Sten glanced subtly over her shoulder. Good, that bonehead clerk still had her eyes glued to that soccer game on the television. In a flash, Sten quietly turned around the corner of the snack aisle and came to the refrigerated drinks. She only needed three plastic water bottles of Fresh Frobands. Swipe them and head out the door - easy enough, right? Her fingers already rested on the cold handle of the refrigerator. She wanted to pry it open, but her arm betrayed her and froze in place. Of all the times for her stupid conscience to finally kick in, why did it have to be now?

Some hoarse yelling came from the cashier, shaking Sten back into focus. People who do not make decisions die on the field, she muttered. She opened the refrigerator and grabbed two cold, nippy bottles. As soon as she closed the fridge, she snapped in the opposite direction and briskly walked towards the door. Was she being a little hasty? Yes, her shoes clicked on the ground as if she were going down a fashion runway. The cashier needed to stay fixed on that screen. Remembering her training, Sten forcefully slowed herself till she was completely inaudible, gliding forward on the white tiles.

Looking up at the corner, she saw the cashier through the convex mirror. Whichever team the clerk was rooting for was winning; her eyes were locked only a few centimeters from the screen. This was perfect. She probably wouldn’t even notice Sten leaving.

The exit was right there! No one was going to stop her, even if they tried. 

Sten made a quick peek around the edge of the aisle. Summoning all her wits and strength, she walked as quickly as possible while remaining inconspicuous. It is harder than it looks, making muted long strides, and holding your breath for minutes But it was certainly worth it - Sten’s cold fingertips finally wrapped around the metal handle of the door. She began to slowly push it, being careful not to ring the tiny doorbell hanging at the top. The cool summer evening breeze blew around her cheeks and played with her hair, beckoning her to come outside.

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As if a spirit suddenly possessed her, Sten suddenly reached into her coat pocket, pushing past the crumpled pieces of paper and lint, and found some coins at the bottom. She suddenly froze, about three-fourths of the way out the door. Looking now at the silver coins at the center of her hand, Sten’s brows furrowed as she noted that there was just enough to pay for all the bottles. A small grumble escaped her lips: “Tenebrific.”

***

Sten woke up to the hot morning sun stinging her face through her thin blanket. Throwing off the sheet, she saw the sky was a bright, clear, cloudless blue above the flat grassy plains and fields. After months of rain and thunder, there was finally some good weather. Sten stood up, dusted her clothes, and stood under the sun. The sun must be relished for as long as possible.

It was also a good morning to continue her road trip. Sten reached into her pockets again and pulled out a crumpled paper, full of written addresses. She had been to most of them, but at each one, she did not find who she was looking for. There were still two more addresses left, but they were also the furthest away from the orphanage she had ever been. But the right address is out there, in one of those places. Anyway, a cross-country road trip was better than any day in that rotting orphanage - even if it meant she did not have money left for a decent breakfast. 

Thinking about food made Sten’s stomach suddenly growl. Folding the paper back into her pocket, Sten plucked a water bottle and took a controlled gulp. It was not much, but she needed a distraction from her hunger. Was using the money she was saving for breakfast a bad decision? And when did she care enough to do the morally right thing? Perhaps she was not thinking straight because of the hunger. No, there was something else…

“People who do not make decisions die on the field”, muttered her father, “and those who make the wrong decision die regardless.”

Perhaps it is better not to think about it too much.

She then walked over to the rusty scooter she hid under some tarpaulins, and threw them off. Sten started the engine, causing the whole scooter to violently shake and creak. She hopped on the leather seat, put on her goggles, and took off down the long, dusty road to her next destination.