Retainers

Chapter One: Running Without A Purpose

"What's this?" Criselda stormed, her stiff but stylish periwinkle blue dress contrasting her fast-moving feet, from the hallway that lead to their bedrooms into the quaint kitchen in their cottage. The small wooden dinette trembled as she slammed the paper down in front of Nero, a teenager quietly enjoying his breakfast. "What is this!?"

Nero shrugged indifferently, his eyes closed as he enjoyed his egg and toast. His eyes opened absently out of curiosity to see what he had done this time and instantly widened further upon seeing the Retainer Invitation Letter. "Hey!" He snatched the paper up, then leaned back to stuff it in his pouch before quickly retorting, "You shouldn't go around opening other people's mail. It's bad luck!"

"Why didn't you tell me you were applying to be a Retainer, Nero?" Criselda asked placing a hand on her hip, head tilted, and nostrils flaring.

"It's no big deal, Criselda." Nero stuffed his face with a bite of egg on toast. "I've always wanted to become a Retainer. You knew that."

She let out a deep breath. She was going to have to take the long way around this conversation because when had Nero ever been honest with himself, let alone her. "I knew that, but I didn't know if you still did. After your excursions on the coast, you seemed like you had a change of heart."

"Well, that should answer that. I can't live in this house, you know, this forest forever..." He chanced a glance up at her then quickly looked down, placing his egg and toast back on the plate. She was serious about having this conversation this instant. "I don't know about you."

Criselda took a seat across from him. His dismissive tone was having the opposite desired effect. She was taking him seriously now. He averted his eyes everywhere but at her, finally back to his food and continued eating.

She sighed, then asked, "When are you leaving?"

"I didn't really have a plan. I didn't know if they would even reply," Nero snapped. "Eh."

"You're going to go out there by yourself?" Her voice neutral and even in spite of his confrontational tone.

Nero rolled his shoulders, playfully brazen. "You don't need partners. There are tons of people who work alone."

"Yeah, but they're much stronger than you," Criselda said in a slightly mocking tone. "The jobs they take on are more dangerous than anything or anyone you've ever encountered." She challenged.

Nero quickly stuffed the last of his food in his mouth and got up. "So?"

"You should just join the Peace Corps, it's not too late." She saw him glance past her, at the front door. "Wait, listen to me. They'll finish your training, and you can help people in that way. Don't become a criminal."

"I don't want anything to do with the Peace Corps, and it's obvious they feel the same way about me." Nero lingered by the table. It wasn't as if he hadn't thought about joining the Peace Corps. But it simply wasn't an option. "To them, people like me are born criminals."

"Don't say that. Sit down." She gestured to the seat. "Let's talk about this."

Nero chewed on his words, shaking his head then exhaled a small breath like a chuckle. He snatched his plate and walked into the kitchen, hovering by the sink.

"I don't know why you would still send out a letter knowing you could be thrown in jail just for trying to become a Retainer. Now that you are a Retainer, they could kill you and anyone in your home on sight." She tilted her head and smacked her lips. "That means me."

He let out a cry of mirthless laughter. "And these are the people I should join? I've already made you a criminal once..." He paused facing the sink, holding his plate and spoke guiltily over his shoulder. "Yes, I know...that's why we had to hide in this forest. It just means I can't stay here."