Fast Forward

Chapter 2

Hey guys! This is chapter 2!!! Hope you enjoy. Read all the next ones.  -19

I wake up cold like most days; the right side of my face is almost numb because it was pressed against a cold hard dumpster the whole night. My eyes are barely open when I step outside, the air is freezing, a stern reminder that winter is approaching, clutching Calaburn in icy fingers.

I stumble out of the alleyway, people are bustling around, in their long coats, buying extra food and blankets. Buying goods that won't be available in the winter. I quickly pick a target, a wealthy looking man with a large beard, who is looking down at a map confused, his steps jingle with every step because of the Chips weighing down his pockets. Too easy, I think.

I quickly sneak past him, bumping my shoulder into his arm, pulling out a few Chips in the process, he doesn't even give me a second glance before looking back at his map.

I smile to myself then I feel a hand on my shoulder. I froze. Is it that guy with the beard? Oh geez.

"You really gotta stop." I turn, it's Gary. He used to be a boy out on the street like me, but then he turned the appropriate age to start working as one of Queen Canary's guards, and took up the "opportunity."

"Yeah? And starve? Sure I will." I say looking him in the eye. Gary is two years older than me, he has black hair, and a strong build. He's tall, but not so tall that you have look up at him. And he has these blues eyes seem like they sparkle when he smiles; but are also intimidating when he wants them to be. Everything the queen would want for a guard.

"The Queen doesn't take pick-pockets as guards."

I roll my eyes, "You still think I'm gonna be a guard, don't you?"

"Well yeah, it's the best job a thief like you will get, so you'd better take it up." Gary may be a pain, but he's the best friend I've had for a long time. He cares about my well being.

"Okay mom," I say sarcastically.

He rolls his eyes, "No really, you gotta take it." He hesitates saying the next part. "The only reason you haven't lost a finger yet, is because I stepped in. I don't think they'll listen to me next time I step in, but they'll pardon all your crimes if you join the Queen's guard," he says, looking down. I look down too.

Some of the other pick-pockets living on the street I see have missing fingers. The public punishment is losing one of your fingers, it's gruesome and it only proves the Queen is even more evil.

"I can't join, the Queen supports the system. I can't work for her, because of the- you know." I say.

He nods, a shade of disappointment shining in his pale blue eyes. "Alright. Tell me if you change your mind." He says, walking away.

I could never join the Queen's guard, she used to be one of the scientists who made the technology for the system, and after she became Queen, she helped fund the experiments for it.

After my mother died of grief because her three month old baby died, my dad fast forwarded to his death which was five years later. I was eleven when it happened. For the last five years of his life, He was Oblivi. For the last five years of his life he was a zombie, he couldn't see me or talk to me. Just sat there unblinkingly, dead eyed. I hate him for abandoning me, for leaving me when I needed his comfort the most.

The Baby wasn't supposed to have a name yet because in Dagon, we don't give babies names until their first birthday, But I gave her one anyway. End. Because she was the end of something Beautiful.