Lies and Half Truths

Chapter 1: The Strange Intruder

Nikita ran through the cobblestone alleyway, her feet pounded against the cold stone, her blood pulsed through her head, her heart raced against her chest. She turned a corner, and her hopes soared, the street was busy with shoppers, they would provide her hiding. She dodged into the crowd, and slipped a jacket off of a stand. She shrugged it on and pulled the hood over her head. Keeping her head down, she watched for cops.

"Signora! Signora! Come look at this magnificent shawl, it shall keep you warm through this devastating cold." Nikita pushed her way past the stands that called out to her.

"No grazie." She said to a man who followed her with a ivory woven basket. As she walked she kept an eye on her surroundings but also watched the stands that held food. She walked past a stand and reached out her hand and slipped a bag in front of her her pace didn't change and she didn't look back. The smell clued that the bag held biscuits.

Her pace quickened as she saw police asking around. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the alleyway that led to her home. Their were no guards, in fact their was no one even remotely close. She slowed and tried to act nonchalant as she walked closer. No one shouted or even looked her way. Deciding it was safe, she slipped into the shadows of the alley. She looked for the small, almost invisible trapdoor that led to an underground tunnel/room. When she located it, she pulled it open and listened. Silence met her. She slowly and stealthily lowered herself down. She landed with a low thud on the hard packed dirt. She stretched up and pulled the door shut.

She walked down the small, almost claustrophobic hallway leading to the rooms. A dim light glowed from within a room on the side. As Nikita reached the room, she pressed her back against the dark and slimy wall. She peeked her head into the room, and scanned for any sign of danger. She felt her body relax when she saw the tiny, petite form of a small girl, her face tilted slightly to the right, she looked relaxed but the hard set to her jaw proved that she was alert and knew that someone was their. "Harmony?" Nikita called softly. The figure jolted at the sudden voice.

"Niki?"

"Who else would it be silly."

"You never know." Harmony replied getting to her feet. Nikita walked over to her and gave her a small hug. "Where were you? You always leave really early, I don't like being down here alone." Harmony whined, stepping back from the embrace. "I was looking for something, and I leave early so that my chances of being seen are lessened, and I know you don't like being down here alone I don't like it either but theirs not much we can do about it my dear. I promise I have taken every precaution that I can to make sure that we aren't found, okay?" Nikita brushed the younger girls hair out of her face. Harmony nodded reluctantly, "okay." Harmony sighed and walked off, unsteady on her feet, her hands slightly extended forward. Nikita slowly shook her head, she was worried about her, but it wasn't like she could tell her that. She turned towards the small oven that sat against the wall, a old and worn table stood a few feet away.

* * * * *

Harmony slowly made her way down the hallway. She knew these halls backwards and forwards, but she was still always worried she would run into a wall. She had been blind since birth, she had never seen her parents per se. She had only known them a few years before they died. Or rather before her mother died and before her father abandoned them. She missed her mother, but she knew that her sister missed her more than she ever could, she also knew that she hated their father more than she ever could, she hated him more than anyone and anything.

Harmony placed her hand against the cold, smooth wall to keep her balance and sense of direction. She shuffled her feet against the dirt to make sure she didn't trip over anything. She froze when she heard a noise. The noise was unusual, it didn't sound like any of the normal noise of scurrying rats and cats. It sounded like someone had tripped and tried to catch themselves. Harmony stayed completely still, not a muscle on her moved, she stood alert and at attention. There was no sound except for the blood pounding in her head. After a few minutes of silence she slowly made her way forward, her mind was completely focused on listening for the odd sound that she was oblivious to the person coming up behind her. She squeaked in panic when she felt a hand grasp her shoulder.