The Weeds

Every Weed Has Its Thorn

Chapter 1

The slums of Chicago rolled by on my old modified scooter. I passed the auction house and the pub before I arrived at my shabby apartment building. I unloaded my rations of food and put them in my preserver box. 

I considered myself more fortunate than some of the other weeds. I had a place to sleep and I hadn't starved. My shift was in an hour and if I was late one more time I was afraid Devon might have to fire me. 

I threw on my old clothes that I had been given in my rations. The upper society flowers often gave away their old clothes so they could buy more. I pulled my scooter into the alley next to the old pub.

"Oi its Delilah, she showed up on time for once" Devon, a clover, announced to my coworkers as I took my place behind the bar, I playfully smacked him on the shoulder. Devon had a kind smile and a red beard. He looked like all the other clovers but acted nothing like them. When I first got here he took me in and helped me when no one else would. 

The bar started kicking up and more weeds flooded through the door after a long day. Most of them were simple clovers but there were a few ivy's and nightshades. The music began and after a few rounds of dancing the bar was so crowded that I was throwing drinks left and right. Then a strange man I had never met before took a seat at the bar.

 The man waited patiently while I served my other patrons. Soon everyone was back out on the floor and properly intoxicated. All that was left was this man and I. 

He looked at me and smiled "What's your name gorgeous". I rolled my eyes inwardly and gave him a fake name "Meg" I smiled, there was something off about this guy and I didn't like it. He held up one finger for another Green torch. "What about you" I inquired he raised his eyebrow. "The names Rey" he smiled a blindingly white smile, which also struck me as odd. "Where are you from? I haven't seen you around." Weirdly enough he laughed, "You weeds are suspicious little things" 

He grabbed his jacket coat and talked into a hidden mic "Bring in the squad." At that exact moment the windows burst in and gunshots rang from left and right. So much death caused but yet I was still alive. I didn't move from the pure shock of it all and by the time I snapped to my senses it was too late. 

I felt a knife on my throat and a strong body pressed against mine. He walked me out the door then leaned over and whispered against my ear, "Most weeds aren't very pretty but you're a different story" I realized I had been spared because he liked the way I looked. I was disgusted but I knew if I tried anything he would slit my throat so I played along. "Your not so bad yourself except I don't find this very attractive" I gestured to the knife and he laughed "maybe if you remove it ill make it worth your while." 

He considered it for a few moments then the knife retracted and I took a deep breath before rearing back my elbow and hitting him square in the gut. The last thing I saw before I ran was the pub going up in flames. My mind raced with places I could go but I was disoriented and in shock. So I ran to the only place I felt safe, Sam's old house where his parents still lived. 

I hated them but I had no choice. They where the reason I no longer had Sam. When Sam was 17 his parents sold him at the auction house for extra money. His mother begged his dad not to but his dad had a penchant for drinking and was out of money. 

The day he was sold was the day that I was going to tell him that I loved him. I had known Sam for 15 years and he was my only friend. When I came here it was because I had run from my home. I was an illegal and Sam was the only one who knew it. I snapped out of the ugly memories when I saw the old house and ran up the drive to the door.

 My fist slammed into it until his mom opened the door. "The enforcers showed up at Devon's bar and burned the place down," I explained "they are after me." She nodded and gestured me inside. It wasn't uncommon for the enforcers to show up and take people but they had never killed anyone or burned any buildings. I moved inside looking over my shoulder. It seemed clear but I knew I wasn't safe. 

His mom showed me to his old room. It looked the same as when we were kids but it felt empty without him here. "Did anyone else survive?" she questioned me. "I don't think anyone could have made it out of that fire" she saw the look on my face and left.

 I gave myself a moment to grieve before I went to the floorboard that I knew had a gun hidden in it as well as some emergency supplies. I sighed in relief, at least now I had a weapon. There were some days I wished I hadn't been born. When World war III happened the nuclear warfare used caused a virus. This virus caused a genetic mutation that gave us our powers. We were deemed dangerous by the new republic and were exiled into a life of poverty. We weren't allowed to move territories but like I said before im an illegal.

 It was then that the window broke in and he stood there. I raised the gun and fired but it was empty. He laughed and gestured for me to come to him, "Come on Delilah lets make this easy for both of us." I froze, I never told him my name. He smirked at my expression "I know plenty about you Delilah."

 I glared at him "you know nothing about me." "Really, I know your parents never cared for you so you ran away, I know that your best friend who you were in love with was sold on your 17thbirthday, and I know that your not who you say you are." I paled "h-how do you know all that" my hand was shaking so bad I dropped the empty gun. 

He swooped in and pinned my arms against the wall. "I did my research" he seemed proud of himself but I was disgusted. I thrashed against his hold and he let go for a second to slap me across the face before regaining control. 

It was at that moment that I realized I wasn't alone "HELP!" I yelled "Mr. and Mrs. Ivy." He started laughing then yelled to his men to bring them in. They both had multiple stab wounds and I realized they were dead. When it set in I broke. As I went slack he swept me up into his arms. I felt a prick in my arm and the last thing I remember before everything went black was him telling me their death was my fault.

AN: This is a complete work in progress I am just posting this to get feedback and see if this is going anywhere. Any feedback is much appreciated!