Never belonged [Zoe]

We can escape

Over my seventeen short years of living I've had the pleasure of finding out that in most cases it's best to stay out of things. I know it seems cowardly, everyone expects someone like me to be a hero, to step in when I see something remotely wrong or dodgy, to have the courage to say 'that ain't right, stop that.' I've been called out on that particular thing so many times by friends and family but I've found that it's better to just look out for myself and keep Jett to Jett as sad as that sounds.

That's why I tend to avoid going out into the streets when it hits dark, because that's when most dodgy things happen in the streets. That and the fact my parents absolutely hate it when I go out at night. No doubt they might have a paranoia about me going outside and either getting involved in something dodgy or being the victim of something dodgy myself. Not that my parents getting pissed off has ever stopped me in the past but when it comes to going out in the dark I kind of have to agree with them on this. No doubt I'll find myself in some stupid situation where someone expects me to be a hero.

For that reason I'm dreading but praising this opportunity to be in the shop alone for once. Now usually the Boss wouldn't exactly like me being around hot fire and all this metal and equipment unsupervised, usually he wouldn't actually be allowed to leave a minor unsupervised around all this dangerous equipment by some kind of safety rule but the Peacekeepers never really check up on that kind of stuff, particularly when it comes to the safety of the citizens of a District. Nah, they're just there to beat us up if we do something wrong, not for the safety. I've heard of lots of people not following about the 'important safety rules' and they don't even get a slap on the wrist.

Boss never really let me around this kind of stuff alone because it's a trust thing. I'm still a young kid in his mind, sometimes being a bit naive and depressing and he would kill me and then himself if I messed up anything important, he's always gotta be staring at me if I craft something, making sure I ain't gonna fuck it up. He told me to stay here for the night but not to try and make anything, he's never been comfortable leaving it unattended, three times he's been robbed the past two months so I guess he needs someone to be watching the shop while he gets to see his wife and kids.

The store should be engulfed by blackness, every corner of it practically is but my candle punctures the darkness, leaving a hole of light in the otherwise suffocating blackness. One would think I'd be tired, practically dozing off and falling asleep in the shop but I ain't, I'm sharp as a sword, as hardened as a Peacekeeper's helmet and as alert as a guard dog. If I fell asleep and we got robbed I'd either find myself killed by the robbers or killed by The Boss when he comes back in the mornin'.

Gotta be alert, awake, not sleeping. I've heard of a rich people drink called 'coffee' oh that would be so useful right now. But hey, the candle is a good way of staying awake, the heat is basically ensuring I don't fall asleep, I'd never sleep with an open flame near me. I'm sitting on a bench by the window, staring in the street for any sign of someone trying something dodgy. It's surprisingly empty, only a few shadows in the dark pass by but they don't stop to even check out the shop. They can probably see the candle I think. That's sure to scare someone off.

It ain't long before another shadow shrouded by the dark stops in the street, not following the pattern of the other few strands of shadows of walking by without even a second thought. I can't see who it is clearly, just another shadow in the dark.

It'll go away. The candle, no one would be mad enough to break in when there's clearly someone in here right?

Three more minutes of staring and the shadow still lingers outside.

How suspicious.

Maybe I just need to stop staring, my mum always told me if I dwell on things they remain.

I step away from the window sill, slinking into my own shadows in order to find myself a loaf of bread.

I return, and the shadow is still there. My jaw instinctively clenches. Well what can I do? Sit here and wait for it to break in and slit my throat? Every moment I delay gives it time to study the building, prepare, maybe got more of its robber friends.

I take a deep breath, I have to chase it away.

I quickly feel to see if I still have my keys (how embarrassing would it be if I locked myself out?) and step towards the door. Breathe in and out. I've never been a fighter, never liked to fight. Yea I'm stocky, well-built and look intimidating but I'm not the kind of guy to break someone's nose for annoying me. I keep myself to myself, let my figure scare them away. I have to go out and do this, I can't fail The Boss. So I bite my lip, clench my fist and swing open the door.

I instantly feel an ominous breeze that's almost meant to send me a message to go back inside, leave this shadow to it's own devices. No, I just can't.

I inhale and try my best to look intimidating before speaking. "Oi, I don't want any trouble so stay away from the shop and move along!" I call out, suppressing any kind of fear I may have of this shadow.

This is why I stay at home when it's night.


✨ zozo.