On My Knees

After Kaila left Nina's boutique, the small girl once again found herself back on the busy streets. Looking up at the sun high over her head, Kaila was happy to see that she still had plenty of time before the sun would start it's journey down.

Taking a moment before she began her search for a place to stay for the night, Kaila quickly hid in the same alleyway Nina had found her in early that morning as she threw the bag off her shoulders.

From the corner of her eyes the girl could still see the blood stain she had left behind. It made her cringe to remember what a horrible state she was in. She hardly knew Nina for a day and yet she felt indebted to the woman. Who knows what would've happened had Kaila never met the kind woman? Not that she wanted to think about all the dark possibilities.

Shaking the thought from her head as she focused on her bag, Kaila dug around her backpack until she finally hit it. The cash her last boss had given her was a little crinkled but it was still as good as ever.

She sighed as she counted the cash out in her hands. The shelter she had stayed at, while only briefly, still put a dent in her only funds. Her five hundred that she originally started with was now nearing four hundred after the girl had gotten herself something to eat beforehand.

"Ugh." Kaila dropped her head clenching the money in her fists. "This has to get me someplace right. Even just for tonight. I can't sleep on the street again and I'm not taking any more chances at a shelter."

'But what if I don't make enough from work and need the cash to help make up the missing money for next month?!' A dark voice spoke into her head.

"But I don't want to sleep on the streets. I don't want another encounter like last time. I barely got out of there. At least if I find someplace cheap I'll have a safe place to sleep at night."

'Or it could be a total waste and I'll lose the only money to my name!'

Kaila argued with her conscience as she went back and forth trying to decide what to do with the little cash she had left.

"Kaila?" The small girl was startled when the back door to the boutique opened up and Lauren came walking out with a trash bag in hand. "What're you doing out here? I thought Nina said you left."

She said walking past the girl frantically throwing her cash back into her bag.

"Um yeah I was about to leave. I was just checking something first."

"Uh huh." Lauren raised her eyebrow as she threw her bag into the dumpster behind Kaila. "Well I look forwards to seeing you tomorrow." The woman said before heading back into the building.

"Wait!" Kaila shouted stopping Lauren in the doorway.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah...um, no, uh see I was just going to ask you about what you said earlier." The girl timidly played with her fingers as her ears grew hot. "About how I could come to you to get more insights on Nina."

"Oh that." Lauren snapped her fingers stepping back outside with her hands comfortably in her pockets leaning against the side of the building. "Looking to get some details before you start tomorrow. Smart. But alright, what do you want to know?"

"You mentioned earlier that she's particularly good at something. What was it?" She asked needing to satisfy her curiosity.

Lauren chuckled to herself as she crossed her arms. "Oh, yeah...sorry I don't think I remember saying that. Maybe if it comes back to me I'll let you know though. Anything else?"

Of course she had more questions, but from the last answer she got Kaila seemed put off. Lauren was either horrible at lying or was trying too hard to make it obvious. Was it really that bad that she had to avoid saying it?