The boy, draped in a stained and worn-out black cloak, sprinted through the crowded market, clutching a loaf of stolen bread against his chest.
Behind him, shouts rang out from vendors and townsfolk, their angry voices echoing off the stone walls as they spotted the thief. He weaved between stalls, the fabric of his cloak billowing like a shadow as he darted past startled customers. Catching a glimpse of knights in hot pursuit, he dashed down a narrow alley, heart racing with every step.
With a final burst of speed, he slipped into a hidden nook wedged between two crumbling buildings, his cloak blending into the darkness. He held his breath, listening as they thundered past. Now hidden, he allowed himself a small smile, savouring the warmth of the hard-won bread still cradled in his hands.
As he took his first bite, two older boys appeared from both sides of the alley. They lunged at him, snatching the loaf from his grasp before he could react. "You think you can keep it all for yourself?" one of them jeered, while the other shoved him hard against the cold stone wall. Despite his thin frame and hunger, he fought back, swinging his fists wildly in a futile attempt to fend them off.
But the odds were against him; they were relentless and soon overwhelmed him with their numbers. Left battered on the ground, he struggled to breathe, staring up at the sky as the sunlight began to fade. As his thoughts became sluggish, a rainbow colored comet travelled across the sky. His last thoughts were a desperate wish. "I wish I had never had to die".