Four

I rode into a new city, a fairly familiar one because I've heard about it during a geography class in school. The town with a lot of mills. It's a very good town, one I feel I can survive in. I wished I had concentrated more during geography classes but I just wasn't a good student and I hated the teacher. He taunts a lot and I believed he despised me too. If I'd listened,  I would have known the name of this town at least.

**

I felt my stomach churn loudly as the smell of baked cake filled my nostrils. Then, I realised how hungry I was. It's six days since I left my house--or a place I use to call home and till date I live on stolen items. My gifts helped a lot when it comes to reading the thoughts of my victims to the extent that I felt it was meant for stealing and nothing else. And My asthma, I've been at my worst in the last few days that I've used up all the puffs in my little inhaler. I threw it into a river angrily some days ago. Despite all these, I had only one thing on my mind "I'm going to the white empire and nothing can stop me, I'd rather die on my way than die on a spot on the street.

But come to think of  it, where exactly is the white empire? How am I going to get there without life? 

Yes for now, I'm just existing not living. I'm not a thief but then I need to eat to at least exist. 

I traced the smell of the cake. It was coming from a little cottage by the street. There was only one way I could get the cake. I will have to go into the house. It would be the most foolish risk I would take for a piece of cake but something in me craved more for the cake than I ever imagined. I kicked off the wooden window of the kitchen and jumped into it stealthily . 

Five years from now, I would never have believed that I could do something so cautiously. The last six days on the street has had its effect on me.

The kitchen was a small room with cupboards and cooking utensils hanging on the walls. I found the oven at a corner of the room. I opened it slowly and  i found my prey. My stomach churned at the sight of it.

Freshly baked cupcakes. Hmmm...

I picked out one and ate silently, enjoying the tasty goodness of every bite. Really it's been a very long time since I ate good food.

I got lost in the moment that I didn't notice when someone walked in.

"What the..." A voice came from behind. A feminine voice.

I was shocked to the bones. I've finally been caught stealing. What would become of me? I'll be dead at last. 

Before I could utter a word, I was dragged roughly into a room-- a living room.  I tried to struggle but she was stronger. She slapped me hard on my face. I felt my left cheek go numb. Thoughts like "I'll live in the juvenile home for the rest of my life" or "I'll be hanged in public for stealing" or "she'll kill me if she wanted" flooded my mind.

The woman tied my hands with a rope and pushed me onto the tiled floor. I felt another excruciating pain at my rib region that I believed it was cracked.

There's more pain to come. I told myself.

She slumped into her cushion chair, seething silently.

" You thief!" She gasped "you're a child!"

I felt my heart crush within me. I'm a child and I'm a thief. I've lost my childhood dignity. I've failed my own values. I felt broken, defeated.

She threw the remains of the rope across the room. She was trying to calm down but that didn't  help me.

I still felt I was going to die or I wanted to die. She just said I'm a thief, she should slay me if she wants. Life isn't worth living anyway.

After sometime that looked like she was never going to speak. I heard her voice, beautiful, stylish and more feminine.

"Who are you, little girl?"

I was stunned by her words.

'Who am I?' I'm a thief, that's who I am. Why ask me? I fixed my gaze at the cold tile floor beneath me. I had no answer for her.

"Speak!" She yelled.

"I...uh...I..." i stammered. All these came to me as a shock that I had no idea what to say.

"Katrienair "

My name, that's all I know for now.

"Katrienair? "The woman said. " Who are your parents?"

Another question I can't answer and I can't say I don't know because I'll look like a real thief. The man I have always looked up to as my father confessed he wasn't and Reba's dead, of course she too was not my mother. The ghost druid said I have parents and he knows them but I don't know if they even exist in planet earth.

"No parents, they're dead " I said. More of a lie though.

"Oh" she said."your guardian? Where do you live?"

"No one, no home" I responded.

I never wanted her pity. All I wanted now was justification of the crime I just committed. I wanted her to know that I was never a thief, i just had to eat.

Sylvia's  face turned pale. She felt guilty about what she had done.

A hungry child. She thought. I can't blame her. she's just a destitute who needs to live.

She walked up to me, loosened the rope around my wrist and placed me on the cushion. She sat by my side, staring into me.

Right now I craved to know what she was thinking but of course my fears didn't allow me. My crime would be doubled if she discovers my gift. I'll be put to death for being a witch.

She's beautiful. Sylvia thought. My dream child, her golden hair is just as perfect. I wish she was my child. Seems like I'm going to be a mother soon.

"How old are you?" She asked

"Fourteen"

Since I'm  fourteen, does she still thinks I'm a child?

She smiled." You're hungry?"

I nodded my head in shame.

She offered me two cup cakes. I hesitated. "Take them and eat"

I was amused, few moments ago she was so fierce at me. And now she's offering me the cake I came to steal.

I ate them quietly anyways. Nothing that change the fact that I was hungry and I needed food. It will be a stupid decision to reject it.

As soon as I was done , she held my hands in hers. I felt warm, but dead scared.

What is happening?! I screamed in my head.

"Katrienair" she said looking straight into my eye."From now on, this is your home. you'll live with me, okay?"