CHAPTER 3: HITCH-HIKING
Vene'sha began to run again. It wasn't long before she heard the worst thing she could imagine…silence. Yes, it sounds weird, but there you have it. The quietness was screaming in the thief's ears. She paused and held her breath. She needed sound. Then she could find the source of the sound and hide within the crowd that's making it. Nothing. Vene'sha cursed aloud. Then she heard the hoof beats. Clip Clop. She turned. The silhouettes of armed people on horses were coming up behind her. She began to run forwards again, using fear to pump her aching legs even faster. That's when she noticed the people in front. She was surrounded. The thief glanced to her left. A wall. She looked to the right. A fence. Good enough. She sprinted for the wooden fence, slamming her body against it because she was going to fast to slow down. Months of practice finally paid its toll as she used her skills to scale the small barrier. Vene'sha felt a hand brush her leg as tumbled over the other side. Boo-yah! She thought ecstatically, Thief; One. Pursuers; Nil!!
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Kel saw The Thief. The Stump had sent her and Neal over in the opposite street in case The Thief found a way to get herself over here; and she had: the fence. Kel briefly wondered how someone could climb something that high, but she pushed the thoughts aside as she and Neal sprinted after The Thief. They saw the bandit jump onto the back of a merchant's cart. Neal began to slow, already giving up.
"We can still catch up!" Kel called over her shoulder to the traitorous Neal. He heaved his shoulders in a heavy sigh and quickened his pace. Kel noticed the cart The Thief had disappeared into was speeding up, so with a sudden burst of energy Kel caught up with the cart and jumped in the back.
"Gotcha!" Kel said with satisfaction as she saw the black robed thief glance up in surprise. Then it was Kel's turn to be shocked…The Thief was just a girl, not much older than she. I have gone into the right cart haven't I? Kel wondered. Suddenly the thief jumped up, pushing Kel down to the ground. Kel felt a blow against her head. She had endured worse. Kel flung The Thief off and kicked her in the solar plexus. The Thief bent over, winded. Kel pushed her, probably causing more damage than to what was intended; The Thief tripped backwards over a coil of rope and fell, smashing her head against the corner of a wooden crate. At first Kel didn't realise what she had just inflicted upon the Thief, but when the body didn't move…And then the blood trickled over The Thief's face… Kel gasped, What have I done?! Kel ripped a bit of material off her shirt, ready to use it as a bandage to stop the flow of blood. Kel couldn't bear to think she had just killed someone. I don't care whether she's a thief or not, Kel thought savagely, I'm not going to let her die!


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Liaska :)