Lyra's POV
When you lived on the street for years, you became more street-smart and learned to find ways to survive.
In this era of humans being the lowest of the hierarchy, it was getting more difficult to make ends meet. I had heard humans were more opportunistic when we had more freedom.
But now… we are limited to what we had on this border.
Ever since that wanted poster displayed on the city hall, people were so eager to find me now with the hopes of getting that huge bounty prize.
I had already quit my waitress and barista job days ago before the search. And I was thanking my lucky stars that I did it before creatures would discover me there.
So, I went around the streets with aliases and odd jobs to survive.
After all, I loved acting. And I didn't care if what I was doing was to deceive others.
You could say, I was a con artist or a fraud. Some would identify my kind of job as a go-getter.
But I didn't care, as long as I nailed it.
I had done a lot of different jobs: selling fake stones or healing herbs, acting as a fortune teller by disguising myself as an old lady, cleaning cars, or being their knocker-uppers, you name it.
All odd jobs with the exception of murder or prostitution. I wouldn't go down the wrong path like my mother.
But disguising myself with different names and appearances brought a spark of joy for my love of acting.
And I was glad I self-practiced makeup in case this happened.
Now disguised as Nala Hoover, a homeless woman begging for scraps of food, I leaned against the wall as I lowered my head, looking helpless while holding a cardboard sign.
I was dressed in a worn beanie, hands-me-down jean jacket, and loose khaki pants. I covered myself with a long cloth and a dark wig. Then to add it up, my makeup changed me into a mid-40 woman.
And being Nala Hoover was the best. I just sat there waiting for sympathetic passersby dropping money to my tin can at the same time I was gathering news if the creatures had finally given up searching for me.
I mean…sure I hit one of the rich guys there but what I was doing was only for self-defense!
I just had to wait…until they had finally given up.
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"Are you certain you haven't heard or seen this girl?"
A man showed me a stolen shot of me working as a waitress in my old job.
Now, dressed as a stall vendor for donuts, I was wearing a pair of large owl-lish glasses, a dyed blonde wig that is being tied in a bun and a mask.
I eyed the picture carefully. "Nope, haven't seen her for weeks. You sure she ain't hiding in the wolf turf?"
The wolf-man grumbled as he ignored my statement before walking away.
I could only smirk.
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"Where the fuck is she?!" Philip, one of the most popular bounty hunters in Slumber Hound City exclaimed while kicking the trash can. "She has to be here! The wolves secured the place around the walls! They should be sniffing her scent the moment she leaves!"
"Err…she can't be on the surface, right?" His lackey said. "That would have explained her disappearance."
"That can't be! Aargh!" He punched against the wall. "The creatures have tightened the place up! No human can escape this place easily!"
I smiled as I approached him. Now, dressed in a messy butch dark-haired wig, oil and grease around my body and covered in tattered dark cloak, I carry a box of cigarettes and candies. "Maybe ye need some smoke, lad," I said with a thick Irish accent.
"Thanks, we will get 4 packs. He needs it." Well, at least his lackey had some manners.
"Mark my words! I'll get that bitch and we'll get that 300 grand! I can smell it! She's around here and I won't stop until we find her!" Philip declared while lighting a cigarette.
I could only roll my eyes as I wanted to say, 'I am here, stupid.'
However, the next few days, Philip and the rest of the bounty hunters practically gave up searching for me.
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On the ninth day, finally the search had stopped.
I heard from the gossips that they had returned to deal with other important matters like the preparation of some hot-shot vampire visiting this shitty city.
If that was true, I was beyond glad.
It seemed the creatures had finally given up the search. I mean why wasted time and resources over a mere human?
And I felt at ease for the first time that day.
"You seem happy there, Natalie. Did you sell all of the magic water?" Another stall vendor asked me.
I grinned. "Something like that."
When I arrived home, carrying a takeaway meal, I hummed, feeling more triumphant than before. I couldn't wait to go back to my usual routine. Maybe after a couple of months once my high bounty poster would be taken down and replaced by another notorious criminal, I could go out as Lyra Ellison again.
However, my excitement was cut short. My feet stopped midway when I caught sight of a tall regal man wearing an expensive suit talking to Mr. Berns at the front door.
Next to him were the same men in black who chased me weeks ago.
"We are looking for a woman named Lyra Ellison. Word says she lives around here. Do you know where she stays?"
Mr. Berns frowned yet he didn't say anything. In fact, he was hesitant. No one had ever caught on that I lived under his factory!
"Err…I've seen her in the theater troupe which belongs to my friend before but I haven't seen her since."
I had to leave and packed my things away from this factory…fast.
As I swiftly turned…suddenly two arms snaked around my waist, pulling me to his embrace.
My face turned pale, mortified when I recognized his touch, his scent, and his aura while he leaned and whispered in my ear.
"Hello, Audrey Hepburn, or should I say Lyra Ellison?"
Oh, shit.