thyone eckhart }} d6. fin.

A chill runs down my spine as the cold wind works its way through the alley way. Loose strands of her cover my face, blocking my vision randomly. I do not like being blind. Not because I am scared of the dark- 

but because I do not know when they will come. 

I know what they coming for, but I do not know what they're willing to do to get it.

The wind picks up, whistling as it blows over the brick walls. I wrap my jacket around be tighter, trying to block out the cold, even though I know how useless it really is. The bag weighs heavy in my pocket, much heavier than I know it really is. Every part of my body tells me to leave, but I know I must stay.

A branch snaps somewhere farther down, and no matter how much I know not to, I can't help but turn on my heels and make my way back into the streets. But before I can even take a step cold metal is pressed against my head and an audible click is made as the hammer is moved into place.

"Don't move,"

And I can't even breathe, let alone move.

I should not be here. 

I am nine.

This is not my place.

"I could have died,"

She doesn't even look up. She just continues to count her money, organizing stacks on our kitchen table. I try to block everything from my mind, pretend it didn't happen, but it feels as if I'm still there. I can swear the cold metal of the barrel is still pressed against my skin. I shiver a little and I have to run my hand across my temple to make sure it wasn't there.

Still silence. Just the gentle rustling of money as she counts and recounts and then counts again. Suddenly she stops.

"They shorted us,"

"Who the hell cares? I almost-"

"You had one job, I can't believe you,"

"There was a gun against my head! If you're so concerned you go and do it yourself next time,"

And the next thing I know she's getting up so fast the the legs of the chair are scraping against the floor. I blink and her hand is across my face.

"Don't you dare speak to me like that ever again. I have done so much-"

"Fuck you Mom,"

I slam the door behind me before she even gets a chance to respond. The tears in my eyes threaten to spill over, but I do not let them. I wander the streets with nothing but the clothes on my back. I pull my coat around me tighter as the wind chills the air. I do not know exactly where I am going, but I have heard of them. 

It feels like hours when I finally find myself on the stairs of a huge house. No one has to tell me, I just know this is it. I knock gently, and a women appears almost instantly. She looks down on me with caring eyes, and I feel as if no one could hurt me here.

"Please, I have no where to go,"

She doesn't say a word, instead she pulls me in for a hug and guides me inside.

For once, I feel as if I am finally safe.