Prologue

Her movements were swift and calculated. She managed to weave through the crowd, concealed but out in the open. She was hiding in plain sight. As she grew level with what she wanted, her hand shot out and she snatched it up, slipping it into her pocket. Then she left, just as quickly as she came, out of the doors and into the streets. She yanked her hood up over her head, concealing her shock of bright pink hair. Perhaps such a vibrant colour was a bad choice, considering the idea was to be inconspicuous, but it suited her and she liked being unique.

Her boot clad feet pounded on the pavement as she made her way to the alleyway … her alleyway. She'd been living on the streets long enough for everyone in the area to know she'd claimed it as her own. She turned into the alley and smiled to herself as she headed straight for the bin her stuff was hidden behind. As she pulled out her bedding and her flattened cardboard box, she happened to glance up and a startled squeal slipped past her lips.

A man was standing in front of her, just watching silently. His blue eyes seemed to be boring into her and she felt herself begin to tremble with fear.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice shaking so much that she could barely recognise it as her own. "This is my alley, what do you want?"

"I don't think it is yours." His voice was deep and gruff. "That's not why I'm here though … I saw what you did. You stole."

She shook her head, feigning ignorance. "I don't know what you're talking about." Before she could utter another word, he was towering over her. In one hand, he gripped her wrist tightly, while the other hand snaked into her pocket and pulled out her prize. Her eyes drifted over it, the bruised red skin and the way it shined at the top. With her free hand, she snatched it out of his grasp and yanked her wrist away from him.

"Doesn't matter."

"You stole it. It wasn't yours to take."

She scoffed. "Big deal. Look, I only take the bruised ones, the ones less likely to be picked. Otherwise, they sit there for a couple of days and then get tossed in the trash. It's a waste, when so many people go hungry." As if in defiance, she raised the apple to her mouth and, with her eyes locked into his, took a huge bite. Juices ran down her chin and she wiped them away with the cuff of her jacket, even though she knew it wouldn't help much.

He regarded her for a moment, his face full of what looked like curiosity, before he nodded. "I suppose it makes sense. I guess I just … I'm not used to this, living like this. I haven't yet learned how to live the best I can."

"You're on the streets too?" She took in his clothing, the neatness of his appearance. "You don't look like you should be. How'd you end up like this?"

"I made a mistake. I was too trusting. And the man I trusted … well, he screwed me over."

She let out a mirthless chuckle and muttered, "'Tis the way of the world, buddy." Her face softened as she took him in and with a huff, she pulled out a spare box from behind the bin, and held it out to him. "You can sleep here tonight. But just so you know, I'm gonna be sleeping with one eye open and I know kung fu, so you better not try anything."

He held out his hand to her. "I'm Castiel."

For a moment, she looked at the proffered hand as if it was diseased and then she took it. "Ronnie."

"It's nice to meet you, Ronnie."

"Likewise, Castiel."