No Radiance

Locked

With the euphoric rush of sprinting down the crowded dirt street of the dusty slums, an experienced thief was in a mad dash to escape the loud and angry pursuers under the stars. Through, about and around in a skilled display of parkour, the thief made his disappearance with ease.

'Gonna have good soup tonight!' He thought to himself with a smirk.

The young thief made sure the coast was clear before taking off his disguise, consisting white hair attached to an old hat and scrappy mask, in an alleyway. If anyone was looking they would see a young, lean man in his early twenties with raven-colored mop of hair, a dusty face, and large brown eyes. After catching his breath, the young man, pleased with himself, let's himself in through the back to his home.

"Yuuko!" He called out while taking off the rest of his gear, "I'm back!"

There was no response was given, but he had grown used to that.

"She's probably asleep again..." he mumbled as he made his way to the small kitchenette of the meager, dusty living space.

Such living space double served as a musty, dank, barely-lit, personal library. Filled with stacks of old books and creaking, wooden floors and shelves. It had been always a bother to the young man to always serpentine around the tall stacks to get to wherever or whatever he wanted, but the books were nevertheless precious, not only to him, but for her as well.

"Ah crap, I promised to read to her this morning," he mumbled again as he prepared the humble stew while chastising himself who forgot to fulfill his promise.

When the soup was ready he went up to the small loft where she was waiting, but not before putting on a well-worn, yet, protective face mask.

A meek, young woman was laying under the covers of her cot and had stirred from her sleep when she felt the stairs creak and wobble. She sat up slowly and rested her back against the wall behind her.

"Yuuko, you sleep well? I was able to muster up some soup for us," announced the young thief albeit sounded rather muffled.

The young woman was pale and slightly sweaty from fever. For him though, she was beautiful regardless and precious to him. He loved her big eyes the most. All that he did was for her to get better. Yuri sat the bowls down, one in front of her and one off to the side for him. He gobbled up his portion and begun to spoon feed her.

"Yuri...thank you," Yuuko whispered hoarsely. "I wish you didn't have to go out and do such dangerous things to get us food."

"That obvious, huh? Why, it could have been a hand-out for all you know," Yuri joked, mocking hurt by placing a hand on his chest.

But both knew better, they have lived their lives in Land Lot 202. In each of the three-hundred Land Lots at least eight-hundred resided, if not more. Food was scarce as space was crowded, but it wasn't as though they could grow any food if they wanted for the land was barren.

"Yuri…please..." The sick girl croaked.

Her companion dished out the last spoonful. "I know, I know, but if I went about trying to obtain food from the ships, so-to-speak, legally with all of us starving I would be waiting in line for days. With you sick I can't very well wait that long, especially when the last time we ate was two days ago. Every time I think about it...it just makes me..."

"I know," she replied quietly, placing a slender hand on his upper arm.

It had always been this way, meager living, fed with scraps, but it was better than nothing and they had each other. They only had each other now since their parents had passed away four years ago.

"Well, enough of the drama," Yuri dismissed, wanting to lighten the mood. "I forgot to read to you this morning before I headed out and I am sorry."

She coughed. "Oh...that's okay. I was probably asleep anyway."

"Here, let me take these bowls down, I'll grab a book I've been reading and some water pouches."

"You got water today as well? I'm surprised."

"You bet. I wasn't about to eat something salty and not have something to wet it down. Plus, in your condition you need it more than I do."

With the water and book in hand, Yuri went back up to Yuuko's side. He set the items down and studied Yuuko's face.

"Here, let me get that white hair of yours off your neck."

"Thank you, Yuri."

"You know what I discovered reading this book?" Yuri asked with a smile while braiding

Yuuko's hair. "Blue skies."

"Blue...skies?" Yuuko wondered aloud.

"Yes, I bet Colbrans get to see them all the time."

After braiding, Yuri whipped open the book and showed Yuuko a faded picture.

"You mean it's not always just the stars?"

"I've told you before, we are, what the books say anyway, in outer space. Here on Alborja moon, surrounded by the atmospheric shield, we go orbit around the Colbran planet."

Yuuko's sweaty forehead scrunched as she strained to recall. "The moon...yes I remember."

Yuri shrugged and set the book aside. "Hey, it's all right, your body has better things to worry about than some trivia."

"N-No, no it's ok. I like that Yuri enjoys learning. You know how happy it made me to see father teach you how to read back then."

"Yes, I remember," Yuri softly replied before closing the book again. "Say, take some rest, I think I'll go back out and try to get you some medicine."

"Again, Yuri? I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I've got to try, Yuuko. They may beat me up, but it's worth it if I can get some. The rations and such just take too long to get here. We may be slaves and the Unwanted up here, but we are living beings too. If those Colbrans can't get their act together and see that then I see no reason to follow any rules. You remember why I wear a wig, right? If I look like an Unwanted, then no one is gonna take me from you. I will be fine."

"O-Ok...be careful, Yuri."

Yuri proceeded to pat Yuuko lovingly on the head. "Always am."

Notes: is not letting me upload the whole chapter so the next one is just part two. XD