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{\header\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1\tqc\tx4320\tqr\tx8640\fs20\par
}{\footer\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1\tqc\tx4320\tqr\tx8640\fs20\par
}When Iiana had been five years old, her mother had brought her to\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Porttown 
for a 'visit'. She remembered her mother leaving her in their\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 shared room
 as she went to 'get some dinner' for them.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Her mother
 never returned. Iiana was left with 2 copper pieces to\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 survive on
.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 The naive
 child was parted from her last two pieces of currency without\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 even realizing
 she had been hustled, asking a young man to help her find\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 her mother
. She had presented her money and he had presented her with\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 his backside
 as he walked away, laughing. It was then that Iiana\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 realized, 
and stuck to the ideal that no one, absolutely no one was to\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 be trusted
.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 She was deposited
 from the Inn that next morning, left to fend for\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 herself in
 the cutthroat town of thieves and murderers. She had asked to\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 stay and 
work, but they had no need for her, nor did they show her any\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 sort of consideration
 or concern for her new plight. Iiana had been\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 terrified
, thrown into an unknown location by her birth mother, left to\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 survive on
 her own with no skills, no shelter, nothing but the clothes\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 on her back
. It had rained that night she had been abandoned, left to\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 huddle in
 a dark alley where voices came from all angles and eyes seemed\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 to sear into
 her skin. She remembered crying that night, and she did not\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 sleep.\par
}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 The weeks
 went by in a blur for her, her cute little pink tunic now torn\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 and dirty
, the colors only a dull version of the beauty that it had once\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 been. Her
 shoes had been stolen sometime in between, so now she walked\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 barefoot. 
She had not bathed since she had been abandoned, she had only\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 eaten maybe
 five times, those times being only scraps from the garbage.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 She remembered
 being hungry constantly, nothing she did or tried to do\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 helped her
 ravenous appetite. She rarely slept for the voices scared\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 her, she 
was too terrified to speak to anyone for fear that they would\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 kill her. 
She had seen so much death in the weeks she had been here that\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 she finally
 understood why no one was ever phased by it. She remembered\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 missing her
 home, her mother, the warmth of a good fire and good food,\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 but they 
had become distant memories, all she could remember now was\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 that the 
food was good, not what it had tasted like. Cold, it was always\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 so cold in
 Porttown...\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 It had been
 an apple that she had first tried to steal. Despite the fact\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 that she 
had been born into a peasant family, as a child she had been\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 taught that
 stealing, no matter what, was wrong. So as the weeks went by\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 she had only
 eaten from the garbage, but she was starving, and scraps lately \par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 had been 
slim to none. She needed food, she had felt her body becoming\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 weaker, her
 tunic was beginning to droop and sag on her pale little\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 body. It 
was just an apple, surely an apple could be spared from so many\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 on the cart
. It sat there, in plain view of everyone, that cart with the\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 juicy apples
. They shined in the sun, those beautiful red apples. She\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 had just 
wanted one, just one to bide her until she could eat again.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Iiana remembered
 sneaking on the broad side of the cart, waiting until\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 the salesman
 had his attentions turned elsewhere. She remembered\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 creeping 
down low, moving from the alley in the shadows, keeping her\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 gaze locked
 onto the man as she moved forward inch by inch. He was\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 talking to
 a friend, chatting and laughing it up. Just a few more\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 inches...
just a few...\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Despite her
 thinning and weak form, she had snatched the apple with\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 almost lightening
 speed, quickly turning and bolting down the alley. She\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 could hear
 the alarmed voices and footsteps behind her and she tried to\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 run faster
, but her legs were so small, she knew that it would only be a\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 matter of
 time before they caught her...\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 "Turn to 
the right! NOW!"\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 She didn'
t recognize the voice but she knew this small area and she knew\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 turning right
 would lead her into a dead end. She didn't want to trust\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 the voice
, it was just someone trying to get her caught, someone who\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 wanted to
 see her get her hand removed for kicks. She didn't want her\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 hand to get
 cut off, she just wanted to eat...all she wanted to do was\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 eat...\par
}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 "NOW dumbass
!"\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 A small flare
 of anger shifted through her and she found herself\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 twisting 
her body to turn into the obvious dead end. She heard the\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 footsteps
 getting closer, they knew she had come this way, it would only\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 be a matter
 of time until they grabbed her and had their way with her.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Would they
 sell her into slavery? Remove her hand? Beat her to death?\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Tears began
 to form in her eyes as she ran down the alley and sure\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 enough, a
 large brick wall greeted her. She hugged the stolen red apple\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 close to 
her body, tears of frustration and fear beginning to run down\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 her dirty
 cheeks. She didn't want to die, she didn't want to be\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 disfigured
, she just wanted something to eat. Why wouldn't anyone let\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 her eat?\par
}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 She felt 
something grab at her collar and pull her back harshly.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Immediately
 she tried to scream but a strong yet surprisingly small hand\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 clamped over
 her mouth. As she was pulled off to the side she tried to\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 squirm and
 struggle, but whoever held her had a tight grip. She felt\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 herself pressed
 against a body no bigger than hers but by a few inches,\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 definitely
 startling her. It wasn't until darkness engulfed her that she\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 realized 
that they had not only backed into the side of the alleyway\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 wall, but
 they had walked through it.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 ...Through
 it?\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Twenty paces
 later and after she had stopped resisting they stopped\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 moving. The
 hand over her mouth did not move, although it had loosened\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 in its death
 grip. It was completely dark, she could see not a thing,\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 all she could
 hear was the breathing of her captor, heavy and slightly\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 hesitant.
\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 "Hand goes
, mouth stays shut. Got it?"\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 The voice
 was unmistakably male, but the age sounded close to hers.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Surprised
 and confused, she nodded and as promised, he removed his hand\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 and released
 his hold on her. Turning, she tried to look at her captive\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 but it was
 still too dark, for she could barely see her hand in front of\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 her face.
\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 "Hang on, 
gotta get the light."\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 There was
 the sound of shuffling and then Iiana found herself wincing as flames of light 
appeared. The room lit up into a small chamber that was obviously underground. The
 walls seemed to be carved from rock and dirt, it was small and looked as if it 
were used for storage instead of  living. There was some empty crates off to the
 side, some straw that was collected up that had a sheet covering it; obviously 
a bed.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\u8220\'93
This place\u8217\'92s been abandoned, only I know where it is now\u8230\'85and only
 I can access it.\u8221\'94\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Turning, 
Iiana finally could see her \u8216\'91captor\u8217\'92. He was a boy, maybe a few
 years older than herself. He was a few inches taller than her, lanky and with a
 huge grin on his face. He had a few scars on his bare arms and his pants were almost
 shorts they were so worn, but still he grinned.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 He took a
 few steps toward her and she jumped back, hugging her apple close to her chest. 
She was not about to give this boy what she had almost died for\u8230\'85even if
 he had saved her life. Instead of getting annoyed at her response he simply grinned
 wider and continued to walk toward her. As they played the \u8216\'91walk up walk
 back\u8217\'92 game, Iiana found herself suddenly against the wall, and before 
she could scoot out of the way he put both of his hands on either side of her, trapping
 her.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\u8220\'93
Will ya talk to me now or do I have to hog tie ya?\u8221\'94 he asked, that infernal
, {\i irritating} grin never leaving his face.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Her response
 was to sniff indignantly at him.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Chuckling
, he leaned forward, putting his forehead against hers. \u8220\'93I need a partner
.\u8221\'94 he said, his grin turning lopsided \u8220\'93It\u8217\'92s hard ta steal
 by yourself.\u8221\'94 he tilted his head \u8220\'93Sides, you\u8217\'92re kinda
 cute.\u8221\'94\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 When she 
said nothing he moved away from her and walked over to one of the \u8216\'91empty
\u8217\'92 crates, pulling it open to reveal\u8230\'85\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Food! Wonderful
 and glorious food! Bread, apples, even some dried meats! Iiana hadn\u8217\'92t 
seen so much food since she had been abandoned so many weeks ago\u8230\'85but she
 couldn\u8217\'92t take this\u8230\'85\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 He looked
 at her hungry expression and grinned \u8220\'93I can get a whole lot more than 
this if I had someone helping me.\u8221\'94 he said \u8220\'93I can teach ya what
 you need to know, all I ask is that ya help me. You help, we eat. Fair trade right
? It\u8217\'92s either that or I can take you back outside to deal with it on your
 own. I know the area, this is my home, if you stick with me, you can survive. What
 do ya say? If you wanna join up, just start grubbing, I\u8217\'92ll even let you
 have it for free\u8230\'85.this time.\u8221\'94\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Clutching
 her apple, she looked at the food warily. On one hand, she wouldn\u8217\'92t be
 alone, but how was she so sure that he wouldn\u8217\'92t betray her the first change
 he got? He would probably use her for bait to get some big stash of food and leave
 her to die\u8230\'85\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 When she 
looked up, she started. The boy was looking down at the food with a rather forlorn
 expression\u8230\'85almost lonely. When he noticed she was staring that infernal
 grin returned and he even had the audacity to wink at her.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\i\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 He\u8217
\'92s just like me\u8230\'85he\u8217\'92s lonely and he doesn\u8217\'92t want to
 be lonely anymore. I\u8217\'92m hungry and I don\u8217\'92t want to be lonely anymore
. I\u8217\'92m tired of being scared\u8230\'85{\i0\par}}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\u8220\'93
W\u8230\'85will\u8230\'85you sell me out\u8230\'85?\u8221\'94 came the soft question
 from the little girl.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 The boy\u8217
\'92s face lit up for a brief moment before he forced himself to look smug again
 \u8220\'93Nah, I won\u8217\'92t do that. I want a partner, not a scapegoat. \u8220
\'93 he pulled out a dagger that he had hidden under his shirt and walked over to
 her \u8220\'93Here, I\u8217\'92ll even make a blood pact with you. If I betray 
you, I\u8217\'92ll let you kill me. Deal? I won\u8217\'92t even protest. Ya gotta
 be serious though, cuz a blood pact is the only thing thieves respect \u8216\'91
round here. You do it, it\u8217\'92s for life. I don\u8217\'92t betray you and you
 don\u8217\'92t betray me. We\u8217\'92ll be partners\u8230\'85and become the best
 fucking thieves Porttown has ever seen.\u8221\'94\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 He didn\u8217
\'92t mention that he had been watching her for weeks, fascinated by her, yet afraid
 to approach her. Being born and raised here he knew how you couldn\u8217\'92t trust
 anyone, but as he saw her stumble and struggle around, he knew it would have been
 only a matter of time before she got caught. She wasn\u8217\'92t very good, but
 she could be taught the basics and improve from there. He had been alone all of
 his life, and he had finally found someone that he knew wouldn\u8217\'92t back 
stab him\u8230\'85.in fact, he was sure she probably couldn\u8217\'92t do it even
 if she wanted to, she had morals, something everyone in this city, even he at times
, lacked severely. There was something about her that had made him watch her, maybe
 it was because she was the only other kid in the city that he knew of, most other
 kids didn\u8217\'92t last long around these parts\u8230\'85he had been lucky. The
 only way he could ensure her cooperation was if he tricked her into forming a \u8216
\'91blood pact\u8217\'92 with him. It didn\u8217\'92t even really exist, but she
 didn\u8217\'92t have to know that. There was no honor amongst thieves, none.\par
}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Holding his
 breath, he waited for her to make a decision. If she decided to join up with him
, he would be able to steal much better, plus he would have some company. She was
 untrusting but not so much that she couldn\u8217\'92t be fooled, and maybe, if 
they stuck together long enough, he\u8217\'92d tell her the truth\u8230\'85but not
 until he gained her trust.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 He was tired
 of being alone.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Slowly, hesitantly
, she took the dagger from his hand and looked at it. It had been the dagger that
 he had been left with as a child, and a dagger that he had somehow kept on his 
person all of his life. It was sharp, he kept it so as much as he could, and it 
was somewhat polished, but definitely not rusted. She looked at him for a long moment
, obviously debating on whether or not he was being honest. After what seemed like
 eternity, she turned the dagger on her upturned palm and slowly sliced a small 
cut on her hand. Wincing, tears began to water in her dark eyes and for some odd
 reason, he felt a little guilty. Dismissing the feeling, he took the dagger, sliced
 a cut into his own hand, and they clasped their bloodied hands together, confirming
 the fictional blood pact.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\u8220\'93
No betrayal, we\u8217\'92ll be partners till\u8230\'85\u8221\'94\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\u8220\'93
I made the blood pact, so you can\u8217\'92t betray me\u8230\'85we stay partners
 for life.\u8221\'94 she said stubbornly.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Surprised
 by her response, he nodded numbly, not exactly sure how to respond to her statement
. She gripped his hand tightly, as if to empathize her point, and he shrugged.\par
}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Why the hell
 not?\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\u8220\'93
Sure, now go eat. You look like shit.\u8221\'94 he said a little gruffly, still 
a little unsure on how to handle this new situation. \u8220\'93Tomorrow, I\u8217
\'92ll take ya someplace to get you cleaned up and some new threads. They\u8217\'92
re not great, but it\u8217\'92s better than what you have.\u8221\'94\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Smiling as
 he turned to her, he wondered if she even heard him, for the moment he had told
 her to \u8216\'91go eat\u8217\'92 she was already stuffing her face. Scratching
 the back of his head, he leaned against one of the walls of his\u8230\'85no, \u8217
\'92their\u8217\'92 home, looking at his bloody hand.\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28\par}

\pard\nowidctlpar\nooverflow\sl240\slmult1{\f0\lang1033\fs20\kerning28 Master Thieves
. It had a nice ring to it.}}