Deceived

Her

I wake up to the sound of bells. Not like fancy bells at churches and stuff, but like an alarm bell. I am in an alleyway caked with dust and dirt. The brick walls are lined with fading graffiti. To my left, lies a ruined shopping cart. Yellowed paper the color of vomit flies around me. The ringing is coming from a nearby jewelry store. Someone runs past me as I exit the alleyway. "Hey!" someone yells, "Get back here you thief! Yer gonna go to jail!"

"What?" I say completely baffled, "I didn't rob any stores! I'm just a homeless orphan!"

"You probably stole that bracelet so you could sell it and feed yer self!"

"No you have the wrong idea! Please, I saw the thief run down the street. At least, I think that was him. But please... don't send me to jail!" Then I think of something. Jail... it would not be so bad. I would get food wouldn't I? It would be gross, but I would have a full belly. And shelter. Then I shake the thought out of my head. It may seem amazing, but so did hunting my own food when I was little. Now I know it isn't so easy. Then, the man starts running for me. I scream and run towards the woods. As I enter the thick green forest, the footsteps after me start fading. But I keep running. I push my legs, harder and harder. They scream at me to stop, but I keep going. The tension I am feeling is burning me. I am crying. I enter a part of the woods that I have never been to. It is far out of the city. It is clean and beautiful. The woods near the city are dirty and littered in, well, litter and garbage. I reach a lake where I begin to calm down. I slake my thirst and wash my face. Then I hear it. I hear slow breathing. Then, bushes rustling. I stand up, suddenly alert, thinking that the man from the jewelry store has found me. But no. He comes out from behind the tree in a calm matter. It is I who is mannerless. "Who are you! Stay away from me!"

"Calm down, calm down." says the boy." I won't hurt you. I can help you. I heard they think you're a thief back at the city. I'm Max," he reaches his hand out for mine. I'm still nervous, so I refuse it. "Oh. Well you're a feisty one. Don't worry. My family has lived in the woods forever. We can help feed you. Shelter you. We have an underground home. Come with me. I tried to run away, but I realized I need my parents long ago. It's a long way back. Come with me." This time, is hand comes out with an expression that shows that he knows I can't turn down the offer.

"Oh, alright. But I'm not touching anyone."

"Ok. I've learned trying to argue with people like you is a very very bad idea."

"What do you mean, people like me?"

"Forget it. Let's go."

So I was off. Following someone I just met 5 minutes ago. Oh well. I trusted Max and followed him straight into the darkness of the woods.