Chapter 1-
Meeting.
He always found it harder in winter. The streets were buried two feet in snow, the road and path were indistinguishable.
Icicles clung dangerously to the roofs of buildings and the sun hung low in the sky.
He was hungry. He hadn't eaten all day.
It was 8pm.
He thought about going home, but after all the trouble he went through to get out of that house he decided it wasn't worth it.
Instead he walked to the grocery store, hoping an unexpecting shopkeeper might overlook him.
He stalked the confectionary aisle for 5 minutes before deciding he would like a Mars Bar; he thought that this would be enough to ward off his hunger, at least until the morning.
He waited until nobody was around him, then he reached forwards and grabbed the chocolate.
He stuffed it quickly into jeans feeling slightly guilty, but it couldn't be helped, and what would the shop owner need all of this candy for anyways?
He turned to leave and walked straight into the old woman standing behind him.
He froze; his heart was pounding in his chest. The woman looked down at him.
"And what do you think you're doing?" She asked. She had soft, yet stern, blue eyes and a mane of white hair. She looked like a pleasant woman, he could tell by the creases around her eyes that she must smile often.
He debated on whether he should take his chances and make a run for it, but she seemed to be reading his mind.
"You aren't going anywhere young man, hand over what you took." She lifted her hand and held it out expectantly.
He flinched as her hand came towards him, but he quickly steadied himself.
"Don't let them know it hurts, don't let them get what they want." He mumbled to himself, like he recited these words often.
The woman looked at him curiously, but said nothing.
He reached slowly to his jeans and pulled out the Mars Bar and placed it in her hand, being extremely careful not to make eye contact with her.
The woman's eyes widened, she caught a glimpse of a highly painful looking bruise on his wrist. He withdrew his hand quickly, as if he had been burned. He wished he had time before he left the house to grab a long sleeved jacket.
"And who might you be?" She asked politely.
He stared at her for a moment, wondering what the correct action to take should be. He had never been spoken to like that before, nevermind by a complete stranger.
He held his breath, and then released it.
"Uh…" He began. "Jack."
"Jack," she said, "and what's you're second name?"
He pondered the question for a moment, he shouldn't really tell her his last name, but something made him want to.
"McElrue." He replied finally, half worried. His stomach groaned.
"Ok," she studied the boy carefully. "No more stealing, you're lucky I'm not going to tell the shop assistant.
He was grateful for this, though he wished he could have just one bite of the chocolate.
She watched him for a moment, a look of concern on her face, she noticed that he was extremely thin for what she supposed was a 12 year old boy.
She looked in deep thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Are you hungry?" She asked. Jack knew from experience that this kind of question was never to be answered. His bruise twinged painfully.
The woman didn't wait for an answer. She reached into her bag and pulled out a sandwich, she made to give it to the boy but he backed off.
"Here," She said, and forced the sandwich into his hands. "I'm Evelyn." She smiled and then she turned and left, leaving a stunned Jack behind her.