The Rift

1

      The blazing sun beamed down on the town of Mandias as they weaved around each other. Pushing, moving, avoiding each other altogether. I stepped onto the street and took in a deep breath of a variety of flowers from a garden stand nearby. They were so beautiful but placed in an undeserving world. The soft petals gave my fingertips sweet kisses as I scouted my unfortunate victims. I smiled at the old woman that watched as I took one last look at the flowers and headed down the pebbled path. I bumped into a merchant and apologized as he just brushed our exchange off as I slipped his pocketbook from his jacket. One after another, I turned into an alleyway and put everything into my satchel. "You know you should be more careful.", I could hear Henry's voice call to me. I smiled and shook him off. Pulling my hood on, I started back out and continued my raiding with Henry following behind. I stopped at a cart that held jewelry and smiled at the young boy trying to sell it to me. I turned to Henry and gave him a hateful glare. "Still picking on the villagers. You know if not for me. You wouldn't know a thing.", he boasted. I rolled my eyes and scraped out my next victim as he kept talking.

              "Shame, isn't it? I do it better than. Anyways, don't you have anything better to do. I'm trying to make a living here.", I raise my eyebrows, annoyed by his presence now. My eyes trained on a crystal, it was weird. Like I was tethered to it. I shook it off and grabbed it, slipping it into my pocket.  I nodded to the young boy and pushed away from the cart.

"Really, stealing from children now too?", Henry whispers as we continue down the cobblestone streets. I shake my head and laugh to myself. "Unless you're going to help me. I suggest you get lost Henry.", I stopped and looked into his mischievous eyes. I tilt my head and focus who I am talking to.  Henry, a cunning bastard who only comes around when he wants something. I wouldn't even really call him a friend. Well, I'm guessing he wants something now. I turn to continue.

"Please, it's Eli."

                I stop in my tracks and slowly turn to face him. "What about him?", I say sternly as I walk back towards Henry.

"Word is you stole from him. He's been asking around for you. He's here.", Henry said as he looks past my shoulder. Frightened, I follow his gaze and see Eli himself with three men following behind him. "What do we do?", I say as I looked back to see Henry gone. A hand grabbed my wrist tightly. "Dammit!", I whispered. My eyes quickly looked up to see a man with skin as dark as chocolate and a broad structure. "You'll learn today girl!", yelled the man. 

                I twisted his arm behind his back and pushed him into a cart and raced through the crowded streets. Turning down a corridor, I shook off the cloak I wore. I jumped and pushed off a nearby wall onto a low beam and pulled myself up. Just as I made it up, an arrow whistled by my face. Looking behind me, a smile formed on my lips as I saw Eli and his men closing in. I raced onto the rooftop and they followed in suit. On the last roof, I dropped to ground, rolling as I did, and then when I found balance, I sprinted to the nearest alleyway. The alleyway ended, and I trapped myself. I took in deep breaths as Eli's men stared me down and I took in a deep breath and turned to see Eli himself. "Eli, nice to see you again.", I swallowed, giving him a witty smile. His curved smile and his cut I gave him on his nice little face shined through more than his personality. He's pretty much hated my existence from the moment he laid eyes on me. 

"You know, Castille. I like you. But when you steal from me. It hurts my feelings. Really it does.", he said in a sarcastic hurt voice as he circled around me. I stood firmly and shuffled my foot out a tad bit as he gave his speech.

"I didn't steal anything. In fact, as I recall, there was nothing to steal. Your production was down way before I came along.", I cut. He let out a laugh and pointed at me. Stopping in front of his men. My body was now facing them at an angle.