Please don't kill me >.<

I know its been a while...okay, long time since my last update, but I have a good reason for that :)

My laptop is completely damaged and I cannot replace it now, so all the burden of typing fell on my old iPod friend (it's not bad to type on but its a little uncomfortable) so the easy flow of writing and editing are gone.

Furthermore, I had a couple of chapters prepared but Wattpad decided to be a douchbag and deleted my saved drafts (thankfully some were spared -the ones belonging to this story- but the drafts in my other stories were completely erased ) so after that happened I was pissed - still am - and stopped writing.

These are the main reason besides my life getting in the way.

I hope you enjoy the story and forgive me for the mistakes and errors present.

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Cody

The town of haven is a small insignificant place. If you try to find it somewhere on the map...ha good luck with that!...Unless your eyes match that of an eagle then you will be able to spot it.

It is that barely visible dot smothered by large and medium patches. Invisible and Insignificant.

Despite its small size, all the facilities needed to satisfy the needs of about 10000+ individual is present. From a school, supermarket, and hospital to the municipality and police station. Everything is there. But it has no appeal to both: the tourists - in spite of the mountains surrounding it - and to its locals, since a lot tried to leave the small town, where everyone knows everyone, in order to fulfill some fanciful dream of hitting it big in the cities that never sleeps or simply to seek someplace new.

Its boring nature drives many to seek a life elsewhere and little Cody was no different.

Darkness encompassed the sky of haven town like raven wings, rendering human sight to uselessness.

The streets were bare of any creature. The lights blinked lazily as if it was ready to fall asleep. The dead silence was broken by the chirping of crickets.

A lone soul trekked his way through the gloominess, eyes hard as stone, narrowing in the darkness to peer at its unsuspecting prey.

Cody licked his lips in anticipation and approached his target with determined yet quiet steps.

A tall, lanky man in his mid-twenties exited the supermarket after locking everything up. He headed toward the sole car parked in the parking lot. The man stopped midway and stretched, popping his aching joint after a long shift leaving himself open for the planned attack.

As swift as lightning Cody ran up to the man, picked his pocket with his stealthy slender fingers, and took off running as if lucifer fire-laced breath from hell is after him.

The man stumbled forward from the bumping, baffled by the weird encounter. He shook his head and cursed at the running figure. Unbeknownst to him, his pocket is now empty.

Idiot! He's in for a rude awakening when he gets home.

If the man had an ounce of wit he would've at least been suspicious of getting bumped by someone when there is no stifling crowd and the street is empty, not to mention, the person bumping into him is a mere child.

Why would a child be out here alone...in the dark, bare street?

Well...they either recruit the dumbest for the night shift or the man is so tired his brain fuse lagged!

Anyhow, it's another successful hunt for him!

Wallet clutched in hand, breath coming in pants, Cody leaned his back against the wall, having crossed a good distance from the scene.

He took a peek at the wallet and counted his bounty in total.

Fifty-six...fifty-seven...fifty-eight...fifty-nine dollars!

"Shit!"

Cody punched the wall in frustration. Master will surely have his hide for another failed attempt to reach the goal set.

His master was impossible! How the hell can he snatch a hundred bucks every night when he was only allowed to go out after midnight? Not to mention, this stupid town is fucking asleep at this hour.

Oh, how he yearned to be out of this dum town! Out of the stupid orphanage! Out of this fucking life!

He took a deep breath and headed back toward the orphanage.

Just like his master's wrath tonight is unavoidable, his way out of this town is impossible. He was in deep shit! The earlier he arrives, the faster the punishment is dealt and he can be off to bed.

A hundred dollars a day and not a moment after 2 am, you hear boy! Otherwise, I'll let you rot outside for the starved dogs to pick on your flesh! No word about our deal should be known to any of those brats. You don't need a reminder of the consequences. Got that!

Cody's body trembled in fear, as those words ricocheted in his brain shooting frenzied orders to his body part. His pinkie spasmed, left eye twitched and his heart drummed against his rib cage like a caged lion.

If Markus heard of this he would surely fly to his grave from overexerting his lungs with laughter. He thought sarcastically.

Markus, Cody's sworn enemy. The boy's small frame, dreamy eyes, mightier than thou attitude and brain full of heroes, goodness, and bullshit are the contrast of what Cody is.

Cody's hate for Markus stemmed from their different ideals. While Cody sees only the black side of the canvas, Markus finds every single white in it...even if it is a tiny, minuscule, barely visible spot. His head is full of hope, justice, heroes, and morals that disgust Cody who is pessimistic and aggressive.

These features made the children at the orphanage view Markus as some kind of a hero while Cody earned the title of a bully.

And what made things worse, is the hero-worship in the eyes of a specific 4 years-old boy who follows Markus like a lost puppy.

That should've been me!! Cody thought angrily.

And what aggravates Cody more is that Markus has nothing that makes him better or worthy of all the love. He is just like Cody; a dirty, thin, and malnourished orphan with no achievement, beauty, intellect, or skills that set him apart. Except for that fanciful brain of his! Curse the lad for his imaginative mind and persuasive tongue!

Granted, he can tell a story like no other and has a charming personality, but God, he is not that special! Why should he garner all the attention and awe just because he can tell a story or two? While Cody is left to be feared and avoided?

Curse that educated slug!!

If only he was born to better circumstances, better family, better fucking life, he would've outshined Markus and his likes.

But no! it had to be Markus who was born to a good life until his parents' untimely death. It had to be Markus who got to be educated for the last ten fucking years, smothered with love and compassion by his parents; lived in a home; ate great food; got spoiled by grandparents and relatives!

Why didn't I get all this?!

Jealousy burned his insides. Its heat threatened to melt his eyes...or was those tears!

No. Cody, the freaky-limbed, the cruel smirking bully doesn't cry. He causes people to cry!

But...When these kinds of thoughts started traveling in his head, Cody's eyes have no off button.

He unleashed his bottled emotions in heartfelt sobs, his lanky, thin limbs rocking like a firecracker.

He sucked a huge gulp of air and gathered his wits for his tardiness will be met with lashes.

I can't be late!

With that thought, Cody swept every trace of suffering from his face and put on his devil-may-care mask.

*****

"Failed again I see," A nasal voice sneered at Cody.

"The streets are empty at this time. I was lucky to have been able to collect a few bucks!" Cody rolled his eyes.

"You dare speak back, boy!"

"Just saying,"

"I should strangle your tiny, insignificant neck." He sighed with faked sympathy, "Alas, you benefit me more when you are alive, but then again, I don't require your tongue just your stealthy hands. So keep in mind, I am not above cutting a limb or two as long as they don't interfere with your nocturnal activities and blaming it on...hmm, let's say an accident,"

"Right, master!" Cody spat, his eyes narrowing with hate.

"Well since you are being a smartass and its too late to spill some blood, I shall punish you another way. You wouldn't mind skipping your meal would you?" Master Adam's mocking reply came as a spear to Cody's heart.

His malnourished body detested the cruel treatment, this is the second day he is not allowed any food!

"But I got you fifty-nine bucks!" Cody's nonchalant mask cracked, as he vehemently voiced his protest. He knows that he should just shut his mouth, after all, he is used to starvation and it is better than getting his body painted black and blue from master's whip. It is just not fair! Not fair! Why him? Why not pick any other brat, why have it be him?!

Cody cursed his parentage yet once again; for being born to a shady couple and for putting him through this.

"Tsk, tsk! You still don't know your numbers I see! You brought forty-five, you dimwit! When would you learn how to count correctly...never mind that! Again, I only need your pickpocketing skills not your brain," He thwarted that thought by waving his hand.

Well, if I got time to sleep and eat like other kids maybe I would've been able to attend classes you bag of shit! Cody wanted to shout, instead, he clamped his lips shut and glared. However, a flicker of doubt alerted his mind that even if he could attend a class he isn't wired for learning.

"What? Did I hurt your teeny pride! Well, get use to it. You are nothing but dirt and you'll be treated no better. Go to bed before you are missed...not that anyone would miss you. Haha!" He barked sarcastically.

Cody turned to leave but stopped abruptly at the headmaster's change of tone.

"Next time keep your eyes locked to the ground dog, or else I would pluck them from their sockets and feed them to your bastard brother,"

Cody bit down a whimper and took off running with nothing but headmaster's evil chuckle echoing behind his hurried footsteps.

Sorry again for the long delay in updates :( And the mistakes since this is unedited.

What do you think of Cody?

Vote and comment!

Love,

Eva