I bolt down the back alley as the city guard chase after me. I've been up and down these alleys my whole life, no guard could catch me here. I round a corner and throw the things I am carrying under a crate as I ran. I continued on for a good 5 minutes but stopped as I turned another corner. A dead end and the guard was right behind me, there was no time to double back as he blocked the only way out of the alley.
" Give me my wallet and I won't kill you thief"
Not giving me any time to respond he pushes me into the wall and grabs the small leather bag in my hand and quickly puts it on his belt not even checking the contents I never had any intention to keep his wallet, all I wanted was a few coins. I had taken one silver and two copper coin out of his wallet and had thrown them under the crate just after I was out of his sight so he wouldn't know that, he was missing a coin or two. Now here comes the beating.
" Now kid you gave me a real fright taking all my money like that. I will have to pay you back...'
What did a say almost smirking at my own sarcasm as he takes a step forward to further corner me?
Bang
His foot connected with my stomach and I go flying to the end of the alley, almost hitting the wall.
"you know if I was your normal guard you would be dead right about now. well then again you let me catch you right" he said taunting me you didn't want my wallet you want my attention what organization are you from”
I remand silent just glaring at him
"It was a smart trick and ballsy. for a kid. now there is something I would like you to do for me tell me where I can find your employer. "
"I cant, they'd kill me"
“ If you don't then I will do my job and remove your hand and I will do it slowly”
“I will tell just stop kicking me”
“ smart choices brat you're doing this the easy way ” and the guard picks me up and halls me off to the guard post and that night I was forced to watch the city guard rush into my home. The only home I knew were I grow up and learnt all that I knew thous I called family.
I just stood there and watched as the guards haled everyone I knew away to a fate I caused. As dawn neared the guard that caught me came up to me and said.
“You have two paths to pick from now stay a thief and get coat again or let me help you and live with me. I know you hate me and would love to kill me right now but you're a smart kid I can see it in your eyes I can make your life better just let me” finishing his speech looking me right in the eyes with his hand stretched out to me.
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12 years later
On my way out of the bookshop to deliver a book to a good friend, I felt someone bump into me. After a few steps, I know something was off my bag was too light, the book I was delivering was gone. I turned around to see a boy no older then 8 with hair so dirty it was black carring the book, going into an alleyway. The same alley I was chased down as a kid. In an instant, I turned back around and bolt to the only spot that alley leads too as I get there and go to cut the boy off. I see the boy looking at the book looking at all the pages trying to read it and looking at all the hand-drawn images of planets. The boy was so enamoured with the book he didn't notice me coming and walks right into me
“Do you even know how much this book is worth and you got it dirty”
I grab his arm and drag him out of the ally and to shop the book was for. With him kicking and biting. After a minute or so he stopped and asked.
“Where are you taking me”
“ To the man who was going to buy this book”
his face went pail “why”
“ Why. You have to apologize. for getting his new book dirty”
I say as I drag him into the apothecaries.
“ Hello, sir. I'm so sorry I'm late something happened on the way here” I hold up the boy's arm
“ This boy got your new book dirty and he wants to apologize. Right” I say looking at the boy I hand the boy the book and push him in the direction of the old man.
Real faintly an “I'm sorry” came out of the boy's mouth.
“Your sorry for what,” asks the old man in a stern voice.
“I'm sorry I got your book dirty,” Said the boy louder this time but a bit muffled.
“ Now how did it get dirty,” asked the old man in a come and comforting voice.
“ I stole it from the weird man over there and was looking at it. I'm sorry, I'm sorry” The boy said sobbing this time.
“Well boy, it is an expensive book how about you repay me by helping me out in my garden,” he said while giving the crying boy a hug “ The weeds kill my back you know”.
he was the nicest man I know and was looking for some help around the apothecary. I leave the shop not worried about payment I would get it later.
On the way back to the book story I remembered the boy calling my weird
“how am I weird” I muttered
“Its the glasses,” said the old guard that took me in years ago ” You're too nice to them you should bring them to me, I'll straighten them out”
“By trying to cut off their hands” I retort
“You turned out fine” he replies “mostly”
“You know why I do it. So they'll forgive me for betraying them and myself” I respond