Bayside Valley looked like a miniature Florida. It was the side of a small city and that it what it was. To the north there were the hills, that it where the richer and safe slept at night. But everywhere else in this city was game for the hungry and the poor. The small peninsula to the left of our city had a small skinny, barely standing bridge that connected to the southern tip of the city. It was a quick way to get from there to here if you had the resources and knew a few people. There was no way to "just cross a bridge", you had to be on the inside. Otherwise there was a small string of shops on the left side of the city. They were cheap but heavily guarded with ammunition in case a gang came in pretending to be something they weren't. I was standing on the west side looking at the wave's crash far below. There were no sandy beaches like in books and stories. We had cliff and jagged edges that, if you jumped off, would kill you.
The wind was vicious on this side of the city but I dared not to go to the northern hills or the east. The richer to the north had police at their use and they disliked us very much. The east…there was no specific reason that I didn't enter that territory but my instinct had always told me not too.
Darkness was covering the city slowly as the sun began to set. Summer would be fading soon and I knew when the cold came it would be another hard year. My heart started to beat fast as I saw three black figures walking towards me. I dared not to stay a moment too soon but took off on the edge of the coast. Running as fast as I could I felt my lungs expand with heat. I could hear footsteps behind me as I ran and they were gaining on me.
Running through the alleyways and side streets of their washed up city I soon heard the footsteps fade. Running just as hard I found my way to my work. Coming on a red lit building that looked just as dead and screwed over as the rest I used the side door. Shutting the door behind me I felt a warm atmosphere take over my body. How I hated this job.
Francesca was the first of my colleges that I saw dressed and ready. Shaking my head I went to find mine. "How," She was chewing her gun loudly in my ear, "did today go?"
Turning to while grabbing my clothes I said, "I'm still alive, right?"
After that she left me and walked out onto the stage. Rolling my eyes I saw the mistress come to my side, "You have five minutes to dress and clean up! Hurry!" Her voice was urgent as it always was.
Grabbing the skimpy deep purple underwear I slipped it on before putting the matching sparkly bra on. After a year at this you could imagine who I got used to it…yet I never really did. I hated dancing up there in front of all the men. It sickened me and tonight would be no different. And every night I searched the crowd to find him and when my eyes never found him, relief came over me. Shutting my mind down mentally I took a deep breath before going on the stage.
Later that night, much later in fact, I found myself back putting on my torn shirt and jeans. They were all covered in dirt mostly because I usually was. I was on the run for most of my life…running from the gangs and men that would kill me or otherwise. I felt the mistress come to my side, "The blonde seemed very interest in you."
Smirking, almost sneering I whispered, "He would, wouldn't he? Like every other man on this earth, they only want one thing. I told you when I first started here, I will do anything you ask but I will not have sex with any of them. He can dream all he wants but he will never have enough money for me. Besides…did you see the mark on his left temple? He's a Baron."
Sighing she said, "What different do all these gangs make anyway?"
From those words one would be able to tell that she was higher class then us all. What difference? I started to laugh before saying, "The Baron's want anything that lives and breathes. They aren't much of a threat though. What scares me was the TN's…the twins were here."
Her face rolled in the confusion that I gave her, "Just a helpful hint, you see a twin, the other is around. And if they are around you, you won't be alive for long. You see either one of those long haired bastards in sight, you run like hell."
I knew she wouldn't heed my words but perhaps she could keep them in mind. Taking what little pay I got from today I went out the side door. It was almost two in the morning and still I could hear the gunshots and screams. Slinking into the shadows I ran back to my home, never stopping for a breath of air for that could be the death of me.
I came to a broken down apartment that was breaking from every stone. Slinking into a window because the door had been wired I lay on the floor for a moment. Pinning myself to the ground I moved only my eyes in the darkness. Breathing in the warm air of the night I felt a brush of wind. Slowly and cautiously I stood. When nothing moved I then proceeded to run up the stairs and jumping over the trip wire I had put there. Once on the second floor next to a peeling wall I heard a rat next to me. Moving it over with my tennis shoes I listened to the air. Nothing, there was no response, it seemed to be safe.
Running down a short hallway I jumped over the trip wire that was in my doorway. Once inside my room I slowly looked around the small room. Nothing was out of place and, more importantly, there was nothing new in the room. Calming my nerves I took the lone sheet from the ground and threw it into the corner. Next to the dust covered wall I sat. With my back resting on the wall I sat staring at the door.
I knew nothing would come from the window for I had put so many alarms and devices on it that I would be warned in advance. Yet if someone came through the door…trying to stay awake I found it impossible.
There was no noise as I slowly opened my eyes. I knew that it was still night because of the darkness. As my eyes focused I looked around my room. With a jolt of my heart I saw someone standing in the doorway. A black figure took another step towards me as I felt the panic rise up into my chest. Taking my knife from my side I knew it but…nothing happened. It was coming closer still and…it was William.
My eyes flew open as I jumped up to stand. There was nothing in my room. Taking a deep breath I saw my knife in the wall past the doorway. So I had thrown the knife but at a imaginary person. My dreams cared me more than life sometimes…
