Through the Glass

Chapter 1

     "Only short circuits work in the amps." Lyra said. In front of her was an amp for an antenna for a radio. People used these to get the High City Radio stations.

     "You can't make it work?" The little blonde kid said.

     "I can. but it'll cost you some Kates."

     "How much."

     "Maybe two-hundred."

     "You wanna strike a deal with Mr. Ford?" That was Lyra's boss and would - be Patron, but his age cut his qualifications.

     "No, I'll just take it back." He picked up the amp and walked through the door of the run - down shack that served as the electronic shop and house.

     "Lyra?!" Mr. Ford called.

    "Yes, sir?" Lyra called back.

     "It's time to shut it down."

     "Yes, sir." She locked the door and shut out the light.

     She walked into the back room that served as their home. The back room lead to two other rooms. One on the right side of the room and one on the left. The right side served as Mr. Ford's room. The left was Lyra's.

     The walls were bare except for two couches and a big rocking chair. Of course, the rocking chair was his. 

     He was in it working on another one of his inventions. Lyra always saw the progression, but never the end product. After Mr. Ford was finished with them he put them in his room. And Lyra was not allowed in there.

     "Another one?" Lyra said.

     "Yep." He said without looking up.

     Lyra stepped into her room and pulled out the phone she had traded a radio for. Of course she didn't tell him it didn't work. She hasn't seen him since.

     There was a message from her friend Laurin. It said:

     cum ovr. vry imprtnt. hry.

Come over. Very important. Hurry.

Obviously Laurin didn't know how to type. But, she was always like that.

She got some jeans on and an old hoodie she had salvaged from the reclaim shop on the edge of the High City. Although, she got for the five finger discount.

She stepped out of her room and told Mr. Ford she was going out. 

"Yep." He said, again, not looking up.

She stepped out of the back door and into the cool night air that filled the alley way behind the shack. 

She flipped her hood up and rounded the corner. Lauren lived several blocks from Lyra. It wouldn't take long. Lyra knew all the shortcuts and back ways to her house. It was dangerous for a girl like Lyra to take the streets alone at night. People say that girls have been taken and sold to the High City for marriage or sex trafficking. The Mobs in SilverBourne would kill to have Lyra in their trading. She would make lots of money. It was a thing SilverBourne  has had a problem with for ages.

It was a fairly quiet night in the Low city. Usually, you could hear the roar of a crowd somewhere watching a fight. Or the yelling of a Low City Patron. But, tonight it was quiet. People were off the streets. Lowdown Shacks were shut up. Windows shut and bared. It was weird to Lyra.

She rounded the corner to Laurins house. It was a better looking shack than what Lyra had. It was about the same size, too.

She walked up to the back door and knocked. Laurin opened the door.

"hey. " She said. She was wearing a blue tank top and painted on jeans. She had some lipstick on and her hair was pulled back.

"What are you wearing?" Lyra asked as she went in and sat on the couch.

"There's a high City Party tonight. Wanna Go?"

"I don't know. We might get in trouble."

"Really? Is that what you're worried about?" Laurin said.

"Well, remember the last time a Lowcity rat went to a Highcity party?" Lyra said raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah, he got thrown out and sent to the pen for six months."

"Yeah, well, I can't go to the pen. I'll lose everything I have."

"And by that you mean your virginity." Laurin said crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.

"Maybe. But I also don't want to get a disease and die in a pen."

"Well, we won't get caught. You know I'm good with guys."

"Really?"

"Yeah, remember the time I got us into that club."

"Yeah, and the guy was actually a girl."

"We still got in."

"It was a Curved Club." Lyra said.

"Whatever. You want to go or not?"

Lyra sat there for a minute.

"Kold's supposed to be there."

Lyra went cold. Kold was the hottest  guy in the Highcity. And Lyra was practically in love with him. She had seen him on the news sheets the Market sells. But, to see him in person. Lyra would do anything to see him in person.

"So?" Laurin asked.

"Alright." Lyra said and got up.

"Yes! Alright you need some clothes." She got up and went to her room.

She came back and had some Jeans that looked to small for Lyra and a blue button down shirt.

"These will really show you off." Laurin said.

"I have to wear those?" Lyra asked. "They look too small."

"Just put them on and lets go." She said.

Lyra slipped the clothes on and felt like she was going to suffocate.

"Alright.......... Let's go."

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