Playing with Phyre

Chosen

Forbidden fruit. Wealth. Long-kept secrets. Things that everyone wants, maybe even craves, but usually can never have. Everyone thinks of the thief as the 'bad guy' but what if the owner of the item was the one in the wrong?

For as long as I can remember, I've lived with my father. He works as a "scrapfixer", or someone who takes scraps, old metal, and useless junk, and makes it into something rich people can use. It's not a good job-right along the lines of the dump management. However, at least he HAS a job... I have no siblings, and I don't know what happened to my mother.

Out the window, snow swirled around. A girl I vaguely recognized her from school, but didn't know well, turned the corner. She was wearing various shades of orange and yellow, and had long red hair-- probably the brightest thing on the street...She looked like she was trying to find something. She looked toward me, and beamed. I rolled my eyes. Why was she so cheery? I figured she'd walk past, but she started up the walkway.

She continued up the walkway, and rang the bell. My father was mumbling incoherently in the corner, and didn't seem to notice the ringing of the bell. I answered the door.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

"Actually you can," she replied and looked down at something that was scrawled on her hand. "Are you...umm...Phyre Winters?"

"Yeah," I stared at her. "Why?"

"Because," she answered, looking excited. "You have been chosen-"she stopped. "Actually, I'm not supposed to tell you..." she winced. "I'm sorry."

She looked genuinely concerned. I smiled slightly. "It's fine."

A look of relief crossed her face and left right about when she glanced at the clock. "Well, this is great. We might be late to the meeting. Hurry up and grab your stuff."

I had barely shoved my shoes on my feet, and grabbed my jacket when the girl pulled me out into the freezing November air. I had to run to keep up with her. She finally stopped outside the Capital's enormous marble building.

"What are we doing here?" I asked her, but she didn't hear me, and was starting up the steps. "Wait!" I called.

She stopped, and turned around. "Were you talking to me?"

I rolled my eyes. "Who else would I be talking to? There's barely anyone out here in this cold-except for us."

She laughed. "That's true...by the way, my name is Celeste. And we're here because this is where I'm supposed to bring you." She continued up the stairs. "Come on!"

I followed her, and at the top of the stairs, she flung open the doors.