Chapter One: Yana
10 stories up didn't seem so high in the towering metropolis that was New Evo. But it was high enough for Yana. More than enough to get the job done she thought to herself as she danced on the edge becoming more daring with each step closer to the edge. Only when her toes were hanging freely from the roof did she take a deep breath and squeeze her eyes as tight as she could. Taking that last step into the void.
Chapter Two: Iwata
"Get back here!" The yell echoed through the streets of New Evo. Iwata slid into the upcoming corner bouncing off the brick wall and finding pace again as the shouting got further away from him. Iwata knew his city better than most. Every smelly corner of asphalt and mortar that made his home. He was already three moves ahead of his chasers. He had to be when stealing was his profession. It wasn't by choice but there wasn't much work for a Sixteen-year-old high-school dropout with a record.
Most businesses didn't even recognize him as a real candidate. And those that did pay so under livable wage that the bus fare would outweigh his small profit margin.
"Damn brat! This is the fourth time this month you got your grubby hands on my pork buns! There are more food stalls than mine you little shit! "The overweight and out-of-breath man screamed to the shadowy figure.
"Yea but your the easiest to get away from!" Iwata yelled back before using a dumpster to vault onto a low-hanging fire escape ladder. Giving his purser one last look before taking a bite of his stolen prizes. A fresh and warm basket of steamed pork buns.
Quickly bouncing up the stairs happily munching on his food. He hit the roof quickly. His eyes instantly flickered to a figure only a couple of feet away from him.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Chapter Three: They Meet
New Evo was never really dark. The bright neon signs and giant LCD screens promoting whatever crap they could profit off filled the city leaving even the dreariest corners filled with light.
Iwata immediately saw the raven black hair floating freely in the wind. Her thin frame was almost being blown away by the city wind coursing in between the towering skyscrapers.
"Hey!"
Yana tensed her right foot dangling off the edge. The incorporeal voice shocked her senses making her quickly adjust her footing backing away from the ledge. Just moments ago she was committed to doing the opposite. her head whipped around to see who interrupted her final moments on earth.
His voice matched him very well she thought offhandedly. His unbrushed and spikey hair stood up in weird ways that made her nonexistent OCD flare-up. Just another poor kid in the slums she concluded.
"What do you want?" She shouted back.
Iwata's mouth opened before closing again. A small look of hesitation could be seen before he started closing the distance between the two. Yana felt herself wanting to back up. Her foot scooted back finding nothing but air. She felt her body weight shift to the weightlessness of an incoming free fall ten stories down.
Chapter Four: Hum Bao
A shriek escaped from Yana's mouth as she realized her life had only moments left before it finally vanished. An overwhelming urge to fight shot through her body as she flailed to find anything to grab onto.
Iwata reacted so fast it was beyond thought. His mind seemed to process the situation so fast it didn't have time to become internalized in his inner monologue. His hand already reaching for her desperately swinging arm. Catching her wrist and pulling with all his might.
Two bodies collided on the rooftop. Yana felt her heart almost explode from the stress and pure fear she felt. While Iwata let out a deep exhale in relief.
They were lost in the moment they just experienced. Two complete strangers one a girl lost in her own mind and wanting to be set free. The other was a boy who had so much freedom he was begging to be grounded.
Yana looked at the boy who just saved her life and Iwata met her eyes again this time there was no hesitation as he dug into his jacket pocket. Pulling a white ball of dough and pork and holding it out to her.
"Hungry?"