I nudged an object which rolled across the floor clanging as it hit the far wall coming to a stop. The rustling amidst the pile of trash stopped as well.
Slowly from the scattered trash rose a.... Girl?
She seemed so tiny that I almost for an instant, thought that what had risen from the pile was a small animal, small framed and skinny.
The evening light which shone through a small window behind her seemed to cast it's ambient glow around her. A blanket which could only be seen by focusing on the edges made visible by our reflective peripheral.
She appeared fierce almost as if she was an eagle just about ready to defend its nest.
Eyes daring me to attempt to move her with an almost adult-like glare compared to how children's stares deflected off the personas of olders.
................<>....<>...........!
We were now sitting atop overturned and empty buckets, I had shared my rations with her and was now waiting for an explanation. Her hair was completely white and long, her skin pale and covered with bruises. She almost seemed as though she was in a fight of some kind. Not to mention her clothes were dirty and torn.
She looked about 10.
"Uh, so..." I cleared my throat then thought for a bit before continuing, "your parents?" She avoided my question while ferociously attacking the protein bar I gave her.
*I guess that's an answer*, I thought getting up. "Mister," she started with a voice a lot more higher in pitch than I had expected while halting her attack on the protein bar. A little surprised I returned to sitting position.
"I don't know your intentions, whether you're a pervert or just plain stupid but you shared your food with me so." She paused and then "what's your malfunction?"
I laughed a bit "how old are you?" She'd noticed I was staring.
And with good reason, one rarely sees children this small by themselves anymore. No one with any sense would allow their children such a right. After all nothing is childproof anymore.
She frowned "that's none of your business," she replied to my query about her age.
"Then where are your parents?" She looked away before answering,"are you always this annoying?"
I gritted my teeth a little.
She paused a bit and then, "water..." She stated under her breath.
"Huh?"
"You're a freeloader! The least you can do is get me some water idiot!" She stated sharply.
"Who's the freeloader here?" I stated in a monotonous voice.
She gasped and then jumped from her perch "you dare talk back to me freeloader?!" She exclaimed in her tiny voice.
In any other situation it probably would've been funny except she seemed quite serious.
I sighed "ok ok. " Maybe I just felt sorry for her, I handed her my bottle.
"I think I'll keep you," She stated as she took the bottle.
"What am I a pet?" I asked rhetorically.
She ignored that statement.
"What's your name?" She asked after taking a long drink.
"Daniel Strongwill." I replied with a smile "And your's?"
She returned the smile "you may call me master." She cheerfully replied.
I gritted my teeth again barely able to stop myself from hitting her upside her head. *is that how you talk to someone older than you?* I wanted to say but instead I simply smiled to contain my anger.
*Who is this brat?*
"Ok look, whatever your name is," I started "I think you'd best finish up and go home, your parents must be worried sick."
She placed the water bottle on the ground before sitting again.
All the while avoiding eye contact.
"It's not like they care anyway..." She stated in a low tone.
"You know you shouldn't say stuff like that about your parents-" I started "-they tried to sell me and for what? Two days rations..." She didn't look at me.
Could such an accusation be true?
The possibility was high but letting her stay wasn't something I could afford to do I mean. She's a child and I couldn't even begin to fathom what the "how to raise a child" manual is like not to mention carrying it out.
Maybe I am getting ahead of myself. "alright," I looked her in the eyes "I'll find your parents and make them promise not to try anything like that again." Of course this was only a front to hide my investigation.
She glanced at me, with the most interested stare anyone could muster up. "You're an idiot aren't you."
I dismissed her sass.
I was curious now and my naivety and messiah complex started me on a path that I wish I had never begun to thread.
.................................
Next:
"I said hand over the girl and your rations! If you don't, if you don't t-then I'm pressing this trigger!"