Zodiac:The Unborn

Truant

If you knew your Zodiac signs you knew Cancers were shy,insecure,emotional,loved to stay home and all that.
Well....I wasn't that.
I was loud,I hid and controlled my emotions very well.And I hated staying in the camp.
Not that there was anything wrong with camp,it was fine except for the occasional clothes everywhere (One time I found a sock in cheese section of the fridge) and you had to mark all your food before putting it in the fridge.(And even if you did that there was no guaranteeing that it would still be there).I just liked roaming around.
Which in fact what I was doing now.
The streets of Anthem were busy,it was around noon.The restaurants were getting underway for rush hour.Adults put out animals and shouted at others across the block.I was the only kid on the street,everyone else was in school or hiding from school.
With a small pack full of supplies,I was out to cause a little trouble.
I walked down mingling with the adults who had a purpose.Some gave me looks,others paid me no mind
"JONATHAN",a voice shouted
I flinched and turned.Enrique was baralling straight for me.
Enrique was a Truant Officer.He caught me in a lot a trouble,and kept an eye on me any way he could.
"Good Morning Sir",I said
Enrique looked me up and down."Where are you heading"
I hefted my bag,"Going to sell some things from Camp,thats not against the Law"
Enrique held out his hand for bag and I gave it to him.While he searched through it he said,"Not going to cause trouble are we?"
"No,I just said I'm going-"
"I heard what you said",he said shoving the bag back hard at me,"I know you cause trouble,so let me tell you one time."
Enrique leaned forward,"Any explosions,smoke,animals.Any Camp complains and says 'It was Jonathan' Im taking you straight to the Court"
He stood straight and walked away from me pulling out his walkie talkie.
Crap,I knew Enrique was calling other Truants to secure the perimeter of the hood in case I left.Visiting other Camps without permission wasnt tolerated. I doubt he was kidding about taking me to the Court.If I was gonna leave I needed another way.
I looked around and saw a truck loading up with bakery goods.Great,I could sneak in the back and grab some food while I was at it.
I looked to make sure Enrique was turned in the other direction before running full speed at the truck.
I just managed to grab the back door and swing myself inside before the door slam-locked and the driver pulled off.
The smell of baked goods got to me.I made myself comfortable and raided the racks full of bagels,donuts,croissants and cookies,hey I didn't eat breakfast.
Another rack was emptied by me putting food in my backpack for later.
I figured by the direction the truck seemed to be heading in that it was heading towards the Camps on the Western side of the City.Aquarius,Capricorn,Pisces,Sagittarius. Camps of the cold,winter.
Its almost always freezing down there and I was only wearing jeans and a light shirt and sweater.
'Ah well',I thought,'If its snowing it'll add extra protection'
The truck ride wasn't as well as I thought it would be.There seemed to be bumps in the road every five feet.I made the mistake of standing when we passed one and swore my head left a dent on the roof.The driver didn't take it easy on the curves either,so every time we turned I almost went crashing into a goods rack.
After what felt like forever,we finally slowed down and stopped,I could hear car doors opening and voices.Time to put escape plan in action.
I put my hood on and tied it just as voices sounded outside the door.
"Lets ship these quick,and head back Tom.I hate around here"
A click turned,a latch popped,the door swung opened.And I jumped through.
"HEY",one of the men shouted as leapt over him.
"Keep baking them goods",I shouted in response as I ran.
When I was sure I lost them,I slowed down and munched on a donut.
My hunch back in the truck was right,it seemed.The wind was brisk,and the people were in jackets.My fingers were starting to freeze over,it wouldn't do me any good to keep standing here.
I moved as fast as my legs would allow it.Not far off was a diner and I hurried into it.The heater hit me gratefully,when I stepped in.It was half-full,trying not to draw attention to myself I sat down at the counter where the bartender and one of the customers were having a conversation.
"Wonder if the Court's gonna do an Exile this year" the bartender said
"I don't think so,nothing bad happened this year.",the customer responded.
The bartender frowned"Don't count on it,the Court works on its own"
He cleaned a glass a slammed it down."Twenty years ago,the Court sent my sister in the Exile.Nothing happened that year and that was the problem.It was kids mixed with adults and she got slain on the first night.I watched from my house as it happened.
The customer looked uncomfortable."Um,maybe-"
"Two teenage boys"The bartender continued."An Aquarius and a Gemini,cornered her,tortured her and slit her throat."
The customer looked sick.
"Later as the Aquarius died,stabbed in the back by that same Gemini boy.I realized that he was acting on fear for his life.Well the Aquarius was anyway"
"I-I",the customer stuttered
"I'm sorry?It doesn't matter,it happened twenty years ago.But don't tell me the Court isn't planning something."
The bartender turned and looked at me,"You,aren't you freezing?"
"Nah it aint that cold",I said as a visible shiver went through my body.
The bartender raised his eyebrows.
"Orphan,he finally muttered and turned to the coffee machine.
"Continue your story sir", I added,mostly to draw attention of myself.
He put a cup of hot chocolate in front of me."Don't you like to know things."
"Its a good thing,"I said looking at the coffee cup."I cant pay for this"
"On me,relax,get warm,let me tell why I hate the Court."