Beatrice Prior and Jack Wilder
District 12 - Coal
Beatrice made her way back to the Seam. She walked the bleak streets with her head bowed. Therefore she didn’t see the person in front of her until they collided. Beatrice stumbled to the ground.
“Here, let me help you up.”
Two strong hands hoisted her back to her feet. Beatrice looked up into brown eyes of a boy who couldn’t be much older than she.
“Oh, you’re covered in coal dust.” He brushed the soot off her clothes.
“Thank you,” she said belatedly. “And sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”
She received a cheeky grin in reply. “No problem.” He started walking again. “You take care now.”
Beatrice hurried on home after that.
————
Jack skimmed through the wallet he’d taken from the girl. Nothing. Jack groaned. “Great.” He tossed the wallet aside and stuck his hands in his pockets.
He made his way over to the Hob. He still had a few other things he could pawn. Mostly trinkets he stole from the richer people of District 12. They had no business at the Hob, so there was no worry that he’d get caught.
Just one more year and he could work in the mines. He could start earning some real money.