One

Morning finally arrived after I had waited rather impatiently for it all night long. After morning came nighttime and with night came the prospect of money. Then, I could take the money and run before Lydecker decided to come lurking about. Had to keep on the move or else the enemy was eventually going to catch up with you. All smart people should know that unspoken rule. Unfortunately, for the human population, some people aren't that intelligent.

I walked down the sidewalk among very few other people. Not many other people are out at daybreak. Guess I'm just odd.

My stomach was growling and I hated that fact. Hated the fact that I had to stop and eat when I could be doing much more important things. Food didn't interest me. So, I didn't have a favorite food or one I despised, like most people. Food was food. Something you eat and crap out later on. That's really all there was to it.

But, seeing how I wasn't immortal and needed to eat, I began to look for somewhere I could grab a quick meal without being too conspicuous. Harder than it sounds. Walking into a restaurant at close to six o'clock in the morning will get anybody noticed. As if in anger, my stomach growled again, and I decided I'd better get something to eat.

I turned down another street and found that there were indeed some places open at the early hour. Most were cheap, family owned restaurants that prided themselves on, "The best breakfast food in the city". Breakfast. That would work for me.

A small building huddled in between some other street shops caught my attention as a distinguished looking couple exited, carrying doggie bags with leftover food. Sad, I thought to myself, their pet animal gets fed better than I do. A pity too.

Still, I decided not to stand there and wallow in my self-misery that a dog was getting fed better than me and walked into the restaurant.

There were a couple people inside, most busy reading the paper. Perfect. They wouldn't notice me at all with their noses shoved in the reading. The lights inside the building were much dimmer than the bright sun outside and it took a bit of time before my eyes totally adjusted. Scattered about the rusty carpeting were tables with chairs, some even having people sitting at them. Off to the side, there was a bar like area where people could sit on the stools and eat even though a sign proclaimed that no alcoholic beverages were served.

Choosing not to mingle with the other people, I casually strolled over to that area and pulled up a tippy stool. An old lady with far too many wrinkles and sags greeted me and rattled off a menu order. She was bored with her job and was most likely tired of having to serve people over and over and over.

I decided to have a muffin. Muffins couldn't be that expensive-could they? Well, if it was too pricey, I'd just have to grab the freaking muffin and run like crazy so they didn't send the cops after me for stealing a muffin. I laughed quietly to myself at the thought of being accused as a "muffin robber".

"Well, well, well, guess you decided to stick around after all," a voice said. I looked up, not sure if they were talking to me. Standing in front of me behind the counter was nobody else besides Carly.