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Here I go!

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“All right, I figure that’s enough for one day.”

Kiet looked up from vial he was filling and smiled. Sticking a stopper in it, he pulled off his apron as the apothecary opened a drawer. The man pulled out a few worn bills and handed them to him, then dropped an extra penny into his palm.

“You’re a good kid,” he said. “Relax for once and treat yourself.”

Kiet met his eyes with a grin. “Thank you, sir!”

The man waved a hand and turned away. “Eh, just get out of here,” he muttered awkwardly.

Grabbing the vial, Kiet slipped it into its place on the shelf and pulled on his sweatshirt. He took half the bill and stuck them into his shoe, then put the other half and the penny into his pocket and stepped outside with a final wave.

Kiet shoved his hands into his pockets and stepped around piles of litter as he headed down the sidewalk. Approaching a huge broken chunk of concrete tilted on its side, he hopped up on it and walked on the edge until it ended.

The scent of fresh bread from the bakery wafted through the foul smells he hardly smelled anymore, but Kiet forced himself to ignore it as he fingered the penny. I have to save this, he thought. Especially since—

Suddenly, a vise-like grip locked onto his elbow. Seconds later, Kiet found himself slammed up against the wall of a nearby alley.

“Pay up, kid,” said a voice that didn’t bother making itself quiet.

Stifling a sigh, Kiet pulled the money from his pocket. The man snatched it, then drove his fist into Kiet’s chest and stormed off.

Kiet sank to the ground to catch his breath. That’s the second time this week, he muttered to himself ruefully. So much for saving.

After a minute, he picked himself up and headed down a back street. As he passed a dilapidated building, he noticed a little girl in rags sitting on the doorstep, coughing.

Kiet stopped. That cough doesn’t sound good, he thought. Like the start of pneumonia. His mouth twisted. And she doesn’t look like anyone’s going to be getting her medicine anytime soon.

Reaching into his shoe, he pulled out two of his last few bills and bent down beside her. He pressed them into her hand. “Go to the apothecary on main street and get something for that cough. Tell him Kiet Hulsaba sent you.”

The girl looked in bewilderment from the money to his face. Before she could say a word, he smiled and continued on his way.

I’ll just skip supper tonight, he thought. At least I have a job. I’m grateful for that.

A few moments later, he arrived at a rough lean-to against a building and slipped inside. I should really clean up in here, he thought, all the while knowing he probably wouldn’t, at least not now. Pulling off his shoe, he took out the last two bills. Then he raised his eyebrows. One wasn’t a bill at all, but instead a slip of paper, folded in half. He opened it and glanced over the apothecary’s nearly illegible handwriting scrawled across it before his eyes landed at the bottom. He nearly dropped the note in shock.

There, sitting like a snake coiled in the path, was a drawing of a sparrow in flight.

It was the insignia of the rebellion.