the Thief of Omega

Chapter 1: The thief, then and now.

The thing about orphanages, Mother Mary's, to be specific is that they tend to treat you like the ground you walk on, and that's without you actually doing something to deserve some form of discipline. Mary tended to hate everyone under that roof, me especially (for good reason, I admit) but that meant that I was always the one who was used as an example. Typically if you did something to upset her, even something as small as wearing a pair of socks that didn't match, she would either beat you, starve you, lock you in a cage out back and not give you water or food for the entire day, or just whatever she came up with.

Almost every other week I would get punished in every single way possible just to remind the other kids to be "thankful" for her giving them a roof to live under, but all of us hated her as much as she hated us. If they even knew what it meant to hate someone? There was no schooling in this orphanage, hell, there wasn't any schooling in most of the Slums (the area of the city of which the orphanage was located). The majority of the Slums was nothing but just gang hideouts and guard headquarters. If you can even say that they are any different, you're as likely to get arrested for giving a guard a funny look as you are getting jumped and robbed and your way home.

We never had to worry about the guards or the gangs that roamed the area because even though they may be scum bags they still don't mess with children, that we knew of at least. Though some of us have been brought back by the guards before. To be honest, it still brings a smile to my face when I was caught trying to sell Mary's earrings and I got busted, she beat me for a week straight for that one. But in my defense I only knew what I knew (which wasn't much) because of the only friend I had at the orphanage. His name was Bren and if it wasn't for him I would have gone through my time in the orphanage alone and without even the slightest touch of schooling.

"Hey Bren!" I called over to my tall and slender friend, who had his arms around the two girls on either side of him. I took a moment to look at Bren and remind myself of his features. Bren had long, bright, blonde hair that he often kept tied back. Bren was someone who I would say was handsome though most days I can't manage to look past his large nose. Just like the rest of us who lived in Mary's orphanage he wore leather shoes that were worn down and full of holes, as well as basic trousers and a shirt made of cloth.

"Excuse me, ladies," He said before heading over to me. He took a seat next to me at a rundown table where I had spent ten minutes picking at loose splinters and studying a gold coin. "I swear of all your attributes you've got a serious one for bad timing," He and I both chuckled, "I was just about to get some, man,"

I wrinkled my nose as he said that, definitely the last thing I wanted to know about. "You," I jutted my adolescent chin at the two girls (they haven't even moved an inch) sitting over in the corner, "And them aren't going anywhere. Besides, this is more important," I said as I drew a gold coin out of my pocket and showed it to him.

"Where'd you get this, man?" He asked, studying its yellow surface.

"Jumped a group of bandits the other day," I said, flexing my bicep. Bren looked me in the eye and we both couldn't hold back our laughter, "I stole it from Mother Mary,"

Bren's eyes shot open, threatening to jump out of his skull, "Don't you remember the last time you stole from her?!"

"Quiet!" I hissed at him, "Do you want everyone to hear you?"

"Sorry, man. But this is serious, if she finds out she'll beat you within an inch of your life,"

"So what else is new?" I asked, louder than I should have and throwing my arms up in the air, "She'll beat me just for breathing near her. I don't want to live here, Bren. Slowly, but surely I'll get enough money we can both leave here, together,"