. And I know where one general store is, but I don't think I can go back there, because of, well you know."

"Because you stole something from there."

"I did not!" 

"Come on just admit it. You ran into me while you were carrying something, and with a shopkeeper chasing you. Not to mention you said you had 'hid' something. Besides I already told you I'm not a cop"

"Hmm Fine you caught me. I borrowed some cooking supplies, utensils, and some toilet paper." She says while uncrossing her arms

Ha, I called it. "A cooking pot or a sauce pan wouldn't happen to be among that list, would it?

"I have four pots, but I don't think I grabbed any pans. Why, do you need one?"

"I do, in fact that's why I'm looking for a general store." Well at least its something. "Would you be willing to part with one?"

"Yeah I guess, since I might not have been able to keep any of them if you hadn't misled that shopkeeper. Come on, I'll show you where they're hidden" She says as she turns around and starts walking away. 

I turn around and begin to follow behind her while I look up at the sky. The night guards will begin their patrols in another 10 minutes or so. "Hey how far away did you put the stuff?" I wonder.

Without turning around she says "Not to far, should only be a 5 or so minute walk."

5 minutes huh? That'll bring us near center of the district, a good 15 minute walk from the border walls. I could probably make it in 10 if I ran, but it's not much of a window. "Is there anyway we could hurry up?" I ask while speeding up to walk beside her.

She turns to look at me with another annoyed glare "Well if it would have been closer if you didn't walk so fast." She huffs at me and turns back around "Besides what's the rush? That shopkeeper is probably on the other side of town by now."

"Yeah, but my mom likes me back home before my dad leaves for guard duty" Not a complete lie I think as I smirk in my head.

"Hold up" she says while stopping dead in her tracks "You told me you weren't a cop" She narrows her eyes accusingly at me.

I raise both hands and shrug while saying "I never said anything about my family. Besides I don't have to tell my parents where the pot came from, they only need to know that I got one."

"Fine let's go" she starts walking again When I start to follow she does a 180 and points her finger under my chin. Quietly she says in a low serious tone "If I get banished and find out you ratted me out. I'll make sure to get my revenge before I'm forced out" and with that she spun back around and took off walking. Not even looking to see if I was following.

Deciding to to stay a little further back I wait a moment before beginning to follow again. I mumble quietly "Wonder if she's gonna try to gut me in some alley way."