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I didn't expect my life to end at the young age of seventeen. I mean, I couldn't see me getting old and feeble, either, but I at least expected to
make it to twenty-five. I was thinking I'd at least live long enough to get out of the shitty towns I had lived in and move somewhere nice. And I guess I was
wrong, because here I was, very still, a gun held up to my face. I was pretty familiar with that, but the gun was always held by a cop, always faking, or a
pyscho ex-boyfriend I knew I could beat.
This wasn't like that.
I guess it was my fault, what with my 'occupation' and all. I was a pickpocket. Steal people's wallets, take the cash, and slip 'em back if you
have the chance. That way they don't notice until later. Apparently, tonight I stole from the wrong guy. A guy with good reflexes and a gun in his pocket.
''So you thought it'd be cute to steal my wallet.'' The guy said. He looked a little older than me, not really a boy, but a bit to young to be a man.
''I don't really do cute, though if it means you won't blow a hole in my cute little face, sure.'' I answered. It was a gift of mine; I was never panicked in a
situation like this, and I always miraciously had something smart-assed to say.
He smirked. ''If you don't shut that cute little mouth of yours, I just might.'' I sneered, but didn't say any more. I didn't know a thing about this guy, but
from the way he stood, relaxed but alert, head held high, I would guess he was the type with a lot of pride, and that type tended to stick to their word.
Suddenly, he lowered the gun. ''Do you admit you stole my wallet?''
''I admit I stole your money,'' I answered. ''I gave you back your wallet.'' He snorted. We stood in silence for a moment. I wasn't going to move. I'd been
through this enough times before I knew if I moved an inch right now he would shoot me, even if he'd put the gun down. There was a crash outside, and
an angry yell. The guy looked over for a moment, distracted by the noise. The only chance I would have to get away.
In a single second, I figured this out; I had less than five seconds until he looked back, and I would need at least ten to get to the door. The only other
possible escape route would be the open window nearby. It would take an estimated three seconds, but it was about a seven foot drop to the ground.
There was a thick window sill, though, that I could stand on and move over to a nearby fire escape, and I could get down safely that way.
Yes, all that in one second. Ever heard the term 'criminal genius'? Yeah, well, that's me.
I bolted for the window. The guy yelled from behind me, but by the time he started moving, I was half way outside. Stupid boy. He could of
just shot me. I shuffled along the window sill,mbt sport shoes, clinging to the bricks, and jumped easily across to the ladder. Instead of climbing down,true religion jeans, I climbed up,
knowing the boy and his cohorts would be waiting at the bottom. My neighbors had also left their window open. I crawled in soundlessly, and hid
in a shadowy corner. What to do now...
It came to me. The third great idea in five minutes. Haha, congrats, self. I managed to leave my neighbor's apartment with minimuim noise, ran down
the hall, and started up the staircase. An elevator would have taken way to long. I ran up all the stairs and burst onto the roof. Without stopping,mbt scarpe prezzi, I ran
or the buildng next door,manolo blahnik schuhe, and jumped. It was a big jump, too. Without a running head start I wouldn't have made it.
I landed hard on my shoulder, and hissed. That is going to hurt sooo bad tomorrow. I hopped a few building tops only inches apart and started down
another stair case. There was no doubt in my mind the stupid boys would catch on, but I had a good head start. I just had to make it to the train
station three streets over, and I would change towns again and never come back.
I quietly left the building through the back entrance and hurried down an alley way. I heard the boys' running footsteps in the distance, and smiled.
They're even stupider than I thought. And in the next second, I noticed someone behind me, got hit over the head with something heavy, and fell
to the ground, directly on my aching shoulder.
The first thing I felt upon awaking was my shoulder. I'd had some bad injuries, but none of them had hurt quite this bad. I knew why, too. Two
weeks ago I'dgotten stabbed in the very same place, and it hadn't been completely healed. My shoulder throbbed so hard I could feel it throughout
my entire being. I opened my eyes to realize I wasn't in the alley or a hospital. The apartment I was in now definitely wasn't mine, though. Alot nicer.
And louder. There was a couple of people argueing in the kitchen. I rubbed my eyes, ran my fingers through my hair, and eased off whoevers couch I
was on. My shoulder screamed in pain, and I tried not to scream with it.
"Hey, she's awake," A boy said as soon as I entered. The boy with the gun from last night, I realized. Damn. He smirked at me. I gave him a dull
stare. I hurt too much to be playing games this morning. There was another boy in the room, and a girl, who was looking as disgruntled as I felt.
I slid into a chair at the table, careful not to bump my shoulder on anything. It hurt so bad.
"I don't get why I have to fucking stay here," The girl said, obviously continueing her arguement. "I'm not a criminal. I have a life, a house, and a
job. I don't need to deal with your stupid games, Jack." The boy with the gun, apparently named Jack, rolled his eyes like she was acting
ridiculous.
"I haven't seen you for two years, Vi!" He argued. She fumed.
"Do not call me that. There is a reason I moved to a different town and dropped out of school to support myself."
"Oh? And that is?" Jack scoffed.
"To get away from you!" The girl said nastily. Jack shook his head and sat down at the other end of the table from me.
"So, how are you feeling?" He asked me a bit too cheerfully. I raised an eyebrow; my favorite thing to do.
"Well,gucci outlet, since you asked; tired, pissed, and like an utter failure."
"Why is that?" I nearly smiled.
"Because I couldn't get away from an inexperienced little gangster wanna-be like you," The smile melted off his face. The other boy looked
offended. Jack's sister snorted, and the other two turned to glare at her.
"Oh?" Jack said again. "And what makes you think we're inexperienced?"
"One, the fact that you didn't shoot me when I ran for the window. Two, the fact that you didn't shoot me when I was standing on the window,
and three, the fact that you hit me with a brick in the alley instead of shooting me. By the way, it's nice that you except that you are little
gangster wanna-bes, even if you won't admit the rest." Everyone at the table stared at me. Both boys' faces turned red with anger and
embarassment. Jack's sister unsuccessfully tried to stiffle a laugh.
"And what do you know about being a gangster?" He said the term like he was saying spaceman. I didn't answer, just leaned back and smiled.
"Anyway," He said after a moment. "I'm Jack, this is Chris," He pointed to the other boy. "And this is my little sister Vi."
"That's not my name, and legally, I'm not your sister anymore." She said sullenly, before adding. "If you have to call me something, call me
Ash, or Ashes." Her lips twitched into a smirk as she said the names. Now, she could be interesting.
"Those names have nothing to do with each other, therefore, that makes no sense, but I don't care." I said blankly. "Why am I here?"
"Originally, I tracked you down because you stole my money, but after your little tricks I decided you could be useful to my group."
"Why would I want to help your little gang?" I said boredly, stifling a yawn. "I've got better things to do with my life."
"Like?" Chris retorted. My lip curled.
"Like getting enough money together to get away from this shithole town," I snapped. Normally I'm alot cooler, but my shoulder hurt twice as
much as it did when I woke up, and it was making me testy.
"What's your name?" Jack said suddenly, ignoring my foul attitude.
"Oscar."
"Yeah, right."
"Fred."
"No."
"Frank."
"No."
"Oswald."
"Pshh."
"Ana."
He stared. "Really?"
"Yes. Short for Arriana." My name used to be something different, but I changed it so I wouldn't be recognized. Jack shrugged,
excepting the answer. He stared at me, thinking.
"What would it take to make you join us?"
"Hypnosis."
"I'm serious."
"So am I. I don't do that sort of thing anymore."
He snorted. "Oh? And pickpocketing is any better.?"
"No one will hire a girl my age. No one wants a dropout."
"My gang makes a good amount of money. We'll pay for you to go back to school." He stared at me intensely.
I stared back, lip curling. I hated school, and always ended up getting expelled, anyway. But being in a gang again... it was tempting.
"No, thanks." My shoulder touched the back of the chair as I leaned back, and I nearly cringed. "Tell you what; I'll stay here long enough
for my shoulder to heal," They all stared at it curiously. "and I'll think about it." I wasn't about to let them know I was seriously considering
it. If I stayed, it could be nice. Jack had real potential, and I really liked this Ashes girl. But remembering the last time I got involved with
gang stuff...
"What's wrong with your shoulder?" Chris said suddenly. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I would stay for a while, I decided. I was tired of
pickpocketing, anyway.
"Not important." I focused on Jack. "So, if I'm going to help your little gang, I'll need to know a few things. How many people, their names, what they're
good at, and what you want to know that I could teach you." He grinned, like; Haha, I knew she would stay.
"Alright...for people,Hogan Scarpe sportive Donna, there's me, of course. I'm good at tracking and ordering people around, I guess. Then Chris, who's the best with weapons. Anthony,
who's good with stealth and information gathering, and then there's Vi, who needs to know self-defense. We want to know everything." Ashes kept her
head tipped down, bans covering her eyes, but not her smirk. I snorted. She probably knew a lot more than he thought she did.
"I couldn't teach you everything I know, that would take years, and alot of it is natural talent, anyway." Jack looked ready to argue. I sighed. "Stop with
the faces, and leave. Both of you. I need to have a private conversation with your sister." Ash looked up in mild suprise as Jack and Chris slowly left
the room. I leaned forward and smiled. "So Ashes, huh? That sounds like the name of someone who knows quite a bit about pyrotechnics."
She smirked. "That could be true. You're gonna teach my brother to be a good little gangster, huh?" I smiled.
"Something tells me you'd make a much better gangster than him." She shrugged.
"I've learned a few things over the years."
"About?"
"Self-defense, lock-picking... explosives."
I grinned.
Yeah, this could be fun.
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