The Thief
“STOP THAT THIEF!”
The merchant’s shrill voice rang through the crowded marketplace, attracting the attention of a couple of the city’s guards who happened to be passing by. I walked faster, almost to a light jog, stuffing the handful of stolen, dried beef into mouth. Cheeks bulging, I pulled the tattered kerchief I was using as a mask over the lower half of my face to keep from choking on the city’s thick dust. More guards ran past me, toward the hollering merchant’s stall; I pulled my cloak--stained and torn but still with months, even years of use left in--tighter around me, and fell into step with a group of tourists who were looking around in awe.
I broke away from the group when we neared a news seller’s stall. The holographic projections flickered with real time weather reports beamed down from the satellites above the planet, speeches from the candidates for government posts, and spinning photographs of the most wanted criminals. I saw my own visage blink up at me, and gasped. Before the news seller could react, I dashed away, pulling the large hood lower to hide my face. It wouldn’t do for me to be captured and returned to my family; there was no doubt that they did not have my happiness at heart.
I blamed Selda.
Selda, my former bosom sister and friend. Selda, who was studying to take the exams to be an officer of the guard. Selda, who knew of my inclinations, and promised to hold my secrets close to her chest. Selda, who betrayed me as a member of the Sapphic persuasion to save her own hide and career. Damn her to the 13 Hells.
In my fit, I failed to notice the trap, and walked freely into it. The cage slammed around me before I could draw breath, and the hand that gripped my upper arm belonged to none other than Selda.
“You!” I hissed.
‘Me,” she agreed quietly. “Shut up, and be still; you don’t have time to argue, and this is going to hurt a little.”
“Wha..” I tasted metal at the back of my throat first, and felt the shock second. Selda’s grim face was the last thing I saw, until I awakened, and found myself hurtling through space in a pod large enough for two, Selda at the controls.
“Wha..” I tried again.
“I apologize,” she said, without glancing my way. “I should never have outed you. The two years you’ve been gone have been the longest of my life. To show you how bad I feel about all of this, I’m helping you get off-planet. There’s a ship docked on the Moon. I know the captain. She’s like you..you know..and has agreed to take you on.”
“Why would you..?” My mind was fuzzy, and my lips still tingled from being tased.
“Because I love you,” she sighed, “I just couldn’t deal with my family’s disappointment at being one of..you.”
“It’s not a bad word, you know.”
“Maybe not in theory, but you know how our families are. I’m dropping you off, and telling everyone you died.”
“What?!”
“It’s better this way.”
It’s better this way. Her words struck me in a place I didn’t know existed. I would remember them, throughout my life, whenever people asked me about my home. It’s better this way, I thought to myself, as I stole one last look at Selda through the viewport in the docking bay.
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Good fitcon
Thank you.
nice
Thank you.
It's really nice to see fiction online and I am glad Steemit can be a place for that. There's so much horrible in life and on the news I feel like we need more fiction and the beauty of poetry out there. So thank for your being a part of that.
I'm glad you feel that my work contributes to a happy place! Thanks for reading.