Within Her Crystal Blues

Stranger Among the Town

WARNING! This chapter contains topics that are not fit for anyone under the age of 16 years old! Topics such as racism, discrimination, verbal/physical violence, verbal abuse will be discussed/occurring, please read at your own risk!

      It was yet another smothering day, in which it was just another chance to hide from those who wanted me dead. I strolled among the crowds as the small villages' stalls begin to open and thrive for the long day ahead of all of them. Sweet and savory scents danced among the streets as fresh baked goods are brought out to well-known customers. Fresh loaves of bread and pies cool on nearby window seals while cookies were brought out in bundles and given as treats to the little ones. Children already littered the streets, filling the area with their sweet cries of joy and laughter. The name was kind of lost in a storm and it was far off the beaten path but all knew they were safe and relied on each other to live. The village was more of a giant family over being just another small town that needs to make money off of each other. To further prove it, I noticed an elderly in need of carrying her groceries home and to my surprise, a young woman came to her aid while her husband or brother carried a little one and their own groceries.

      I pulled my tan hood over my head a bit more, I did not want the attention of being an outcast to affect me in such a well-knit community. I knew they would not mind for most passed through here or build a family among them. My 'dress', if you could even call a garment barely fitted to my form dress, just barely kept up from my feet. The ragged fabric was well worn given I had very little to exchange for new attire. An uneasy thought came to pass as I saw a little bar from the corner of my eye. The fleeting thoughts of having another employment such as I had before turned my stomach. I could not handle it again, my temper would have me thrown in jail or on death row especially since I am not one of these well-known faces. Though I had a feeling my kind was not one they would openly accept. My skin gave away my status as you could tell I was cocoa brown by birth and not by my time in the sun. As spoken before, many would not give me another glance but I fear someone from my homeland would realize who I was or a nasty beast of a man would think of me as his next treat. I shiver at thought of another's hands on me yet again as I kept my eyes low and continued on my way to another stall for I would need a new pair of shoes sooner rather than later.

      "Oh look at what we have here," a disgustingly scratchy voice called out as a beefy hand took a hold onto my arm in a vise-like grip. I bit back a growl knowing better than to anger a man that stood well over six inches taller than me. He dragged me into his chest all the while snatching at my other arm as he all but lifted me to meet his dull grey eyes. His breath was as vulgar as his actions with the overpowering scent of booze reek from his crooked teeth mouth. "You must be new for I have seen all of the beauties in this village in one form or another," he smirked widely as a knot of familiar fear formed in the pit of my stomach.

     "Please sir, spare a poor wanderer," I attempted to beg with a broken old voice even though my appearance did not aid me in my pursuit. He gripped onto my arms tighter causing me to wince from the amount of pressure. Definitely will have marks from this drunken monster's hands but I will not be the only one if he keeps it up. "Please sir, I just wish to buy some new shoes for my granddaughter," I try yet again to plead to him but he was far too drunk to care. I had not realized before it was too late, that my hood had fallen off of my head revealing my cocoa skin and deep rich and curly natural brunette locks.

     "What's this? A member of the Outcast clan?!" The intoxicated bulk of a man exclaimed, spitting in my face. That did it, I was tired of this treatment from those who wished to spend their days killing themselves faster than most others. These ungrateful, selfish, completely wasted deadbeats that blow all their money on booze while good souls like me and my kind suffer to find a decent meal! Rage and fury pumped through my veins as I kneed my holder in his precious jewels. He let out a yelp and loosen his grip on my arms. In a brief moment, I broke from his hold and kicked him in the head before landing on my feet.