-One-

Mandi scanned the crowd from the shaded alleyway, looking for a target. The end of day crowd had just started to thin, it would be easy to isolate her target and make her move. This certain target was taking her a long time, longer than usual. They

would certainly be getting antsy soon. Mandi stroked the scar on her neck and let out a small shudder. She didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if she came back late, let alone empty handed.

“Dammit! Don’t think about it! Concentrate!” She muttered angrily, shaking her head in an attempt to release some particularly bad memories.

Mandi lowered her black sunglasses just enough to get a proper view of the crowd. Even so, the slight sunlight from the setting sun hurt her eyes and gave her a railroad spike to the head kind of headache. Mandi longed for the total protection that her sunglasses gave her, but she feared her ‘employers’ more than she feared her headache.

The crowd was a blur of colors. Blues, greens, reds, purples, oranges, you name it. Almost every color in the world was draped in a thin veil around the crowd. Each person had their own specific color, but Mandi wasn’t looking for any old color. She was on a mission for a silver. Only problem was it was one of the rarest colors. Mandi pulled a small pocket watch out from her jeans pocket . And of course, she only had twenty more minutes to find it. Fantastic. She could see swarms of red and blue, two of the more common colors, but no silver. Maybe she should run away and pray to whatever God that would hear her that they would never find her. She could hide her family, put them somewhere safe, and then vanish herself.

The sun dipped behind one of the numerous buildings, casting long winding shadows across the city streets and its inhabitants. Mandi took her sunglasses off and slipped them into her jacket pocket. Trying to run now would be worse than suicide. They had made that point clear on the first day. She went back to scanning the crowds, clinging to the small hope that a silver would throw itself in front of her. A pair of teenage reds and blues, a blue and purple couple hugging, a family of blue, red, and a kid blue, but still no silver.

Suddenly a small glimmer caught her eye. It was coming from an alleyway similar to the one she had just crawled out of. A dark purple light flowed heavily from the mouth of the alley, yet…

“It’s very faint, but I think I can see a glint of silver!” Mandi said excitedly. She sprinted to the alley, hope so tangible in her heart that it hurt.

When she got to the alley, no one was to be seen. Mandi gagged as the sickly sweet stench of rotten garbage hit her full in the face. At the end of the alley, blocking off any chances of escape, was a dingy old rusty fence. Good, it would be easier if the Silver couldn’t run. The dusty earthen ground was littered with overflowing black garbage bags and stuffed puked green dumpsters. Hordes of flies circled them like halos and clumps of white maggots oozed out of any openings in the black plastic. And yet the soft silver light continued to flow out of the alley. More specifically, behind one of the dumpsters near the rusty fence.

Mandi raced over to it, each second ticking off in her head. This one would have to be done perfectly, better than she had ever done before. If she messed this one up, who knew what they would do to her? She would get the Silver at all cost, anything to let her and her family live another day. Mandi peered behind the dumpster, ready to take on anything.

Two corpse like kids started back at her with hollow eyes. Well actually, only one of them gazed up at her. Limp, mangy chocolate brown hair clung to her sweat drenched face. Her cheek bones were so prominent that Mandi feared if she smiled they would be torn out of her face. Of course, it seemed highly unlikely that this girl had anything to smile about. Her watery blue eyes were rimmed red and her face was smudged in dirt. But she wasn't the one Mandi need. This girls horrifyingly thin figure was giving off a surprisingly strong purple aura. The silver light was coming from the doll sized figure she clutched in her frail arms.

It was a boy, probably only five or six by the looks of him. He looked even thinner than the girl who was holding him, if that was even possible. His pale cheeks were flushed a sickly fevered red and his breath was coming in small wheezy pants. But there was no doubt, the silver was coming from him. Poor kid, he looked like he was on the verge of death.

“What do you want!?”

Mandi jumped back in surprise and slipped on some loose garbage as the girl started to rise shakily to her feet. She still had enough strength to move?? Damn! This was going to complicate things.

“Answer me! What do you want with me and my brother!?” Her eyes no longer held the defeated look they had just a few moments ago. Now they were fueled by a roaring fire.

Mandi ignored the raving girl and knelt down to one knee and stared at the pitiful boy in front of her.

“I’m sorry… It’s just… You two remind me of me and my brother. He’d be about his age right now.” She rummaged around in her purse and took out her own food money. Oh well, she could survive a few days without food. These kids couldn’t. “Here, you two look half starved. Why don’t you go to the convenience store across the street and get some painkillers and food?”

The Purple didn’t take the money and continued to glare. “And why should I trust you? Why would you be willing to give two complete strangers like us money for food and medicine? What’s in it for you!?”

Well for one thing, my own family’s life.

“I told you, he reminds me of my brother. Besides, I can’t turn a blind eye now. That’d be cruel and inhumane. Look, I’ll stay here with him and make sure he’s ok while you go get the supplies. Promise.”

The Purple let out a small tsk and snatched the money out of Mandi’s hand. “You'd better not be lying. I swear, if anything happens to my brother I’ll kill you with my own two hands.” And with that, she placed the Silver gently on the ground and raced out of the alley towards the nearest store.

Good, she was gone. Mandi turned back to the boy and eyed him closely. The silver light was slowly fading. Was he really on his deathbed? She would have to do this fast or the blood would become spoiled and unusable. Then she would really be screwed

Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, Mandi reached into her purse and pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a syringe. She left the chloroform alone, while she usually had to use it when she acted alone, this kid was too far gone to put up any real struggle. She uncapped the bottle and grimaced as the sharp scent reached her nose and her eyes began to water. She efficiently applied it to his frail shoulder, took out the needle and plunged the trigger.

Silvery blood began to fill the syringe, each passing moment it was separated from flesh it grew darker until it was a bloody red. Mandi pulled out an empty water bottle, uncapped it, and squirted the blood into the clear bottle. She repeated the process until the Silver was deadly pale and the bottle was almost full. Every time she drew blood she glanced behind her shoulder, praying that the Purple wouldn’t come back before she was done.

When she was through, Mandi applied a bandage and admired her handiwork. Sure, it wasn’t a ton of blood, but it would be enough to please them. Enough to buy her another day at life.

Mandi looked back at the young boy and was washed away with guilt. She couldn’t just leave him here to die. The money she gave them would run out eventually, and something told her a few painkillers weren't going to help this kid. Not for long anyway. He needed serious medical attention. Should she take them to a hospital? No, she didn't have enough time for that. That left only one option.

“Is he ok!?”

Mandi jolted out of her daze and turned to see the Purple racing towards them, grocery bags clinging to her twig arms. How did she have the strength to carry it all?

“Yeah he’s fi-”

“Oh get away from him!” She snapped as she dropped to the ground beside him. “Vince?
Vince!!! Are you ok?? I got you some of those cheddar chips you love…”

Was this girl crazy? The kid was starved and she wanted to give him junk food?? He needed something nutritious and hydrated! Unless, did she already know he was too far gone to last much longer?

The Silver, no, Vince let out a small groan and his eyes fluttered open, revealing stunning amber irises. “Sis… I’m… Still alive?”

Tears filled the Purple’s blue eyes. “Yeah, and you’re gonna stay that way. Promise?” Before he could answer her she pulled out some children’s cold medicine from one of the bags. “Now take this. They’ll make you feel better.”

Vince tried to move his arms to take them from her, but they just flopped back to the ground. "I can’t sis… It hurts too much.”

"It's gonna be ok Vince. Here, I'll help."

Oh God… It was all too much… Mandi looked down at her pocket watch and make a split decision that probably changed her life forever. “Pick up your brother and follow me. I’m going to take you two somewhere safe.”

The Purple glanced up and for the first time her eyes weren’t ablaze. “Are… Are you sure we wouldn’t be a burden?” Her shoulders sagged and tears started to spill down her cheeks. “I just… I just want my brother to be ok. I don’t care what happens to me, he’s all I have.”

Mandi could feel pity swelling inside of her and her own eyes started to get a little misty.
“Uh-huh. I’m gonna take you to my house. My mom’s a nurse and there’s no way she would turn you two down.” Mandi held out her hand. “My name’s Mandi, by the way.”

The Purple stared at her for a few seconds before grasping her hand. “Nice to meet you Mandi. Name’s Violet. Oh, and just to give you a warning. If it turns out you’re jerking me around I will kill you. I’ve had too much crap piled on me and don’t need anymore.”

Well wasn’t she just a little ray of sunshine? Mandi said nothing and helped her pick her brother up off the ground. Together they stumbled out of the alley and started down the road towards Mandi’s house. Well, her old house anyway. She hadn’t actually lived there in months. Nonetheless, Mandi allowed herself a small smile. Maybe today would turn out alright after all. She had the Silver’s blood, these poor kids would be taken somewhere safe, and she would still be alive when the night was over. Sure, she still wasn’t exactly “free”, but she would deal with it just like she had dealt with it for the past year.

Of course, her somewhat perfect fantasy was crushed to dust the second the black car began to stalk them.

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Publication Date: 10-02-2011

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