Discovery

Soaking wet, I looked up into those eyes. I couldn't stop a sigh of relief. She looked down at me, a small grin on her pale face.

"Don't scare me like that," I said, just a bit cross. She shrugged and held out her hand. I took it and she pulled me up.

I brushed myself off and saw she had picked up the knife and was examining it. I held out my hand for the switchblade. She looked hard at me, then closed it and put it her pocket. I tried to protest.

"You're supposed to be a schoolboy," she said. "You shouldn't be carrying knives around."

I couldn't help a snort. "Says you." I said. "How many knives do you carry around? Seven?"

She grinned again. "Eleven and a couple of collapsible pistols."

My eyes widened. "You carry around a gun?" I said furiously. She got a weird look on her face. She looked me over. Something felt wrong. Her face went soft. I felt a tug in my mind.

He's just another kid. He shouldn't be around me. He could be having a normal life.

"I don't need a normal life!" I exploded. "I want to stay with you!" Immediately, I regretted saying that.

Her face tightened. Something flashed in her eyes, and then she had grabbed my hand and we were running through the wet city.