Chapter Text
A small girl ran back to the corner hut she and her sister had built in an unstable part of underground under the middle wall in which the rest of humanity as they knew it was stuck behind.
Her hair was muddy and it began to fall on the food she took from merchants passing by. You could barely tell she had a dark blonde hair color from how much mud was seen throughout her scalp. Her clothing wasn't even the same color as it once was either. Once a pretty bright pink shade now shifted to a dull grey with spots of deep brown coated through the layers.
The young child didn't know how old she was. Why would it matter anyway to her? When strangers on the streets saw her they would typically assume she is only 7 at most. She hadn't been able to remember anything from her early years. In her mind; it was as if she had appeared and had a 2 year old sister to take care of. But she knew how to run faster than any military police that attempted to catch her, she knew how to use a dagger or any sharp weapon she could find on the street, and she knew how to throw a punch.
She ran just like she knew how to do, all the way till she made it to the small hut made of small scraps of wood and stolen pieces of fabric of many different types and lengths. Finally she was able to slow down and just walk to the flap the two siblings used as a door.
Inside was a small girl with brown hair up to her ears coloring with solid wax her sister had traded stolen jewelry for.
"Sister!" The young girl ran to the girl and hugged her upper body looking up at her with her bright green eyes. Her sister knew the younger girl was four. For her age she was much cleaner than her counterpart. She had little to no dirt on her face and her clothing was still a deep brown and grey as it once was.
"I'm home Hannah." She gave her sister a small smile and put the food down onto a small piece of wood they used as a storage corner.
Hannah hurried back to the small table she was earlier seen coloring on and quickly clenched the price of paper."Look what I drew sister!" Hannah yelled out while holding the paper above her own head.
Her sister picked it up and looked at the small stick people, one smaller than the other. The small had short hair that curled just above her elbows. While, the taller had hair to their shoulders, which had a bump to show muscles. Surrounding the people were flowers and in the sky there were rainbows everywhere. Just like her sister had described above ground to be when putting her to bed at night.
At least how she thought it would be like.
"Look, I even wrote our names above us." Small fingers showed where two names were close to the figure. 'Red' above the taller and 'Hannah' next to the smaller.
"WOW Hannah you're getting really good at drawing! I'm proud of you." Red ruffled her younger sister's hair and sat down on the makeshift bed they shared. It really was a bed but it had holes and stains all over it, which were being covered by a less stained sheet.
Red lay down on the bed and pointed to the food with a weak attempt, as she had grown tired from being chased for stealing. "I got us some food. It's not much but it'll taste good."
She had lied on the last part. She had stolen stale bread and fruits, which she knew would be dead before they knew it. But it's healthy and she needed to keep her sister healthy.
"Is that a peach?" Hannah began to marvel at all the fruit but especially a huge one in the center. It was indeed a peach; her favorite.
They often were able to get peaches since they weren't in season often and were designated for people with high value in the underground. Which generally meant brother workers and gangs. But every once in a dream Red was able to snatch one or two for her sister.
Red rolled to her side to look at the small girl standing to look at the peach. "I got it just for you Hannah." She softly spoke.
"One day when we're lucky we'll get out of here and I'll get you peaches more often. Maybe we can even grow our own!" Red could only dream of a way above ground. She had been trying for years to get out. Many attempts caused her to be beaten so badly she couldn't make it home for a whole day. But she was able to heal much quicker than others. It was still slow, not magical but she could scab over in a matter of minutes for small cuts.
" I would love that sister!"
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"Hannah, I have an idea!" Red had run inside their hut and startled the poor girl awake.
"What?" Hannah said, still lying in bed half asleep. She was used to the yelling of people and even her sister from the times people would come to their home. Which explains why she hadn't been too alarmed by her yelling.
"I heard two bad men talking today about a ladder. I learned it's a wooden thing that allows you to climb up high! What if I made a ladder and we got out!" She forgot about the young age the girl was, because she couldn't understand her. But she had understood to get out.
"Like we'll be free?"
"Yes! We'll use that big hole that allows sunlight and birds to come in and out."
No complaints were made, and Red quickly got into making a ladder. She ran around the dirty city all day looking for wood, rope, or clothing.
She took some from houses, merchants, and already deceased but she finally had enough to where she felt comfortable enough to start making. She worked all day on making the ladder for her sister and her. There were no promises of stability when it was done but as long as it allowed them to make it above the ground it was okay.
Once it was finally made she went inside the hut to tell her sister. "Hannah, I have it ready. We just got to go now." She swayed down to the small girl to be face to face.
"Are you ready?" She asked, pulling her into a quick hug.
"Can I bring something?" She asked in a small voice staring at her sister. Hoping she would say yes. "Of course you can. But you have to hold it. Like a big girl."
Hannah lit up, her smile grew and she did a small jump of joy. Then she quickly walked to the corner shelf and grabbed the peach her older sister had given her. As well she grabbed her crayons and put them inside of her pocket her dress had on the front.
"I'm ready now!" Hannah walked past Red and outside to the ladder. Both girls had sneaked through the town in the night to make it to the spot where the hole was at. It wasn't hard, especially since people who were out were either drunk or too busy trying to get pleasure.
When the girls finally made it to the hole it was time to check the ladder for its durability. Red placed it so it could allow them to climb up it and reach the top comfortably.
"I'll try the first few just to be safe then I'll come back and get you. Then we can climb together." Red looked at her sister with a smile. Hannah returned it with a thumbs up.
Red wasn't scared of the ladder, every step up was one step closer to her freedom. The sun, maybe even a tan. Each step up and each creek she heard she began to inch closer and closer to her freedom. Though she stopped herself from going further up knowing her sister was still at the bottom ready to be with her. She was also hoping for the same thing. Though especially more toys and friends. She loved her sister of course; although being with new people and learning more about another person also peaked her interest.
She climbed back down to her sister, as to show her the ladder they discovered was indeed safe enough to venture further up. The little girl, still scared, stayed in place as her sister slowly came down and then to her. " Are you sure sister? I trust you but I heard all the noise."
Her sister bent down to her in order to show her full honesty. "Yes I am one hundred percent sure. You saw me go up and down the ladder." She spoke softly. Both in order to not be caught but also to comfort the small girl in front of her. Then slowly she grabbed her shakes hands on her own and began to rub slight circles into her skin to assist her calming more. "I way more than you do too Hannah. I was just fine on the ladder so someone as small as you will be perfect." She gave her sister one final squeeze before letting go of the less shaken hands of her sister.
Still kneeling before her sister she looked in her eyes fully. "Do you feel safe enough to go now?" After watching her sister read the expression. She was betting and hoping she would say yes. Their freedom is right there but only if she allows it. Never wishing for harm to fall upon her sister who does not want it. Hanna was scared but realizing what was right was rather slow- though eventually she let out a small faint noise of approval that she was indeed ready to go up the ladder.