This chapter is a flashback as to how Jaclyn left the underground. I will post the flashback chapter in two parts and after this the main story continues. A bit of a filler chapter but not entirely as some characters will appear again later in the story. (I'll post part 2 in two days or so.) Enjoy! ^ - ^
A boy came running down the alley where I was sitting, enjoying my apple and the silence that filled the air. It was surprisingly fresh and every bite I took had a nice 'crunch' sound to it. Usually all the bad and old foods go to the underground leaving us with crummy leftovers from above.
"Hey, find your own place." I said irritated.
"Shhh." He placed a finger over my lips to hush me.
I slapped his hand away and drew a knife out of my sleeve, holding it against his cheek. "Don't you dare touch me."
"Sorry." He whispered throwing his hands in the air. "I just need to stay here for a while."
"Why?" I asked lifting my brow questioning.
"Only for a couple of minutes." He said softly, panting as he leaned against the wall.
The boy looked wary of our surroundings, but there isn't a lot here, only the filthy walls around us and a peaceful silence, now disrupted by him. He was neatly dressed in a light blue blouse and beige trousers, compared to most people who walked down here, he looks pretty groomed. He crouched and peered at me from behind his curtain of messy black mid-length hair.
"You didn't answer my question." I said, still cautious even though he didn't seem to be a threat.
"I'm Kay." He held his hand out.
I still held the fruit in my left and the knife in my right hand, obviously I wasn't letting one of them go to shake his and he moved his hand back in almost an instant. "Why are you here Kay?" I tried again, demanding an answer while I took another bite of my heavenly crisp apple.
"To hide." He said as if he wasn't sure himself. "Why are you here…?"
"Lyn, and it looks like we have something in common Kay."
"Nice to meet you Lyn." He now smiled tentatively not looking so vigilant anymore. "Who are you hiding from?"
"No one in particular."
To be honest, I just came here to eat in peace but even that seemed too much to ask for.
"Andreasen!" A man shouted at the end of the alley as I hear footsteps nearing. His body is blocking the little and only ray of light that made its way into the alley.
"Is he calling for you?" I ask, glancing up to him.
He looks tense, body stiff as the man calls again. "Kay Andreasen!" This time louder.
Hell, there is literally no private place around here. Come on Jaclyn, no time to mingle into someone else's problems.
I sighed and stood up, walking towards the only exit and the man who was calling for the boy. Apple in my left hand and the knife in my right hand hidden from his sight, I started walking.
"That man is dangerous." He said just above a whisper but still audible to me.
"Nothing I can't handle."
Not eying the man I walked past him, taking another bite of the delicious green fruit.
"Oi, there is a boy in the alley right?" He now sounded calm but his face told another story, he looked enraged. I wonder what that innocent looking guy has done in order to get this man's blood boiling.
"Don't know, go see for yourself old man." I said, not bothering to give him a single glance.
He whacked the apple out of my hand causing it to fall into a puddle of what probably was sewer water. He grabbed my collar and slams me against the damp, dirty walls of the underground. His face came near to mine as he examined me.
Did the asshole really just throw my food away?
"Stupid fucking youth these days!" He spat at me, his stinky breath reaching my nostrils.
"Maybe you should go brush your fucking teeth." I said with a grin on my face, clearly unimpressed by his harsh tone.
"I'll come, but leave her alone." Kay dubiously spoke.
His frame moved towards us entering the light gradually from the darkness. The man instantly let my collar go and aimed his full attention to the boy who now stood in the middle of the alley, visible as the light fell upon him. He didn't seem tense or worried anymore; I think he was bracing himself to fight a way out of whatever mess he is in.
'Not your business' I thought to myself, turning around tucking the knife into my sleeve again, ready for it to be pulled within a second if needed.
I heard a faint clicking sound coming from where I just stood.
"Don't!"
Kay stood there with his hands up, a gun aimed at him that the old geezer is holding.
"Too late."
"I said not your goddamn business." I whispered, trying to convince myself as I turned around.
I leaped forward drawing the knife out for the second time today, grabbing the man by his neck and holding the cold blade against it.
"Let go of the gun." I hissed into his ear trying to move his arm into another direction, anywhere was good as long as it wasn't pointed at the boy who stood before us.
As soon as I feel him stretch his arm out again, I pull his arm up, a deafening shot rang through the air. I took control over his arm and pinned it against his back sweeping him off his feet to the ground, he struggled under my grasp like a stranded fish trying to get back to water.
Again, a loud bang filled the air, echoing through the underground city. Surely to be heard kilometres from this damned place.
A sharp stinging pain was burning in my side.
He shot me?
My hand trailed along my left side where the pain was; right away I could feel the hot fluids seeping out of my body.
He fucking shot me. I took the blade I was holding and jabbed it in his shoulder. "You fucking bastard, first you throw my apple away and then you fucking shoot me!"
My heart was beating fast as adrenaline and anger filled my body and mind.
I gave him a thrust to his temple at which he groaned in pain. He stirred trying to break free from my grasp whilst spitting unintelligible curse words at me.
"We need to get away from here!" Kay said who now was running towards us.
I tried to get to my feet but the pain in my left side was excruciating, making it difficult to stand up as my wound stretched out, blood now flowing out faster. The red plasma stained bright red against my white shirt as it was soaking up the fluids. I climbed off the man, failing to stand up as I immediately tumbled against the wall, falling to the dirty ground.
"Shit." I breathed out, pressing my hand against the gunshot wound trying to stop or at least delay more blood of flowing out.
Kay kneeled in front of me. "The Military Police must be on their way, we need to get away from here." His hand slipped under my legs while his other arm took a firm grip around my waist and he lifted me up.
"Let me go." I said through gritted teeth, trying to find the power to move out of his tight grasp but my body failed me as my head fell against his chest, too exhausted to move.
"Don't be stupid." He looked at me, my motionless body in his arms. "I'll get us somewhere safe."
My eyes closed shut as the throbbing heartbeat of the boy carrying me was the only sound reaching my hearing. I'm doing my best trying to not to focus on the agonizing pain and slowly, the sounds around me faded to nothing as I lost consciousness.
I woke up to the smell of strong anti-bacterial cleaner as I slowly lifted my heavy eyelids. I am lying down on my back and my body aces with every move while trying to sit straight up, taking note of my unfamiliar surroundings.
"She woke up Kay!" I saw a red haired boy standing on the other side of the room, arms crossed as he was grinning at me.
"This is her?" A girl not older than me said, walking in the room with two other boys.
I leaned on both of my elbows as I pushed myself up. "Who the fuck are you brats?" I said eying them closely, trying to remember how in the hell I ended up here with these people I've never met before.
"Watch your language when you're in our house." The ginger male spoke up again, taking a few steps forward.
"Like I give a fuck." I spat at him. I throw my legs over the bed and I stood up unsteadily. My head throbs severely and I become nauseous when the odor of medicine reaches my nostrils again.
"If you don't watch out you'll faint again." He smirked taking another few steps towards me.
I am desperately trying to remember why I am here, who these people are, if I've ever seen them before and why my body is in so much pain. What feels like a hundred questions pop up and I end up not being able to focus on a single one, so I stand here, completely unknowing.
I narrow my eyes, about to spit an insult when I see yet another guy walking in to the room. It's like my memory sparked to life upon seeing those dark long locks again. I lost consciousness when he carried me out of the alley where the fucking bastard had shot me.
"Ethan what are you doing." He spoke up.
"Just checking on our guest." He answered, squinting his eyes at me before turning around. "She needs to learn some damn manners." He motioned to me.
"Just get out will you, all of you."
"Yes, sir." He rolled his eyes before he walked away, the others wordlessly following him on his way out.
"Sorry about that." He began, scratching the back of his head. "So, how do you feel?"
"Well I got shot, you do the math." I muttered, taking place on the edge of the bed. I lifted the dirty, bloodstained shirt to look at the wound but it was already neatly bandaged.
"I cleaned it up and had to put a few stiches, the bullet only damaged the outer skin. Within a few weeks you won't feel any of it." He kindly smiled at me.
"Are you a doctor or something?" I asked while looking around the room. It is a spacious room but there's next to nothing in it. An empty wooden desk but no chair, a closet and the bed I was sitting on.
"No but my dad was, I always observed when he was working so I know a few basic things." He explained.
"Right…" I pushed myself off the bed, once more attempting to stand, this time more stable. "I need to go."
He frowned and looked confused. "You should rest, after all you just got shot."
"I have somewhere I need to be." It felt like my head was slightly spinning and the room became blurry but the sensation was gone again in a second. "Exactly what did you give me?" I looked back at him.
"Just some painkillers, if you don't watch out you'll faint again, and you don't want to faint out there." He peers out of the window and I followed his gaze, I realize I was in the east side of the underground city.
"You live here in Asama?" I asked.
Asama is the richer neighbourhood of the underground. Everyone who lives underground is poor, but the people who live in Asama go up often and can afford fresh food, not just the leftovers the rest has to deal with.
Baffled he looked at me. "How could you tell with just one glance out of the window?"
"I know the underground by heart."
I walked over to the door, even if I wanted to stay here, I can't. Tonight I have a job to take care of and I can't let this one slip, when I successfully complete this one, I have gathered enough money for the citizenship above.
However, nothing will stop me from doing this.
I walk the stairs and he follows me down. The rest is sitting in the living room. I ignored them and wanted to walk outside but I smelled fresh baked bread and when I did, I realised I haven't eaten for a while. The only piece of fruit I had was thrown in sewer water and the thought made me bitter all over again.
"What do you think you're doing?" The boy named Ethan asked and stood up.
"Can't you see?" I asked and grabbed a piece of bread from the counter. I wouldn't take food of people that don't have enough themselves, but clearly they weren't low on food. "I'm taking some before I leave." When I turned around he put both his hands against the counter, closing me in.
"Ethan." Kay said but this time he ignored him.
I take a bite and lift my brow while looking at him. "Your friend owes me." I glance over to Kay and Ethan followed my gaze. "But, this will do just fine." I lifted my knee and hit him in the stomach and he fell to the ground. Kay didn't move but the rest got to their feet and gasped in what I think was disbelief or perhaps surprise.
I walked over to the table in the middle of the room where I saw my knife lying. "I think this is mine." I said and took a hold of it.
I heard footsteps and saw in the window my reflection, behind me one of the boys walking up to me. I turned and lifted my knife to his throat, his eyes went wide in astonishment. I faced him, then Ethan, before my eyes met Kay's. His expression is serious, not surprised unlike the rest. I then realized he's most likely their leader.
"Kay! Aren't you going to do something?" The girl shouted but he remained silent as his eyes remained glued onto mine. I nearly forgot the boy standing in front of me till he grabbed my wrist with both of his hands. I pulled my arm backwards and his body followed, I then suddenly stopped, pushing my elbow towards his face and it collided directly with his face. He stumbles backwards, covering his nose where blood is dripping out.
"I think that's enough." Kay spoke at last.
I surely do agree with him. I want to get away from this place and I need to get back home and prepare myself for tonight.
"Sorry to have bothered you." I put the knife in my back pocket. "Now if you'll excuse me." I turned and walked out the door, glancing over my shoulder one last time before shutting it behind my back.
I let out a audible sigh as I cautious walked through the neighbourhood to my home, normally I wouldn't stand out too much but now in the richer neighbourhood I do. People are dressed more properly and here am I, walking in my blood stained shirt and messy hair with a piece of bread in my hand. Not making too much eye contact on the way I walked the long painful road to the west side of town, where my house is located.
I arrive home but there is someone sitting on my staircase smoking a cigarette. "What do you want?" I asked, standing from a distance as I realized who it is. Every time she visited me unexpectedly it had to mean something bad for me.
"There's a change in plans." She said after she exhaled and a small cloud of smoke lingered from her mouth and resolved in the air. "Aren't you going to invite me inside?"
I walked past her and entered my home as she followed right behind me. "April!" I called her.
Yawning with a hand before her mouth she came walking down the stairs and she stopped when she saw Alys behind me. "What is she doing here?" She asked sleepily but she blinked a few times before her eyes widened when she focused on me. "What the hell happened to you?!"
"Never mind that, could you get me a new shirt." I asked and she hesitated before walking back up the stairs again.
Alys Sadler. A woman in her mid thirties, with ridiculous long auburn hair that reaches her lower back. She has a slim face, chocolate brown eyes and somehow this mysterious aura. She's always dressed in heels, matching clothing and the look is completed with fitting jewellery.
Alys Sadler is the woman I've been working for over the past few years. She's the one that gave me the highest paying jobs but also the most risky ones. Her jobs always mean business and I received good pay-checks but they were honestly bothersome. She's known as an infamous criminal here in the underground, but people don't know her face or name. After 4 years of working for her I found out she's actually a well-known figure within the Military Police. Within the corrupted system she has her way of making sure things go according to her plan. Furthermore I don't really care, she offers me jobs and I'm more than happy to take them on.
"What change in plans?" I asked impatiently and stood while she took place at the table.
"Before you interrupt me, let me finish talking." She began and made herself comfortable on the chair. "We found out that the house you're supposed to break in has been secured even more, therefore we hired another group you'll have to work with that's specialized in break-ins."
Already dreading the possibility of working with others I opened my mouth but she held her finger up. "Let me finish. I know what you think, but they're exceptional in breaking in, I'll leave the rest of the job to you and you will receive the same amount of money."
I slammed my hands onto the table. "I can't accept that. It'll only be an nuisance, I can handle this on my own!"
"There's no room for error."
"I understand, that's why-"
"Either you will work with them or I'll find someone else Jaclyn. You always deliver good work but I won't be taking any chances on this one." She interrupted me.
April sat in the corner of the room with a clean shirt on her lap, silently observing the scene. I felt conflicted, with newbies involved I might fail, but if I do succeed I get to leave the underground together with April for good.
"How many others?" I asked annoyed, already feeling defeated.
"Five, their leader is highly skilled, he already accepted to work with you."
I sighed loudly and plopped onto the chair. "Give me ten percent extra and I'll do it." I threw my hands over each other.
Alys smiled. "I'll honesty miss you down here." She grabbed her bag and put it onto the table and I saw it contained the money. "Now I'll have to find someone who's as capable and reliable as you." She took a cigarette and and lit it with her lighter, inhaling and blowing the smoke out.
I walked over to her and snatched it from her lips, pressing it out against a plate. "There are enough people who want to work with you, it won't be too hard finding someone." I put the cigarette back into her pocket. "And you should know by now, not in my house."
She chuckled. "See, that's why I like you, bold as ever despite knowing who you're dealing with." She jokingly winked and put her hand on my shoulder. "It was good working with you, Jaclyn. Who knows, maybe we'll see each other again someday, but this time up there."
"I hope not, unless you have some good news for a change." I sincerely said. I've grown a liking to her, and she to me, but in the end she does mean trouble. Perhaps when I'll be done with this I'll be able to find a real job and earn money in a normal acceptable way, not by killing people and breaking in.
"I wish you best of luck tonight. Now then, I should get going." She reassuringly squeezed my shoulder before she turned.
I walked to the door and held it open for her and she walked out, down the stairs and onto the streets. Lighting her cigarette as two men appeared out of nowhere and walked by her side. She waved me goodbye while looking onwards.
It's odd that I won't be seeing her from now on. In a really weird way I'm used to her visits and discussing her issues that I needed to solve. I can tell, she's grown unprofessionally close to me as she gave me more money then I should earn with certain jobs and often tells me more than I should know. I noticed how I put more effort when it came to her job requests.
When she disappeared from my sight I looked above, to the dark ceiling where no ray of sunlight will ever be able to shine through. It's honestly depressing, but knowing that I'll soon be able to leave this place gives me a glimpse of hope for the future. April won't have to live the life I led so far. A live where seeing and causing bleedings is a daily occurrence. We'll be able to live like normal people do, not being wary of everything and everyone. To live freely without worries, a job and a monthly income, food on the table every day.
If I accomplish this, if I'll be able to feel the sun on my skin, I know I've made it. I'll be keeping my eyes on the sun forever. For a lot down here, it's a wish that will never be granted.