Adiel

I

The earth shakes once again, bringing those who stood down on their knees.

Many chose to scream while the others have accepted their faith. Death was inevitable, it has been for the last couple of years.

The death of hundreds were later reported. Many just passed by the huge cracked screen on the heart of their town, hustling as they rush to the markets, hoping that there was still food left to feed them and their family.

It was a reoccurring event.

The plague had slowly died down but there were still some that were infected.

The prices had skyrocketed and the rich had taken advantage. leaving the poor no choice.

A woman stuffs a small crumb of bread in her mouth, muttering something under her breath as she passed by a couple of homeless people.

Her fingers were itching but her breathing was calm. The market was full of people, it always has been especially when the clock strikes 6.

"Please let me buy that last bread!" She hears an old woman's voice, reaching out her wrinkled hands to the owner as he raised the last loaf of bread as if it was a trophy.

"No! Let me! I have a child waiting at home!" A fat man intervenes as the owner glanced at the old woman.

The woman scoffed at the man's words.

Child my ass.

It was the same as the other stations in the market, though there are some with ten or more goods in display.

Her eyes roamed the crowd and it stopped on the canned goods on her left. There were also a lot people there. It was gonna be easy.

She joined the group of people pushing themselves towards the station. The owner looks stressed, doing his best at attending his customers.

The woman smirked, he doesn't look them in the face and only at their palms where they offer their money.

She discreetly slid in between people, ignoring their stench until she made her way to the front where she was continuously pushed forward.

Her stomach was slightly aching from being pressed at the table but she didn't pay any mind to it.

She pretended to glance at the other goods in the table and took a few coins in her purse.

"I'd like a can of this, please" She took a sardine and opened her palms, letting the light gleam at the silver coins.

The owner only huffed and took the coins in her hand, he gave her a plastic to put the can in and gave his attention to the others.

While he and the others were busy, she casually swiped her hand to the left where there's an edge and let a few cans and packs of instant noodles fall.

She quickly left, sliding in between the people and walked out of the market, calmly.

The owners never notice her stealing. They're always too busy as well as the people.

Her eyes glanced at the huge clock in a run down building, 5:50 pm.

A lot of people were going the opposite of where she is going. All of them going straight to the market, eyeing the truck that just backed up with new goods.

She sighed and continues her way to her home.

It was a fifteen minute walk and by the time she reached the gate it was already 6:05.