My feet carried me across the dirty pavement littered with wrappers of gum and extinguished memories. My old man had trained me well. Ducking into the side streets, I twisted my way around old buildings. The two goons grunted as they attempted to keep up. About ten minutes ago, the older man, about my age, decided to catcall to me as I crossed the street. As I hurried across the crosswalk, they caught up and pulled me against the building, pinning me to the bricks.

Seven years I had been doing this. Seven long years, ever since I was in twelve.

So after I punched them in the face, and took the beanie off the seventeen year old, I sprinted away. The two boys looked rich enough to buy themselves another twenty motorcycles just to chase me down. I didn't feel to bad taking the headgear.

As soon as I hit the alleyways, I felt like I was in my territory. The two boys yelled after me as I turned down different twists through the factories. It would be my long way home. The calls of the frustrated chasers began to fade until I slowed down.

No one would call the cops on a stray girl who couldn't be traced.

The beanie was soft under my fingers as I rubbed the black fabric. A long, torn coat clung around my shoulders. It wasn't the most attractive wear, but it was good enough for an alley runner like me. We always had to travel light.

"There she is!" The older boy called. I had wandered into a stray patch of light as I crossed the street. I was nearly home and I was stopped! haze covered the skyline and blocked any view of the moon. The light posts were the only source of illumination this night. That, and the light of lit cigarettes. As I dove into the alley next to a beauty shop, A man scrambled out and jumped over some boxes. They collapsed on the boys.

"I CAME IN LIKE A WREEEEECKER BAAALLL!" The old man cried out. I couldn't help but smile. He always thought the lyrics were wrecker, not wrecking. The two teens were stumbled back in shock, giving us enough time to slip into the drain pipe behind the garbage dumpster. It led into the abandoned building, half of the top floor collapsed and all of it our home.

We waited out as the boys cursed and then went away. The old man laughed and led me to our own little room. The dim lights flickered on and off as we sat on our little chairs. The cotton was eaten away and the food was always to cold or too hot, but this was home.

Wrecker, my old man who raised me since my parents had died, gave me a gap ridden grin and took sat back on his old recliner. Only a few years ago, I had gotten him his chair that he basically lived in for his birthday. Nothing had made him happier. Sure, the springs were rusty and it squeaked a little, but he was content with it.

"Got yourself a little beanie?" He grumbled. I nodded and took it off. It was a slight bit big, but would do. Slipping off my light black jacket, I threw it next to the couch. I slept on the deflated couch and Wrecker lay in his recliner. It was a perfect agreement.

"Like it, Wrecks? Ha, got it off the street as a little consolation prize for being groped." I chuckled. It was true, and I felt like I deserved a little prize.

"Good girl! Just like I thought ya!" He wheezed. Poor Wrecks was getting old for an experienced alley runner. Wrecks tossed me a container that sloshed with water. Catching it nimbly, I took a swing and tossed it back. Wreckers would probably get more water tomorrow while I was at my job.

Despite having it for a month now, I couldn't believe I was a news runner! It worked perfectly, being able to travel around parts of the city and fill empty news stands. I got to run and travel, got paid, and I managed to snag my own little "prizes" along the way.

"Can you take the trash out tomorrow?" I asked Wrecks. He wheezed an answer which I took for a yes. While I was on my rounds, getting minimum pay, Wrecks was on the corner street, always holding a sign and begging. We got an okay amount of money that way.

"Hey, did you spot any collectors?" Wrecker looked to me, green eyes blazing brightly. Even in the flickering lights, I could see the worry in his eyes. Wrecks was like a father to me, ever since he picked me up off the street and taught me how to run hard, how to run fast, how to outrun other alley runners.

Us alley runners, we weren't typically ones who grouped together. Typically, you wouldn't find us in groups together, unless we were having a meeting or party to celebrate something big. Between alley runners, there was a form of truce. We didn't mess with one another unless there was a terrible wrong-doing. Otherwise, we would pass each other without a second glance, maybe meeting to discuss the latest news.

But now, something was hunting down each of the girls.

"Kynder, are you listening?" Wrecker sneezed. I snapped out of it and bobbed my head. Another image of a girl, only fourteen years old, who went missing flashed through my head. I saw her in the park only two days ago, but now she had apparently was missing.

"Yes, Wrecker." I sighed. It was midnight and I just wanted to go to bed.

"Well Tristen and I were talking about these men in all grey. They walk around in groups of three or four and are extremely fast. You would think they're alley runners, but they ride in dark vans. They're the collectors we talk about. Watch out for them, Kyn." He shook a finger before yawning and promptly falling asleep. I wish I could slip into dreams as easily as old Wrecks.

I figured these collector people were only something the oldies made up, just a figure of their imagination. Maybe a sports team had come in and they were just wearing all the same outfit. Wrecker seemed to like to overreact sometimes.

I pushed the thought off to the side and pulled the woven fabric of the hat over my eyes, grinning like a buffoon. I was happy with my black shirt, black jeans, light black jacket, and grey/black beanie.

Wrecker always made me wear all black, from my shoes to every accessory. He taught me from a young age that black was the color of shadows, the color of one that lived in the inconspicuous world. As soon as he found me with my green shirt and long jeans, Wrecker made me buy a light black shirt, jeans, and black converse sneakers.

So from then, I was an alley runner.

Wrecker was snoring and the city was calming down. All seemed well, and I knew there were no "collectors" to worry about. The girls were probably missing because they had been foolish, getting into the wrong alley crowds. I dismissed the thought of a street legend.

---

So that's why, two days later, I found myself running down the alley, trying to escape the three grey shirted men that ran as fast as me, and seemed to know every twist and turn.

This time, my wrecking ball wasn't hear to save me.

Notes

First chapter of Shattered! I hope you guys like it, my lovelies! We'll learn more about these "collectors" and Kynder's past in the next chapter.

For now, I hope you'll leave a Comment telling me how you liked it! Thanks for reading!

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Sincerly,
Chaos'sWolf