Falling Downwards

Through no mans land.

Jody had brought back tubs full of spuds, carrots and meat of some kind. It wasn't the tastiest food in the world but it was better than the half cooked, dry noddles they ate the day before. The only noises surrounding them were the distant hums of the busy street, the loud chewing noise Daniel made when he ate a piece of the unknown meat and a door squeaking while it opened and closed further down the alley. Tristans shoulder hurt from sleeping in an arm chair the night before, his back had been put  in the weirdest position that night, it didn't help that the night before that he had slept on a cold, stone floor in a prison cell.

Tonight he could see the stars shining above them, when they were at the cabin he could see small sparkles shine through the crivets in the trees, tonight it was a totally different sky. Every star burning bright and all in view.

He looked at Jody sat quietly in the corner eating, she hadn't talked since she brought back the food, obviously angry at him for his insensitivity. Tristan didn't notice it until tonight but Jody was actually quite beautiful she had long, silky smooth, dark hair and piercing blue eyes that you could dive into. He felt embarrassed by the thought but he couldn't get it out of his mind. Even her personality was attractive. He shook the thought from his mind, there is no point making this more awkward than it already is. He ate the last spoonful of potatoes in his tub and set it down on the ground beside his feet.

"So, I think we should stay in the alleys, find our way to the betting ring. We can climb to the roof and over the wall from there." Tristan suggested as Jody finished the last of her food.

"Why the betting ring, would there not be alot of the public there, we could get recognised." Daniel challenged.

"Us deserted have alot of contacts, one of which owns the betting ring, if we ask for their help, they'll give it to us." Tristan explained hoping to get rid of Daniels nerves.

"Why didn't they come and help you when you were on the run from guards with guns and arrows?" Daniel challenged again, Tristan always forgot that Daniel wasn't with them the whole time, with the deserted, having to explain everything really dulled his dramatic side.

"They only give us help when we ask for it." That's all Tristan said, he looked to Jody "is that plan alright?"

She looked up at him, her beautiful eyes staring up at his, it made his cheeks flare red. He looked towards the floor, " why are you asking me?" Her voice was small but had a hint of anger in the back of it.

He wanted her opinion, he wanted her input, he wanted her to make the plan better. "I want your opinion Jody, you always make the plans stable and well, planned! You make them better so please tell me what is wrong with it and bring the fiesty Jody back who always second guessed me." She looked upset but at the same time flattered. After a moment she started.

" Fine. First of all we can't go through all the alleys, they don't all connect we are going to have to walk through the street for a good bit, secondly Elijah Damos isn't going to let us in without there being something in it for him, since what happened last time and lastly, the jump from the roof of the betting ring would kill us straight away, it's like swan diving down a flight of stairs." Tristan was stunned, he thought his plan was flawless but she pointed out more flaws in a few seconds than the number of carrots that were on his plate mere seconds ago.

Daniel inhaled a deep breath, "only a few small tweaks then?" Tristan looked to him, eyebrows raised.

"Just a few, just a few."

********

Jody hated feeling weak, since she was thrown that's what she's been feeling. Weak. She hated it even more that Tristan knew. He looked at her now as if she was wounded before he would look at her with his big green eyes, which sent a chill down her spine, but he looked at her as if she was invincible, as if she could do anything. He looked at her with respect as an equal. Now he looks at her as if he is her babysitter.

Every once in a while she would catch his eyes scanning her. Acting like an over protective brother when his sister goes on her first date. Unlike most sixteen year olds she had not been, she never had many friends, she didn't want any. You would never get picked on or hurt if no one knew who you were. Having friends wouldn't have been safe for her, since she turned fifteen anyway.

Daniel and Tristan sat on the floor scribbling on a note pad and pen, trying to think of a way to the other side of Aspen. " We could throw loads of clothes and soft stuff on the floor before we jump." Daniel offered.

" We may not even get that far if Elijah Damos won't let us through." Tristan pointed out, annoyed by how much he had missed when inventing his plan.

" What happened last time?" Daniel had curiosity in his eyes, it was a good trait but only if you kept hold of the information.

" Last time we asked for Elijahs help, he lost alot of his men, alot of men who he had built businesses with and alot of men who had helped him destroy others. He's a powerful man here in Aspen, not one to get on the wrong side of. It was an accident, one of our new recruits can create heat, fire,steam but he couldn't control them, he accidentally set fire to one of Elijahs' mens house, there was a dinner there that night, all of them died." Tristan didn't like telling that story, he didn't want to put the blame on that kid, but at this moment in time it wasn't the biggest thing on his mind.

"Right , hope that cheered you up now let's get back to this." Suddenly Jody sat beside them.

"Okay, you're going about this all wrong, all we need to do is disguise ourselves." Tristan snapped his head around eyes getting wider. "Don't worry we will go to the shops, buy some clothes and change our appearance a little bit."

Tristan looked at her again, sceptical. "How much is a little bit?" She raised her hand holding her thumb and finger about five centimeters apart. A smile played on her lips. She was going to enjoy this.