Reborn at Dusk

  Loud music of a foreign tongue blared from the speakers of an old radio. The clerk behind the counter seemed oblivious to his surroundings as he focused on his news paper. Camilla took a deep breath and tried to focus her attention on the mission she was sent to do. Her heart pounded fast and her palms became sweaty, She couldn't help but think that her heart was thumping louder than the music.
 
  "Hey ! you ! what are you doing!?"
 
  Camilla froze in place, like a deer caught in the head lights, waiting for death to strike her quick. Until she realized the clerk was actually talking to a teen who was helping himself to the frozen soft drink machine. She grabbed a hand full of what ever was in front of her and stuffed it down her over sized red hooded sweater. She could feel a pair of eyes watching her closely. Too afraid to turn around she decided to make a quick exit to the door and make a run for it. The last thing she wanted was handcuffs and sent back to where she came from.
 
  "I seen what you did. Hey don't act like you can't hear me Blondie."

    Camila stood still and took a deep breath to face the person who was keeping tabs on her. The deep husky voice echoed like a nightmare in her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean too. I ... " A loud noise that sound like thunder abruptly filled the small store.

    A pair of strong arms jerked Camilla to the ground and the same deep husky voice whispered in fear " Stay quite. I think the old man is being robbed."
   
    Camilla looked at the teen boy in horror. She could not believe this was happening to her.She quietly thought to herself " Why out of all days did Liam have to be sick?I blame myself for being so persistence" She glanced back at the boy who looked about her age and read his face clear, fear danced all over him.
 
    The only noise she could hear was the thumping of her heart and shallow breath she tried to control. Camilla decided that robber must have shot the radio. She strained to listen to what was happening at the front of the store. Paper bags ruffled and a small faint ring came from the cash register. The clerk spat out some language in a pleading voice as the ruffling of the bag was passed.The bell that sat above the door rang and Camilla knew she was safe for now and that she needed to haul her ass out of this situation.
   
  The clerk came running to the back of the store and looked down at the two teens
laying on there belly's.He spoke to them in broken English with concern " Yous kids okay? I call police. Go home now. To dark for kids now."
  Camilla jumped to her feet while holding the bottom of her sweater, securing the stolen goods and nodded. She turned to the front door and ran yanking it open. The cool breeze wrapped her like a blanket sending relief and a sense of freedom down her body.
                                                   

                                                                                  ***

  Liam glanced upwards towards the sky looking at the moon. He took in all the beauty it had to offer. He was not much of a sensitive guy for nature. He glanced at his beat up watch and wondered what was taking Camilla so long. A normal task like stealing for survival was easy like breathing for him. "I knew I should have gone. She is so stubborn and persuasive."
 
    He ran his long thin fingers through his unruly wavy blond hair that fell at chin length and took a deep breath, letting the exhale come out as a sigh. He hated being disconnected from his twin, especially when he did not have power to watch or protect her. Seventeen years and they never been apart for more than a day. It has only been a week on the streets and he began to think, that running away was a bad idea. Liam could not bare to think of them being sent off to diffrent countries.He had over heard is adopted parents speak about taking Camilla to Europe.

  "Reed, You can not send Camilla to Europe just yet. She has awhile left."

  "If we do no act now then when? Tell me Trista." His voice cracked under a harsh warning whisper as he glared at his wife , trying to make her see his point of view through his eyes."I am not a man who jumps before thinking. You know damn well as I do that Liam will progress faster than her. Camilla needs to go."

Trista rubbed her arms as if she was cold  and glanced at the cracked open door. " Are discussion is over Reed. Tomorrow we will talk it over and that is final."

  Hurried foot steps echoed the dark alley causing Liam to take a guarded stance with his feet apart and fists ready for a brawl. He eased when he saw a five foot three petite blond girl come into view.  "what took you so long!? I had to keep myself from going to get you." His light blue eyes scanned his sister over for any injuries until he was contempt.

  Camilla had ran the whole way and gasped her words while trying to catch her breath. " There was a robbery. I was sure I was about to be caught but the clerk let this kid and myself go." She looked into her own eyes which belonged to her brother. She read anger and disappointment. " Don't look that way Liam. You did not know that the store was going to be held up."

  Liam shook his head in disbelief ." I knew I should have gone. What if something happened to you? I'm supposed to protect you and take care of you."

  " Nothing did, so drop it all ready. "

  "That is not the point Camilla.
  Camilla let go of the over sized sweater from the bottom. All its contents spilled to the floor, which was not much because her hand-fulls weren't that big to begin with.

  "How much did you manage to take?" Liam glanced at the floor and kicked a few rocks from the tiny pile of beef jerky.
"I see it's not much but it will do for now until tomorrow morning."

  "I wish we were in our beds right about now. What if you were wrong