City of Thieves

Chapter 18: City of a thousand colors

"Tradition is blood Laura. Only a fool would be caught dead in arms a gun, in this city."
Dustin lectured me as we walked through the forest, the dew of the tall grass stuck to my legs. Wearing shorts was a mistake, my legs shivered when left still from the cold drops of dew.
"So no guns? Only-"   
"exotic weapons."
" you mean the exotic baseball bat with nails that almost killed me."
He chuckled to himself.
The forest was cold during the early morning sun rise, but not as cold as midnight itself. The midnight hunt caught on a rush of adrenaline, a rebellious flare sparked inside Laura. It was morning, they stayed up all night. Laura dragged along milk cartons filled with fresh river water tied on a lead of rope, fixing Arons water-whiskey problem.
Dustin carried a youngling deer and the rabbits he skinned over night as Laura slept.

"Where almost to the city," Laura warned
"Duck and-"
"Run? I know."

The two sprinted threw buildings and across ledges to make it to the underground railroad. They had to be carful of any thief's daring to snatch their prize. Dustin parted from Laura without word of goodbye, as usual, to keep any noise to a minimum, and rust away any attention.

Laura made it back to meet a depressed Aron waiting for her like a dog. He practically ran to the door when she came in. Greeting her with a hug, he looked into her baby blue eyes.

"Laura, we have a huge pro-"
"I got water for the whiskey problem."
"No. Not that. Someones hunting you."
She froze.
"What?" Thoughts rushed threw her mind. Who would be watching her? Was it her old den mother? Or maybe Dustin took a turn on her after all.
"Its a man, he's about this high-" he raised his hand a little ways over his head.
"With whitish hair and-"
"Wait how do you know all this?"
He gulped. "I sometimes.. watch and follow when you go out with Dustin."
"You WHAT." She yelled.
"Calm down its just to keep you safe. But we have bigger problems now Laura. Listen to me. He's always watching you from afar and-"
"SO WHAT IF HES WATCHING FROM AFAR? YOU USED TO WATCH ME FRON AFAR. AND THATS WHAT THIEFS DO ARON THEY WATCH AND STALK."
"Laura listen-"
"NO ARON. IM DONE." She turned to leave.
"Where are you going Laura?"
"THE SHADOWS."
She flung open the door, running out and hopping threw a window to jump on a ledge. She ran threw the outside ledges of the tightly pact buildings. The city made her feel alive, and free from Arons control. Laura sat on a ledge 12 story's high. She learned quick on how to climb, Aron said, being naturally gifted. She had her falls, and always climbed the highest buildings and trees she could find. Aron was sure shed be dead in a week. But she learned well, lighting up a homemade cigarette Dustin made that she figured she would give a try, she watched the city's ray of lights. The night set was calm, soothing to her after it seems like stress had its own auto mode it her body. She looked upon the city dressed in a thousand colors as moon light rained down a sea of fireflies dressed in blue. The city spoke back with its hue of bronze city lights of blue and yellow and white. It was a pleasure to take a break to be alone.

Running out on Aron was stupid she knew, it would only make him go after her to find her. But she wanted an excuse to leave, she always did. He must think shes so sensitive, always running out during arguments. She didn't care too much about arguing, what she wanted was to be alone in the city at night. Watching from the windows didnt cut it anymore, and the only way Aron would let her is if they fought and she ran out.

She coughed threw the tobacco rolled up in a dry leaf, one breath in once and already she threw it out. She gave the city one last glance, and knowing Aron would find her eventually anyway, she tilted her head against the buildings cold edge and closed her eyes,

and she dreamed.