Wasteland

Chapter 1

Marcus

Judging from the crowd at this show, the job is going to be easier than I expected. These people won't know what hit them. The stage is a fiery blaze, due to the extensive use of special effects and fireworks, entrancing the audience. Huh. Even easier. Playing out my strategy, I weave through the crowd snatching watches, bracelets, anything that could be valuable, right off the audience. Arabella Veail's voice booms through the square. She probably had lots of money. More for me to steal. I make my way to Jami and slip her half the bounty as she walks off. I pocket the rest and zip it up, strolling to backstage. The shows over and 'Miss Veail' is cooling off and chatting with her agent. 'Excuse me.' She rushes away and returns about two minutes later wearing a heavy coat over her t-shirt and shorts. Yes, shorts! In this freezing weather. I slip out and wait, leaning against the wall. I nearly don't hear her coming out the back door. Nearly. I shadow the singer through back alleys and narrow roads that she really shouldn't be on, until I'm close enough to just- 'HEY!' I jump back into the shadows just as she turns around and glares right at me with eyes like chips of ice. 'I know you're there!' I still don't move. Suddenly, she grabs my throat and pins me to the wall. 'What are you doing? Stealing from helpless women isn't a very good hobby.' ' Ha! You....are ...definitely not... helpless.' I wheeze. She loosens her grip. Bad choice. I twist her arm and shove her into the wall, and scramble back to Headquarters. How did she get those skills? And how did a rich snob like her know I stole for a living? Plus, she didn't even look as old as me! As I ponder those questions, Brayden comes up to my room and tells me that Eli wants to see me. Great. I trudge to the boss's office and open the mahogany door. He's talking to Leena and briefly signals for me to wait outside.

'Marcus. Come in.' Eli gestures to the empty seat before him. 'What's wrong?' I ask, reading the worried look on his face. 'There has been rumours about a breakout of a mysterious plague. I need you to find out if we need to desert and move our bases south.' 'Wait, so you mean I am going to risk my life just to find out if we need to move?' He arched a thin gray brow. 'No. I just need you to infiltrate Arabella Veail's house and gain information on the mystery disease .' 'What do you mean Arabella Veail!? I ran into her after the show and she nearly killed me!' I started at the smirk spreading over his face. 'Really? Marvellous. You are already great friends!' I gaped 'But-' 'Don't want to hear it.' "Fine!' I knew I was sounding like a two year old but what could I do? Something told she was not one for second chances. 'Oh and Marcus?' He stopped me before I could escape, 'Tell her about the plague. She'd want to know.' Why would he want me to do that?

24 hours later I found myself in disguise as a producer, which I had no idea how to do, heading to the frigging home of Arabella Veail, the girl who tried to strangle me.