Special

Chapter 3

Ella had been sitting in the walls, eating stale bread, listening to the excited voices talking of the antique vases and velvet dresses that were bought at the bazaar, and fiddling with her new ribbon. When everyone quieted down, she went back out. This was her chance to get as much small trinkets and dropped coins as she could. These couple days of the year were usually the most populated, and that's when the bazaar is the jackpot, so it was a great time to rummage through the town.

She made her way down to the fountain. Ella had only found a pocket watch and three silver coins, but she was still hopeful. A small mouse ran by as she hopped up onto the fountain. She was a bit panicky, her eyes moving from side to side as she picked the coins out of the fountain.

Ella was just about to walk back to her home in the walls, but when she turned around she was rudely interrupted by a gang of three men. They looked to be in their late twenties, but one was a teenager, all scratched up as if they had gotten into many fights before. Ella let out a small yelp, and fell backwards into the fountain. She abruptly stood up, with an angry look on her face, but a scared look in her eyes.

"I see you have some coins, girl, how about giving them to us?" the largest one snarled, as they all started pulling out sharp daggers.

"Hmm.. you look different" the second largest one pointed out, preparing to grab Ella's wrist.

Ella could tell, just by the way that they looked, what they were up to. The way that they spoke to her made it even more clear. She shook her head and ran away, as quick as her legs could carry her. Though tall for her age, they were taller, and quickly caught up.

They were close enough to grab her long braid that hung from the back of her head. Ella was running towards the crack in the wall, before she realized that they would know where she lived if she kept going. Instead, she pushed off the ground and flew up into the sky, landing on one of the houses. Ella never flew, she was always bad at it, and could only lift herself for a few seconds before falling to the ground.

The criminals started cursing in her direction, trying to follow her as she stumbled across the roofs. For the first time in months, she decided to run into the forest. Ella made her way swiftly through the trees, crunching the orange leaves and fallen twigs that covered the ground, and leaving wet footprints against the dirt, until she couldn't hear them anymore.