The day started as any other. Cam woke with the sun, crawling out of the nook he'd hidden himself away in. A stark chill permeated his clothes, the icy fingers of winter frosting the edges of windows. He was going to have to find a place to stay before the seasons changed in full or he would freeze to death. A shiver rattled his thin frame and he tried to rub warmth into his arms. "Ti-time to ge-get started." His teeth clacked together as he shivered.
After a quick jog through the park, Cam made his way through the waking streets and watched as the shop lights came on. With it being early in the morning, there weren't many people on the sidewalks, which gave Cam the pleasure of avoiding prying eyes and judging mouths as he cleaned up around the front of stores. He picked up litter, righted toppled signs and garbage bins, and even weeded for the places that had floral arrangements. In doing all these mundane chores, Cam earned himself some scraps of food leftover from the night before. It wasn't much, just a few sweet rolls, a chicken kabob, an iced coffee with very little cream or sugar, and a couple bottles of water.
Cam stashed the waters in his hoodie pocket, put one roll in his mouth after thanking the clerk of the bakery, and carried the rest in his hands. With the chill in the air, Cam had barely broken a sweat and felt quite content in the moment. With his breakfast well on the way to being eaten, he made his way down a few alleys in search of more shops to do outside work for in hopes he could get some more handouts. But before he could find more work, he was yanked back by his hood and shoved back against one of the brick walls. He dropped the food and coffee in his hands, hazel eyes widening as the air was forced from his lungs at the impact.
Two boys, Cam was deciding to think of them this way since they were dressed like a couple of teenagers and had light, wispy facial hair, crowded Cam against the wall. One, clearly the leader, stood a step back and had a cruel smirk on his face. The other, the one that had thrown Cam against the wall, didn't share the cocky energy the other did. Both boys had short, dark hair and brown eyes. Maybe they were brothers, Cam thought. "Look, B. I caught a rat. Seems the cats missed one." The one that looked less cruel had spoken. Cam had to keep himself from commenting about how it made the boy seem like a dog bringing something to its master. The pair laughed, then the boy brought a fist up and knocked the wind out of Cam again with a hit to the gut. The water bottles were launched from his pocket and broke when they hit the ground. Cam coughed and tears stung his eyes, his body curling in on itself instinctively to protect his organs.
"What's a rat doin' out in the daytime? Ain't they usually night creatures?" B, the supposed leader of the two, quipped. He took a couple steps closer, shoving his companion out of the way and grabbing Cam by the hair to make him straighten up. Cam was so much smaller than these boys. Shorter, thinner, less muscle. Hazel eyes darkened as they glared up at B and Cam sucked air into his burning lungs before he forced his body to move. The tug at his hair was unpleasant, but not the worst he'd ever felt, as he swung a leg out to catch B's. The boy hadn't been prepared for the street rat to fight back and the leg sweep sent him to the ground with a thud.
The other boy let out a chortle, but cleared his throat when B glared up at him. B rose from the ground as Cam tried to step around him, B's lackey caught him by the hoodie again and threw him back against the wall once more. Cam's back already ached from so much abuse. As B got up, he launched another fist into Cam's stomach, causing Cam to heave the meager contents. B sneered and grabbed Cam's hair to make their eyes meet again.
"Listen here, gutter trash, you're gonna give us what money you've been making from those shops or we'll take it after we thrash you. Your choice." B's companion didn't seem so sure about things. He hadn't heard any coins jingling while they tossed the urchin around. Before he could speak up and defend Cam, the already winded boy spit at B's feet. B growled and pulled a fist back. Cam lunged forward, making his head collide with B's face. There was a sickening crunch and B toppled back, falling to the ground again. One of the boys cursed, though Cam didn't register whom, as he wiggled free of his snare and bolted from the alley as quickly as his legs could carry him. Like a bird on the breeze, Cam flew over pavement, into soft grass, back to unrelenting asphalt. He barely heard the words that chased after him. He's gone. Followed by angry shouts, Cam found himself hiding beneath one of the park's child structures. He could feel his heart pounding in his throat and the aches in his back and gut hit him all at once.
Tears stung Cam's eyes but he kept the sobs locked in his throat. A whimper escaped him as he curled in on himself and felt how it tugged at the bruised flesh. Cam stayed under the jungle gym until nightfall, when he'd cried himself to fatigue and the hunger gnawed at his insides. He'd never gotten to finish his coffee. The sound of plastic wrap crinkling reminded him of a half-eaten granola bar he'd found the day before and kept in the pocket of his track pants. He devoured the bar like a starved dog, nearly choking as he inhaled it.
It wouldn't be until he met B's companion weeks later that he'd discover he'd accidentally released a soul from its mortal cage and the boy would try to exact revenge. The boy would fail, both would cry, and the boy would apologize for being wicked to those less fortunate. But those moments would change Cam for the rest of his life.
Word count: 1078
After a quick jog through the park, Cam made his way through the waking streets and watched as the shop lights came on. With it being early in the morning, there weren't many people on the sidewalks, which gave Cam the pleasure of avoiding prying eyes and judging mouths as he cleaned up around the front of stores. He picked up litter, righted toppled signs and garbage bins, and even weeded for the places that had floral arrangements. In doing all these mundane chores, Cam earned himself some scraps of food leftover from the night before. It wasn't much, just a few sweet rolls, a chicken kabob, an iced coffee with very little cream or sugar, and a couple bottles of water.
Cam stashed the waters in his hoodie pocket, put one roll in his mouth after thanking the clerk of the bakery, and carried the rest in his hands. With the chill in the air, Cam had barely broken a sweat and felt quite content in the moment. With his breakfast well on the way to being eaten, he made his way down a few alleys in search of more shops to do outside work for in hopes he could get some more handouts. But before he could find more work, he was yanked back by his hood and shoved back against one of the brick walls. He dropped the food and coffee in his hands, hazel eyes widening as the air was forced from his lungs at the impact.
Two boys, Cam was deciding to think of them this way since they were dressed like a couple of teenagers and had light, wispy facial hair, crowded Cam against the wall. One, clearly the leader, stood a step back and had a cruel smirk on his face. The other, the one that had thrown Cam against the wall, didn't share the cocky energy the other did. Both boys had short, dark hair and brown eyes. Maybe they were brothers, Cam thought. "Look, B. I caught a rat. Seems the cats missed one." The one that looked less cruel had spoken. Cam had to keep himself from commenting about how it made the boy seem like a dog bringing something to its master. The pair laughed, then the boy brought a fist up and knocked the wind out of Cam again with a hit to the gut. The water bottles were launched from his pocket and broke when they hit the ground. Cam coughed and tears stung his eyes, his body curling in on itself instinctively to protect his organs.
"What's a rat doin' out in the daytime? Ain't they usually night creatures?" B, the supposed leader of the two, quipped. He took a couple steps closer, shoving his companion out of the way and grabbing Cam by the hair to make him straighten up. Cam was so much smaller than these boys. Shorter, thinner, less muscle. Hazel eyes darkened as they glared up at B and Cam sucked air into his burning lungs before he forced his body to move. The tug at his hair was unpleasant, but not the worst he'd ever felt, as he swung a leg out to catch B's. The boy hadn't been prepared for the street rat to fight back and the leg sweep sent him to the ground with a thud.
The other boy let out a chortle, but cleared his throat when B glared up at him. B rose from the ground as Cam tried to step around him, B's lackey caught him by the hoodie again and threw him back against the wall once more. Cam's back already ached from so much abuse. As B got up, he launched another fist into Cam's stomach, causing Cam to heave the meager contents. B sneered and grabbed Cam's hair to make their eyes meet again.
"Listen here, gutter trash, you're gonna give us what money you've been making from those shops or we'll take it after we thrash you. Your choice." B's companion didn't seem so sure about things. He hadn't heard any coins jingling while they tossed the urchin around. Before he could speak up and defend Cam, the already winded boy spit at B's feet. B growled and pulled a fist back. Cam lunged forward, making his head collide with B's face. There was a sickening crunch and B toppled back, falling to the ground again. One of the boys cursed, though Cam didn't register whom, as he wiggled free of his snare and bolted from the alley as quickly as his legs could carry him. Like a bird on the breeze, Cam flew over pavement, into soft grass, back to unrelenting asphalt. He barely heard the words that chased after him. He's gone. Followed by angry shouts, Cam found himself hiding beneath one of the park's child structures. He could feel his heart pounding in his throat and the aches in his back and gut hit him all at once.
Tears stung Cam's eyes but he kept the sobs locked in his throat. A whimper escaped him as he curled in on himself and felt how it tugged at the bruised flesh. Cam stayed under the jungle gym until nightfall, when he'd cried himself to fatigue and the hunger gnawed at his insides. He'd never gotten to finish his coffee. The sound of plastic wrap crinkling reminded him of a half-eaten granola bar he'd found the day before and kept in the pocket of his track pants. He devoured the bar like a starved dog, nearly choking as he inhaled it.
It wouldn't be until he met B's companion weeks later that he'd discover he'd accidentally released a soul from its mortal cage and the boy would try to exact revenge. The boy would fail, both would cry, and the boy would apologize for being wicked to those less fortunate. But those moments would change Cam for the rest of his life.
Word count: 1078
