Chapter Text
Prologue
Noah’s right pointer finger began to freeze just as the can he was holding started running out.
Shit.
He shook the can vigorously. He only had one letter left before he was done.
“Do you have more red?” he asked.
“No, I’m out,” said Nick.
He shook the can once again and went back to his project. The red paint sputtered, leaving a smattering of paint flecks on the wall, aerosol coating his finger once again.
“Come on,” he muttered under his breath.
The night air was freezing. Late September had always carried a slight chill, but this night in particular was unseasonably frigid.
Noah caught a flash of red and blue out of the corner of his eye just before he heard the tell-tale whoop of police sirens.
“Let’s bounce,” he said, throwing the can into his open backpack and slinging it over his shoulder.
Nick had a head start, having chucked his empty can behind him. He rounded the corner with Noah on his heels.
“Stop!” the officer yelled. From the sound of it, he was a good fifty yards behind. Noah might be able to outrun them. He was spry, with long legs and had experience running from cops. He knew the officers in town would have a hard time catching up to him, given that they spent most of their days sitting on their asses in their cars, lurking near busy stretches of roads and trying to catch anyone behaving in a way they didn’t like. That amount of privilege made them soft.
He took a left turn down a side-street. He knew he could lose them if he could just get to the woods. Nick had the same idea.
A mild pang of regret tore through his chest. He knew he’d never get a chance to finish the message he’d wanted to send to those religious fucks.
Whatever.
At least they knew they were hated.