That morning was as cold as all others. I stretched out on the cold ground and yawned. It had been so long since my last bath. That wasn’t my fault. Getting water for anything was too much of a hassle and I will admit, I am not afraid of averse to dirty.

I left the comfort of the dark alley that was my home to get some food. I shuffled my feet towards the market.

Normally people kept away from me; which was how I liked it. You can imagine my horror when something grabbed my tattered sweater. I spun around ready to pounce and there it was. A child not more than four years old with a toothless smile holding out its tinny hand. That was the most annoying brat id ever met. Why was it smiling at me like that? I frowned.

The brat stood there grinning at me its left hand hidden behind its back.

“I…gots…something for ya”

I wasn’t sure what to make of the kid. That didn’t matter. I spun around at started off once more for the market this time with taking longer strides. I felt it again. That tug on my sweater. I spun around and sure enough it was the kid. It didn’t make sense to me. I stepped back involuntarily.

“What is it kid…” I snapped

“Don’t you want to…play?”

I had a bad feeling. There was something unnerving about how the kid said the word play.  So I walked away from it this time taking a turn into a dark alley. No child would dare follow a rugged person as myself into such a place. Or so I though.

I felt the familiar tug again. I spun around so fast with such a frenzy that I lost my step. My heart beat hard and fast. I swallowed hard. It smiled even wider. It had to be the glue from the night before. I knew it had a weird scent. Barely noticeable. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath as i started once more making my way down the alley. I couldn’t help smiling to myself.

“You best not turn your back on me…” came a low deep voice behind me, “You owe me”