30MIN
"Sam! Come back here!"
The aforementioned boy skidded around the corner, ragged breaths echoing in the alley. He choked out raspy laughter as he called back, "Can't catch me, James!"
He picked up his pace, sprinting fervently down the mouldy cobblestone path.
"No, that's not it! You're going into the-"
James voice trailed away as Sam's footsteps faded into the distance. The mousy haired boy emerged from the alleyway that his friend had stood in moments before, panting heavily. "Oh, Sam." he murmured dolefully. "Don't say I didn't warn you that you were heading straight through the Barrier."
His reckless friend had already slipped right through. Sam continued to dart down the street, mirth lacing his breathless chortles. "James was always painfully slo..." his words trailed off as he finally began to notice his surroundings. Where were the narrow, desolate streets of Lowerville? In his whole life, he had never seen a street that provided such natural sunlight, such absence of the scent of rotting meat and garbage that typically shrouded the narrow walkways. Sam took huge gulps of the fresh, intoxicating air and leered at his surroundings. Instead of the withered, crumbling buildings these streets were filled with houses that were so meticulously clean that he could see his ragged reflection in the doors.
He self consciously looked down at his rags, tucking them into his shorts in a futile attempt to make himself look presentable. Sam's stomach filled with unsettling dread as he realised that he has somehow gone through the border to Richtown, but it was far too late to turn back now.
All his life, he had never seen such straight buildings. Such spotless, wide walkways. The boy had never seen actual grass until now, but the 'backyards' of this segregated community even had something he had only ever heard about in stories-flowers. Blooming ones, at that. It was only now that he realised how banal and monotone the streets of Lowerville were, as he ogled at the vibrant abodes that lined the streets. Even the birds looked a great deal healthier than the gaunt, haggard creatures of Lowerville.
The only thing that resembled Lowerville were the bare streets. However, this only provided a sanguine tranquility while walking alone on Lowerville streets sent shivers down your back because somehow or other you were likely to get robbed. Not even a leaf stirred, save for a toddler with her hair in ringlets skipping up and down the footpath. She halted her movements. Sam's heart thudded in his chest as she tilted her head judgementally, looking up at down at the wan appearance of this boy more than three times her age. How sad-the satin frock she wore possibly cost more than his apartment block. Sam's cheeks burned in embarrassment at having a mere 3 or 4 year old judge him.
"Sally! Time for tea!" A voice sang from within one of the manors. The clicking of heels approached the veranda. Sam's feet stubbornly remained glued to the spot as he stay there helplessly. Why couldn't he run? His chest tightened in terror as a polished woman flitted out the door, beaming at the girl with pearly white teeth. The clicking of heels slowed as her gaze travelled over to where her supposed daughter was looking-right at Sam. The woman's smile melted, disposition changing drastically as she stared him up and down.
"Another one crossed the border, huh?" She said lowly, tone dangerously soft. "We know what to do with you."
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