Hiraeth (SallyFace DystopianAU)

Chapter 2

Hello guys! I want to start off by saying that I'm so sorry that It took this chapter so long to get out. I had started writing it and then halfway through it things went to Hell and I haven't written since. BUT I'm back to updating this AU/story and I hope all of you have been having a good time since the last update (at least for the most part with everything going on in the world). I'm also planning to start making the chapters longer!

!!! This chapter contains the subject of poverty and malnutrition !!!

Hope you all are having a wonderful day/night and enjoy the chapter!

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The sun rose, filling the sky with shades of orange and pink. Peach and magenta, amber and rose, radiating hope, a new beginning. Another chance to live. The start of a brand-new day. Too bad that, that was too out of reach.
The clouds rolled in and tucked the city away from the vibrant reds and oranges of early morning. The atmosphere growing heavy. Ash and dust littered the air making it hard to breathe. A faint beam of light peaked through Sal's curtains hitting him right in the eyes. The boy furrowed his eyebrows and rolled over facing away from the window. A sigh of protest coming from his mouth. The bed creaked as he threw the blankets off of him and sat up, hands cradling his head. He looked to the alarm clock next to his bed.

7:00 a.m.

Shaking his head, he stretched. His spine cracked as he arched it and got up from the warm haven. All the stores would be opening up soon. It was the perfect time to get up if he wanted to beat the crowds of people that would be swarming the market for much needed supplies. Air from the vent above his bed blew on the curtains, parting them enough for Sal to see outside. Squinting from the light he peered outside to see some people walking down the streets. Thank god the search was over. He swore he was going insane from not being able to step one foot outside the front door. Now he can finally get some fresh air, or what he considered to be fresh air.

A shudder ran through him when his feet hit the cool tile of the bathroom. Double checking that his clothes were still laid out on the counter; a black sweater and dark grey ripped jeans, and a pair of boxer briefs he turned on the shower. Wincing when hearing the rattling of the pipes from inside the walls. He hoped that didn't wake up his dad, or anyone else for that matter in the building. However, because of the lift on house arrest his dad and many others might've already gone back to work.

He'd have to make this a quick shower if he still wanted to beat the crowds. He's never been able to take his time in the shower, at least not in the mornings. Though there's always the option to shower at night he felt as though he was disturbing the neighbors with the noise, so he rarely did.

Glancing in the mirror while waiting for the water to heat up, he snorted. His hair was a disaster and that was putting it lightly. The worst of it was toward the nape of his neck where you could see the bundles of knots. He began to brush it out, starting at the ends and working upwards. A growl came from his throat when he reached the knots in the back. "Fucker," he hissed as the tangles were slowly coming undone. Finally, hairbrush set aside, he got to the point where he could run his fingers through his hair with relatively little tangles.

Sticking his hand under the water to test the temperature, humming when realizing it was perfect. He grabbed a towel and draped it over the bar on the side of the shower door. The water was warm-not blistering, but nowhere near cool. A relaxing temperature that had him tilting his head back into the running water and sighing as it ran over his shoulders. How he wished he could stand in here forever and just think. Thinking is dangerous.

He reached out and grabbed his shampoo, squirting a generous amount into his hand before kneading it into his hair. Last night he made a checklist of the things he needed to pick up. It was sitting on the kitchen counter, at least hoped it was. He really didn't want to have to go back for something if he forgot it. As much as he's excited to be able to go outside, the last place he wants to spend that time is at the market with a bunch of whining children and angry adults.