Chapter 208: Intertwined Fates (1/2)
Scarlett had snuck out once again, this time choosing to leave Riley behind. With their birthdays coming up Scarlett wanted to buy her sister something unique, but with no money Scarlett's chances were small. To top that she was also lost in the vast shopping area of Rhinefield with no clue where to begin. But this didn't bother her, the vase amount of people talking and laughing was enough to get Scarlett drunk off the atmosphere. Standing by the side, she was lost when watching the many people going about their lives. She would let her imagination run wild dreaming she was in their shoes, pretending to be out with friends shopping and having fun.
Her little sequence was cut short as she noticed a little boy sitting in the corner wiping his wet eyes, he had a troubled look, yet nobody paid him any attention. Feeling bad for the boy Scarlett jumped down from the wall she poured through the crowds reaching the crying boy. ”Are you alright?”
The boy jumped looking up, confused. ”Oh, I thought you were my mum…”
”What is wrong? Are you hurt?”
Shaking his head, he kept wiping his eyes. ”I'm fine. I am just lost.”
”Lost? Well, I can't say I'm far off myself. Do you have someone we can look for?”
”No. I ran away from home.”
”Oh,” Scarlett whispered, taking a while to respond. ”I've done that a couple of times. If you don't mind me asking, why?”
”My mother says we have to move again. It's the fourth time this year, and I'm sick of it. I'm leaving all my friends again and running away. She says that we have to go. Otherwise, my father will find us. I wish he did… We wouldn't have to run all the time.”
”Why are you running from your father?”
”I don't know?” The boy said in a sulking matter. ”My mum says he's dangerous. If he finds me, I'll die. I can't take this anymore I wish he did just kill me at this rate.”
Scarlett frowned sitting next to the boy whispering. ”I'm sure your father doesn't want to kill you. Families are meant to love each other.”
”Really? Does your family love you?”
”My sister does, and I have my Godfather Eli.”
”Godfather? What's that?”
Scarlett paused for a moment, thinking. ”You know what? I have no idea. He looks after my sister and me and makes sure we are good girls.”
”That sounds more like a father to me.” He replies. ”Why did you run away for?”
”Me? Well, I would get into arguments with my parents about my future. They have a plan already set out for me, and that annoys me. So, I ran away with my sister to get away from that… We didn't get far before we got hungry and went back, no one even noticed we were gone. Apart from Eli, of course!”
”I don't want to go home… I saved up my pocket-money to get a train from Sunset Peak to here… I had hoped to find my dad, but this city is too big…”
”What's your name? Mine is Scarlett.”
”Alton.”
”Well, Alton. How about I help you find your father? He lives here, yes?”
”I think so. I remember walking to the shops for my school uniform with him, but everything else is a blur.”
Scarlett stood up, holding her hand out. ”Well, I promise you I'll help you find him!”
”You will? But… Why?”
”It's what you want, isn't it? I just want to help you… Oh but your mother said he wants to kill you…”
”She doesn't tell me why. I just think she wants me to never see him again.”
Scarlett tapped her foot, thinking as she smiled. ”Ok, if he does, I'll just protect you, Alton.”
”You will?”
”Yes. I promise you I'll always protect you no matter what.”
Alton tilted his head confused. ”But why? We've just met. Only friends do that. Are we friends?”
”Friends? I've never had any friends.”
”You haven't? Everyone has friends Scarlett. I'll be your friend.”
”You will! Wow, my first friend… What are you doing?”