Madredun Elo're

She ran until her legs were numb and then ran further. Just away from here, away from everything she knows.  She still has the coat in her hand. She didn’t pay for it. But the cashier is dead. Just like everyone else.

She didn’t know where she was and so she decided to rest. She sat down behind a bush and cried. Within one or two seconds all she ever had was taken away from her. For a moment she wished he had a bullet left for her. He pointed the gun at her and imitated a ringing telephone. “It’s for you.”, he said. For a while she sat there on the ground waiting for her death. “You’re lucky kid”, he said, “the last call is for me.” With those words he pointed the gun at his forehead.

She forced herself to stop remembering any more. Her parents are dead. Her best friend Luisa is dead. She survived. And she must stay alive for them.  She wiped her tears with her newly acquired coat. It was too big for her but it keeps her warm. She doesn’t feel bad for taking it anymore. It was necessary.

She wandered around, entering a town she doesn’t know. It was getting dark and all the shops started closing if they didn’t already have. She began to freeze even with her coat on. She is only wearing a green t-shirt and short beige pants. She decided to look out for a bank. Even if they’re closed there’s still an accessible room with ATMs that should be warm. It still wouldn’t be as comfortable as her bed at home but at least she won’t freeze to death this night.  She can’t go back home. Too many memories. She leaned against a wall from where she can look out the window. She looked at the people passing by, their faces hidden in shadows. Sitting there, waiting until she falls asleep. It gave her time to think, but she tried to avoid thinking as much as possible. She felt terribly alone.

She woke up as a woman with an astoundingly ugly dress pulled her arm as if she wanted to rip it off and eat it. She was talking very fast while the red-haired girl just looked at her. The woman shut her mouth for a moment and continued to speak in an understandable way. “What’s your name?”

“Rachel…”

“What are you doing here? Where are your parents?”

Rachel knew where this would lead. She wrestled her arm free and began to run. The woman told her to stop but didn’t move a step to follow her. When she was sure the woman wouldn’t look for her anymore she noticed that she is actually very hungry. She entered a shop, took as much food as she can somewhat hide under her coat and hoped nobody saw her doing that. She left the shop as fast as possible without seeming suspicious. Luckily nobody noticed anything. She was tired of running away. This will be how she will live the rest of her life. A criminal that steals things, she thought. But in her situation that doesn’t seem to be that much of a crime anymore. That’s perfectly okay, she told herself.

It was another night she would not spend in a bed. It’s been a couple of months now and she got used to just taking things she needs or wants. She saw the methods thieves use in TV some time ago. How they distract their victim or hide from cameras. Rachel was sure it was not the point of the documentation to teach her how to steal things, but it did.

Rachel always was a little chubby. She liked chocolate and candy and cake and didn’t care that much about sports. Now she only steals as much food as she needs and also gets her fair share of running.