Now I cant help it if I came out of that house with a sense of affluenza, regardless of how disconnected from my family I was. First the line between legal and illegal blurs and once that is gone your morality is next to fade. Combine all that with the obscurity and desperation of living on the streets and your once assured sanity becomes not so bankable.

It had been two months on the streets. There were no arrest warrants or search parties issued to find me. Before the first month was done I got extremely worried that, after my disappearance, Kelsey would get blamed for my fathers death. I got a boy, about my age, to lend me his scroll so I could check the news in exchange for spending the day with him in order to make a girl he liked jealous. Surprisingly, everything went as it should have. The truth was told about my fathers outburst and how violent he was on that night. The article said that I killed him in self defense and now that his assets were being divided several of his items were under investigation as to how they ended up in his possession.

I had no skills, resume, or clean clothes which would allow me to get a job. I fought at the unregistered fights to earn a little cash, betting on myself. However, most of my lien was spent on hotel rooms and I had little left over for food. Eventually, hunger ate away at my body and I started losing fights.

After that I took to living in an alley and stealing food. It only took me a few hours to get over the moral quandary of stealing before it became a habit for me. I know now it would have made more sense to start stealing rich peoples wallets and use that money to buy from the poor vendors but I wasn't expected to have to do anything as an heiress least of all formulate strategies of surviving on the streets. I wasn't educated or self motivated so I didn't have much ambition other than surviving. Besides it worked both ways, if I had lien, drugs, dust, or anything of value I would be a target for other desperate vagrants.

I thought about going back home but it probably wouldn't change anything. From the way the investigation of my fathers assets were going it sounded like my theories about him might have been correct. If the rest of my family cared about me enough to take me back, chances are that within a year all the assets would be seized and I would end up back on the street anyways. I did think about going to Kelsey's house though. Every time I thought about her I would see that horrible look on her face. I decided to lie to myself and say that I never saw her like that. I fantasized until it became the truth. I left before she turned around and my last memory of her would be us taking our relationship as far as it could go.

I found myself in the market, again, looking for a vendor that was not looking too closely at his stock. There was a fruit stand that didn't seem to have anyone manning it. I inconspicuously made my way over to the stall and pocketed two apples. When no one seemed to care I grabbed another one and bit into it. The sound of me biting into an apple cause the vendor of the fruit stand to stop organizing product behind the stall and stand up. I froze with my mouth full of apple I didn't have the lien to pay for. The vendor looked me over and realized that someone with clothes so shabby wasn't intending to pay for that apple.

I took off running and heard the vender scream "Thief! Thief!" from behind me. Normally this wouldn't be an issue as most people weren't as determined to get their product back as I was to eat today. However, this was a particularly unlucky day for me. I skidded to a halt as two cops were patrolling in front of me and heard the vendors cries. I ran back the other way evading the cops and continued until I was out of the market. I ran around the block and ducked into an alleyway with the hopes that they would run past me. They must have just saw me slip into the alley. I made my way back but I had slept here more than a few times so I knew that there was only one exit.

"Now you shouldn't have ..." was all I heard from the cop before I was watching him approach my illusion from the roofs. I took the same kind of pleasure in watching my copy shatter as I did when I was beating opponents in a fight. In another instant I teleported back down to the street level and walked as I ate my apple. For the rest of the day I had the odd feeling that I was being followed. I looked behind me several times but I never saw any cops for the rest of the day. When it became nighttime I went back to the alley I had been calling my home for the past few weeks and ate one of my stored apples before I tried to get some sleep.

I was rudely awakened by a plain looking guy in a black suit, matching hat, and red sunglasses and tie.

"Hey get out of here! This is our alley." he said stupidly. Really? Of all the abandoned alleys in Vale and this well dressed guy was making a fuss in this one. I shrugged him off and closed my eyes again to try to fall back asleep.

"Hey I told you to get out!" the man persisted. I stared at him with a cute smile on my face. I was a little out of practice but this would be a nice little reminder of my glory days. I waited for him to lose patience and make a grab for me. I kicked him and simultaneously grabbed his arm, using him to pull me up as he fell over backwards. I put my knee on his throat and watched him try to squirm out from under me. On any other day I might have left but I ate two apples today and I was functioning as well as I could be. However, with my back to the alley entrance I wasn't in a position to see the other four men dressed in matching outfits. Or so they thought. The closest one smashed a pipe down on me and my illusion instantly shattered. They were all confused until they heard the sound of their farthest back comrade choking. I waved to the three remaining henchmen as this one slipped out of consciousness. They charged and I pushed the first one to reach me away so I could deal with two at a time. I grabbed the next ones tie and flipped over his head, catching the last ones head with my legs. I twisted and pulled both of them to the ground. The last one was knocked out instantly while I pulled tighter on the tie of the other one. By the time the last remaining henchmen had gotten his balance and turned around he was able to witness all of his comrades incapacitated with the last of them being choked out by his own tie, so he ran. I made sure that none of them were able to get up to blindside me and then I got up.

I heard the sound of slow clapping from somewhere down the street. I turned to see a tall man in a white coat with a cane. A feathered hat covered his orange hair.

"Well I've got to say that was a bit more impressive than your little run in with the police earlier today." the man said in a whimsical voice as he advanced towards me. Okay ... creepy guy stalked me all today and is now getting closer; time to leave. One of the rules that I learned on the street was to get as far away from crazy as possible so I got ready to teleport up to the roofs where he couldn't reach me. He seemed to sense this as he quickened his pace and grabbed my arm.

"Wow that was cool" the man said from beside me. I didn't know that I could do that but I hadn't tried yet. He had come with me onto the roof. He let go of my arm and twirled his cane around as he looked down at the still illusions of both of us on the street.

"That ... could come in handy" he commented. I stayed longer than I should have. Not only was I contemplating the fact that I could teleport other people too but I was perplexed by this colorful, yet clearly deranged, individual. He turned back around and looked at me. He was really creeping me out so I cleared my mind and got ready to teleport even further away.

"No ... don't jump away little missy. I want to share a business opportunity with you." the man said. Business? I had never had a job before. The prospect intrigued me enough to stay but I kept a fair distance away from him. He was not hitching a ride with me again.

"Now we should start with introductions. My name is Roman Torchwick, master thief, anarchist, businessman." Roman announced and waited for me to reply. Even if I could speak I don't think I would have said a word, let alone given my name.

"Alright fine. I'll cut to the chase then. As you demonstrated by dispatching my men so quickly I am in need of a better class of ... uh ... associates." Roman admitted. He told those men to attack me?! Beating him senseless sounded better than running now.

"Normally, for beating my men, I would have already given you a job offer and blown you away should you have refused." Roman casually said as he twirled his cane again. I decided that if that cane points anywhere but down I'm leaving.

"But I am not in any shortage of disposable grunts. I am looking to fill more of a bodyguard/chauffeur position and someone with your ... skills would fill that position nicely." Roman explained. No. The employer seemed too crazy and the job too illegal. I was still against stealing anything but food and supplies so working for someone who describes themselves as an 'anarchist' was a little too far off the deep end.

"Lets face it kid, no one wants to live off of stolen fruit. You only think you are doing fine on your own because you lack smarts, skills, and ..." Roman said revealing a hidden apple from behind his back "... Objective.". I checked by pockets but my last apple was gone. I was saving that for breakfast! I almost considered advancing on him to get my apple back before I caught myself before I started a fight for a stolen apple that was stolen from me. He took a single bite out of my apple before he discarded it off the roof.

"Now lets talk over the details of your employment out of this cold. I know a noodle shop that is open 24/7 and isn't big on calling the cops. If you can get us there I'm buying." Roman explained. Noodles? I hadn't had hot food in so long. No one served you when you were dressed as a bum and rightly so as I would have eaten everything on the menu and then dashed out the door. With my planned breakfast probably splattered all over the sidewalk below, my body had already made the decision to go with him for me. He started opening a paper map as I slowly walked towards him. Roman pointed to a spot on the map and grabbed hold of my arm again. That was a ways away. Longer distances typically had 'complications' when I teleported on my own. I had no idea what would happen with two people.

"High ho silver away!" Roman yelled as he used the hand that wasn't holding onto my arm to grab his hat and wave it in the air. I unbraced myself for the journey and stared at him with an incredulous look.

"Oh I can tell you are going to be great fun to be around." Roman said sarcastically. I would have glared at him longer but I wanted my noodles. Suddenly the scenery changed and there was a noodle shop in front of us. I stumbled immediately but regained my balance stepping off to the side. I looked down and part of the roof had come with me. That is why I preferred jumping when I traveled further than 100 feet.

"I take that back. You are going to be very fun to be around." Roman said enthusiastically. However, he quickly snuffed out his excitement and condescended "A little far from the door don't you think?".

As we entered the shop Roman grandiosely exclaimed "Ah my favorite chumps are here.". The employees of the shop froze in fear. They had obviously dealt with Roman before.

"Excuse me waiter, I would like to talk have a little chat with the manager on why it is taking so long for two orders of noodles." Roman said, getting crazy at the end of his sentence. As the waiter scurried off Roman took as seat at a booth and I sat opposite him. I gave him a quizzical look.

"Oh the owner laundered money for me a few times but not that you have the smarts to know what that means." Roman insulted. I was fairly offended by his obvious insult but not too offended because I really didn't know. Not only did I not know the concept, I had never heard the term before. My education as an heiress was very tailored with private tutors. My only contact with the normal world was Kelsey and I'd bet she didn't even know about 'laundering' money. My first thought was that there were several laundry machines with money being washed, dried, and ironed in the back of the shop but I dismissed it immediately as that was just ridiculous.

"So lets get started with the interview. What makes you think you have it in you to become a part of my operation?" Roman asked. Seriously? One, this guy approached me and two, he really hadn't figured out that I was mute yet? I considered signing my thoughts to him but I knew that would not work. There was no way that this guy knew how to read sign.

I got up and walked over to his side of the table. I awkwardly searched through his pants and coat pockets.

"Whoa! You really want this job don't you?" Roman preened before I found what I was looking for. I pulled a scroll out of one of his pockets and took it back over to my side of the table. Roman was silent as I typed away on the scroll. I turned the scroll so Roman could see what I typed.

It read 'Make one more condescending or inappropriate comment and I'm gone. Secondly, I'll just have to tell you I'm a mute because it doesn't seem that you have the smarts to figure that out'. Roman looked back and forth from the screen to me and then burst out laughing.

"So let me get this strait. You can fight, you can teleport, and you can't complain or talk back to me. You ... little missy are hired. You don't have any say in the matter. Come on, lets go, you have work to do." Roman said while collecting his scroll from me and getting up to try to leave. I remained in my seat. "Um ... lets go, I've got business for you to teleport me to." Roman said. I waved him off with a noncommittal gesture. "Whats the problem here?" Roman asked. I gestured for him to give me his scroll back so I could respond.

He handed it over and I typed 'I didn't agree to work for you'.

"And I already told you that people that refuse to work with me don't ever work ever again." Roman said threateningly.

I typed 'Do you really want me working for you under threats? Lets say I give in, how do you know that the first place I will take you won't be 10,000 feet in the air?'. Roman looked at me, after he read the text, with an unreadable expression.

He looked like he was getting frustrated but then said "Good point!" and sat back down. "So what would it take for me to not plummet to an untimely death while using your services." Roman said unenthusiastically. I put up one finger to signal my first demand and then grabbed my chopsticks and smiled. The waiter had come out of the back, nervously shaking, carrying two bowls of noodles. He placed one in front of me and I ravenously ate the noodles.

"Is that all?" Roman asked, expecting that it wouldn't be my only demand. I drank the broth of my bowl of noodles and grabbed Romans bowl as well. I put two fingers up and Roman rolled his eyes. I decided not to keep Roman waiting as I put up three fingers and displayed his scroll.

"That is mine. I will get you 'a' scroll ... hey waiter!" Roman said as I dug into his bowl of noodles.

"Y-yes mister Roman" he asked shakily.

"Do you happen to have a scroll?" Roman asked. Without even asking why, the waiter handed over his scroll to Roman who handed it over to me.

I found out a week later why Roman tolerated my 17 requests. I overheard one of the many henchman I had come into contact with and it turns out that I was only getting payed as much as him. I didn't do this for the money though. That first day I was planning to run off after I had exhausted Roman for favors. I had gotten new clothes, a full service at a salon, my hair dyed, enough money to buy an apartment, and several quality meals. However, after some cops recognized Roman and I teleported us away I felt ... needed. I imagined what might have happened had I not teleported Roman away. The street would probably be a little safer but after I met Cinder and got a glimpse at the scale of Romans 'Business' I knew that my actions had a huge effect. Nothing I did as an heiress or a homeless person had anywhere close to that kind of gravity. After I heard about how much the henchmen were being paid I didn't even ask for a raise.

This job gave me something that no amount of money could buy. Purpose. I decided that day that it was better to be a pawn than not even in the game. I knew that a single well placed pawn could win the entire game. Now imagine the effect one pawn could have if it could be everywhere at once. I came to realize that what side I played for didn't matter. I was a force powerful enough to dictate the outcome on both sides. I just didn't know it yet. Katie was never noticed and the mute bum never did anything of note. But as Neo, lets just say that to be feared means you are impossible to be ignored.