The Zodiac trials

I run at full speed across the blue, green, and maybe even red sometimes, but mostly grey or black.

I turn, and jump onto the next roof, this one solid, grey, and most certainly not a tent.

This must be the next sector of Andorra, I tell myself.

Being in the Libra Sector is life sucking, for now. Citizens kill for food all the time. I have to keep my mom and my little brother, Martin, alive. I get the food, they try to get money by working in the factories.

I steal, they earn. It's how life is now.

I run back to our small shack. We all sleep on the floor next each other. During the winter this is nice, but since our shack is smaller than a lot of them, during the summer is the worst. The heat gets to much for us and we have to sleep outside. Just to cool off.

When I get there, there was a note on the door. It read:

Ember, my sweet daughter, Martin and I have left. We have been offered the offer of a lifetime. We will be serving the King and Queen of Andorra, your brother will be the servants apprentice of the King. And I will be... well, I don't know yet, but it will be great for us. You could try living with Ezekiel? Right? I love you, your mother.

I didn't know I was sobbing, until a tear fell onto the parchment, smearing the letters when I wiped it away.

I put the note in the pocket of my light blue, worn out jeans. Jeans that are covered in the blood of the larcenist who tried to steal the food I got for my family. The food that they won't get to eat.

I run into the shack, and find that all they left was a blanket, but when I picked up the blanket, I saw my Martin's stuffed bear, Claudius, he called him.

I smiled down at the bear. And hugged it to my chest. Never will I let anything happen to this bear. I will get it back to Martin.

I clambered out of the shack. And see a figure moving towards me.