Two- Wanted
1183 Words
Lily's POV .
As soon as I got to the Centre, I spotted the flashing blue lights. A cop car. Mr. Parker’s secretary was standing next to it, arms crossed, talking fast. My heart stuttered.
Shit.
I ducked to the side of the building, pressing myself flat against the cold brick. He had called the cops on me?
He was the one who tried to r**e me. How dare he?
I should’ve marched right over there and defended myself. Told them what he did. But what would it matter? No one ever believed the poor girl with no family, no money, no voice.
My thoughts spun until a hand tapped my shoulder. I gasped, spinning around, clutching my chest.
“Ben!” I breathed out, still flustered. “Why would you scare me like that?”
He didn’t react. His eyes were sharp, his voice low. “What are you doing here?”
“I need to eat. Shower. Mr. Parker tried to—” I swallowed hard. “—he told me not to come back here. But I’m starving, Ben. It’s been two days. I thought maybe he’d calmed down.”
Ben’s jaw tightened. “You can’t go in there. Ever.”
“What? Why?”
“Mr. Parker’s dead.”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest.
“What?”
Ben’s expression didn’t change. “You were the last person to see him alive. His secretary told the cops. They found him in his office this morning—he’d been dead since Friday night.”
I froze.
I didn’t hit him that hard.
Actually... I did. But just once. Just enough to get away.
I could barely breathe. My stomach twisted into knots.
Oh my God. I was a killer.
But it hadn’t been like that. He had me pinned down. I was just trying to get free. It was self-defence.
“Ben,” I whispered, turning to him, “I swear I didn’t—”
“There was a bullet between his eyes,” he said, like he was reading a weather report.
I blinked at him. “What?”
Ben had known. He’d known about Parker for a while. I told him the first time Parker got too handsy. He’d clenched his fists so tight, I thought he’d break his own bones.
But if Parker had been shot, then it wasn’t me. I didn’t have a gun. I hit him in the head with a lamp, not a gun... I’d never even held one.
“Ben, I didn’t do it. I can’t even afford my own toothbrush. How could I possibly afford a gun?”
“I know it wasn’t you,” he said immediately, without a shred of hesitation. Not a single doubt in his voice.
Sometimes I forgot how new our friendship was—it had only been a month—but he talked like he’d known me for years. I met him the day I lost my house, sitting on the edge of the subway platform, wondering what the hell came next. I didn’t know how to be homeless. I didn’t know how to survive with nothing—not a bed, not a pillow, not even a coat. But Ben had handed me half of his bread without asking questions. Showed me a spot in the tunnels that didn’t smell like piss or have rats scurrying over my feet. He always brought food to share, and when we got a few bucks, we split everything fifty-fifty.
He was the one who said we should try the community centre. They shared free food... Who was I to say no?
He hated that I picked pockets. I learned to keep it from him. I Didn’t want to see that disappointment in his eyes.
I let out a slow breath, some of the panic draining from my chest. He believed me.
“I should go clear my name. I can’t be wanted for murder.”
I started to step out from behind the wall, but Ben yanked me back hard, dragging me down beside him.
“Are you insane?” he hissed. “Mr. Parker wasn’t just some guy—he was working for the government. You’re not just wanted for anyone’s murder. They’ll throw you in a cell for life before you can get a single word out.”
I opened my mouth, but he cut me off.
“Can you even hire a lawyer? You can’t afford a toothbrush. You think the state’s gonna give you someone who gives a damn? No. They’ll toss you the first overworked, underpaid zombie they’ve got, and they’ll feed you to the system like it’s lunchtime.”
My chest tightened.
“Your only option is to run,” he said firmly. “I’ll meet you tomorrow. We leave this city together.”
“Ben…” I breathed, his name catching on the lump in my throat.
“Don’t start yapping and crying now,” he said, not unkindly, just… Ben. “You need to go.”
Right. I always forgot—he wasn’t good with emotions. He never knew what to do with tears, mine or anyone else’s.
“Thank you, Ben,” I said, quieter this time.
“Remember the way to the old tunnels?”
I nodded.
“Wait there. I’ll find you tomorrow.”
Before he turned to leave, I reached out and pulled him into a hug.
“Thank you,” I whispered again.
He didn’t hug me back, but his hands gently pushed me off.
“I always got your back,” he said.
I turned around and left.
After I’d put enough distance between me and the shelter, I finally slowed down. The city felt colder at night, like it was watching me. Judging. My stomach growled, loud and hollow, but there was no place open this late. No scraps, no handouts, nothing.
The fifty bucks and the watch I’d swiped earlier? Practically useless now.
I rounded a corner and pressed my back against the wall, sinking down slowly. My legs felt like jelly. Everything did.
Could this day get any worse?
I wiped at my face, and that’s when I felt it—a tear slipping down my cheek before I even realized I was crying. I dug into my coat pocket and pulled out the crumpled handkerchief.
Yeah… I know, I went back for it , It felt too personal to just leave there, like it once mattered to him. Now it was mine.
I pressed it to my face, taking a deep breath. It still smelled like him.
That’s when I heard it.
"Excuse me, Miss Lily ? ... you are Miss Lily, right?"
I looked up but didn’t answer. The officer studied me for a second, then spoke into his walkie.
“Found her. Round the block.”
He turned back to me.
"Miss Lily, I’m going to need you to come with me to the station. We’ve got a few questions."
I gulped down on nothing.
And just like that, Hunger wasn't my biggest problem anymore
- Writer
