ToaR Ch 6: (Edit on a later date)
The sun had already begun to rise and Shale was still searching for Edward. She had already looked through the edge of the town so she started to venture deeper. She pulled out her daggard every now and then whenever she saw another homeless person or thuggish figure glance at her. Shale had a thin frame but she made up for it with her crazed glare. Anyone smart enough would have the sense to leave her alone.
"Great, been searchin' for half the dam day and nothing to show for it but some scratches and a empty stomach.' She frowned and rolled her eyes bitterly. "But hell, I've already put enough effort into finding this guy and I'm not giving up. Still, there had to be a easier way to find him."
'You could always ask Picks' A part of her whispered at the back of her mind. 'Wait, what? No, no way am I making another deal with him. Hell no.'
Picks was a street vendor who was know for almost always cheating of the locals money and leaving them poorer than most people on the streets. He was, however, one of the most informed person Shale knew when it came to up to date information. And admittedly, when it came to that he was honest enough.
'Well, its either that or pray someone else doesn't get to him first.' She stepped out of the alley onto the open street and took a moment for her eyes to adjust. The town was small and since it was early in the morning Shale didn't need to worry about anyone giving her sideways glances. It was the primary reason she stuck to the shadows. Even though she was used to being stared at, the extra attention made her skin crawl.
Shale started to walk towards the general store which was where Picks would set up each day. When she got there she saw him; a bald black man in his late 20's to early 30's wearing a burgundy collared shirt and washed out jeans being pushed out of the doorway by a younger man waving a broom at him. The latter held a small fabric bag with a rugged blue carpet sticking out along with a few supplies. She could hear them shouting at least a block away.
"Alright, alright, I get the message. Still, if the ladies up for a good time she knows where to find m-" Picks was silenced when the store owner threw what looked like a apple at the back of Picks head which caused him to stumble out the doorway. "You know where to call!"
Picks sat cross-legged against the wall and held a dumb grin on his face. Shale rolled her eyes and walked in front of him. "I thought you said never to make a bet you can't win."
Picks looked up and was still smiling at Shale "Ah, just you wait. She'll be back. It happens to everyone." His smile turned into a lazy smirk. "Though I don't suppose that's what your here for?"
"I'm looking for information." Shale said bluntly.
"Always to the point." Picks pulled something out of his sleeve and it was a pair of granola bars. "Hungry? Us vermin need to stick together."
Shale, as usual, was skeptical. She crossed her arms and didn't reach out. "Given what you've been dealing, I wouldn't touch anything you have."
"Hey, I wash my hand. I didn't add anything, I swear." He began to unwrap the first bar and held out the other to Shale. "But if your company has a price then, consider this payment."
"Then it's a good thing I won't be here long." She shot back. Picks just sighed and started eating the other bar.
"So-" Picks started with his mouth half full "-whaddya need? There's a rumble out near that abandoned warehouse if your interested. I've got a bettin' pool set up there."
"You already know my answer Picks."
"True, but you've been missed. 'Sides, there's good money to be made"
"As if that's where you get yours from." She muttered "Anyways, I'm looking for someone."
Shale stood up and looked down at Picks. " He's a few inches taller then me, shaggy black hair, no shirt, number 2 tattooed on his back and grey skin."
"Wait... what?" Picks perked up when Shale mentioned that last point. "Grey skin? Seriously?"
Shale hardened her stare.
"Okay, your serious." Picks raised his arms in a 'calm down' gesture. "I haven't seen anyone like that. Where'd you find him?"
She was beginning to grow impatient. "Does it matter? Have you heard of him or not!"
Picks scratched that back of his bald head apologetically. "Sorry, I don't have anything. What's his name?"
"His name is Edward." Shale hissed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "If you don't have anything useful to me then I won't bother staying here."
Picks just laughed at the younger girls outburst. "You haven't changed at all." He stood, smiling at the younger girl. "Stubborn as stone and twice as solid."
Shale slaped his hand away and stepped back "And you haven't changed enough." Her expression hardened again. "But you still don't have anything useful so I'll just keep searching for Eddy myself.
"If you need to find me, don't."
She started to walk away, leaving Pick to wonder about her choice of words.
She scanned the open streets, hoping to see Edward huddled on the side of a building but so far she found nothing. Shale did however, did notice some yelling coming from an incoming alleyway. Deciding that she may as well investigate, she saw four boys, two about her age and two slightly younger, all of them dressed in fine clothing. They were circled around a pile of old cardboard boxes that appeared to be... shaking?
"What was that thing?"
"How the hell should I know!"
"Let's get a better look!"
Shale made sure to step quietly, using the lack of light to her advantage. She ducked behind any kind of debris so she could get as close a look as possible. If it wasn't Edward then she'd have an easier time escaping. If it was Edward, then she would have the element of surprise on her. Besides, how many other red-heads do you expect to jump you in a alleyway?
She peaked over the top of the dumpster she used as cover. Now the boys were about two to three feet in front of her and she had a clearer view of the boxes. Through a crack she could make out something that had the texture of fabric and if she squinted near the top she could find wisps of dark black hair. It was enough for Shale to think it was Edward.
She started to plan out what to do next. But something, she didn't know what, caused one of the boys to turn there head around. She ducked immanently, hoping she wasn't seen but what he said next made her cuss silently.
"Guys, I thinks there's somethin' else back here."
These were the times she cursed her unique hair colour. Any other colour would have been better better, black, brown, even blond she could hide to some degree but nooo. It was red, she had to get stuck with red. Granted, it was a more rusted colour but it was still obvious. She could hear one of the boys footsteps as she sheathed her knife in one of her belt buckles, that would have been overkill, and readied her fist.
When the boys frame came into view she jumped out and aimed a punch at his face. He looked shocked before falling backwards into a wall. It wasn't hard enough to knock him our but he'd be disoriented for a few minutes. The rest of the boys turned towards the noise, faces first showing surprise then anger. Before any of them had a chance to say anything, Shale stared down the remaining three. "If you don't want to end up like your friend, then I'll give you a chance to leave."
One of the younger ones had to be held back by the other two who were obviously angry, but didn't want to fight someone they didn't need to. Shale took this as defiance rather that reluctance and let the tip of her knife shine out from her sleeve. "But if you don't. Then just know I was holding back."
That got a clearer reaction. Each of them back away slightly, eyeing the knife. Shale sidestepped out of the way and extended her had as if she opened a door. Her head jerked towards the entrance of the alley, meaning for them to hurry. Two of them ran out immediately but the one they had to hold back stopped near the boy Shale had knocked down and slung his arm over his back.
'Brothers probably.' She watched them leave the alley and turned back to the pile of boxes. 'Thankful I don't have to deal with that. Then again- ' She stepped forward and crouched. Now she could see a pair of coal black eyes looking up at her, filled with a mix of confusion and surprise. '-now get to deal with you now.'
