Alyss // Shadows of the Past \\

Alyss woke up to the sound of her sister’s screaming. She couldn't see Marian but she could definitely hear her thrashing around. Alyss reached for the flashlight that was under her pillow, flipping it on.

“Marian.” She whispered while sitting next to the tattered mattress that Marian slept on. She shook Marian’s shoulders.

“Wake up.” Marian sat up quickly, her tear filled eyes wide open.

“Alyss!” Marian wrapped her arms around Alyss, refusing to let go no matter how many times Alyss tried to push her off.

“It was just a dream. You’re okay now.” Alyss said attempting to comfort her sister.

“This was w-worse.” Marian said choking back a sob. Alyss sat in silence while she waited for Marian to recover. She looked around the old warehouse loft that they had lived in for since she was nine. An old woman had brought them there one day after she had found them out on the street. She brought them to the warehouse and told them to stay there and to try not to be seen. She visited often in their first year there but one day she decided to stop coming. They had never found out what happened to her but they assumed to worst. The worst was all they ever got.

“Alyss?” Marian asked, bringing Alyss back to reality.

“Yeah. You okay?” Marian nodded. “Do you want to talk about it?” All that came after was silence.

        It was around five in the morning and Alyss couldn't come up with a reason to go back to sleep so she walked towards the open window on the opposite wall. Leaning against the frame she was thrown into her memories. The shadows of her past. She saw her sister leading her by the hand down a dark alley way. She saw the elderly woman help them up into the abandoned loft. She saw all of the years that she and Marian struggled to get through together. None of these memories affected her but the one that did was from the day before.

***

        Alyss walked towards the jewelry store with one thing in mind: Marian’s birthday present. She had seen it in the shop window one morning and immediately planned on getting it but there was one problem. She had no money. Alyss walked into the jewelry store, the bell over the door rang as it opened and closed.

“Hello, may I help you?” The clerk asked from behind the counter. She had long, caramel colored hair and was covered with freckles.

“I’m just looking around, thanks.” Was Alyss’ response.

“Okay, let me know if you need anything.” Alyss nodded distracted. She browsed the shelves until she found what she was looking for.

A simple, silver crescent moon necklace. Perfect.

“How much is this?” Alyss asked the clerk.

“That…is thirty dollars.” The clerk said with a smile. “It’s very pretty isn’t it?” Alyss just smirked. The clerk was so nice, she almost felt bad for what she was about to do. She put the necklace back in its case.

The clerk turned her back and Alyss shoved the case into her pocket. She casually made her way to the door. The bell rang twice. She waited to see if the clerk would notice.

“Thief!” Alyss heard the clerk yell. She turned the corner and began to run. Not too long after, Alyss heard the sirens. She laughed. That was fast.

Alyss was three blocks away from the shop, the park in front of her. Alyss broke into a sprint. She turned her head to look back but all of the sudden she hit something hard and hit the ground.

“Watch it!” The object yelled. After she recovered she looked at the figure in front of her. It was a boy around her age. He was tall and looked a little awkward. His icy blue eyes complimented his dark brown hair. Alyss looked back to see if she had lost the cops, which she had.

The boy saw that she was on edge, “What are you running from?” he asked. Alyss was dazed from the impact. He must have been running too to have hit her that hard.

“I may or may not have just robbed a jewelry store. Why do you care?” Alyss said with a smirk. She checked her pocket for the case, it was still there.

“I don’t. I’m just…making conversation.” he said with a shrug.

“What were you running from?” Alyss asked raising an eyebrow. The boy laughed.

“I may or may not have just robbed a tech store downtown,” He said pointing his thumb behind him. Alyss smirked. The sirens were coming from both directions now.

“Well, I should probably get going.” Alyss nodded. “See you later!” The boy yelled as he ran in the direction of the jewelry store. Alyss ran in the opposite direction.

***

Alyss sat down and folded her legs underneath her. She closed her eyes and began to breathe. Inhale. Exhale. She opened her eyes and looked over at Marian, her hair shimmering in the moonlight. She looked peaceful.

Alyss sat in silence for a moment but the silence was broken.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.