Those In The Gutter Can Never Reach The Stars

Part 1.
'Police! No one move!' The austere voice rang out through the loud speaker and echoed through the converted warehouse, only a few froze as the troops stormed in. Almost all of those there had experienced a raid before, every time there'd been one they would all pick up camp and move to another place. There was always enough empty buildings to go to. Police officers spread out through the place, each cornering someone and searching them, snide remarks could be heard from all over the place. These people didn' even remotely hold the force in esteem, these were the scum of the earth. Liars, thieves, whores, killers; they were all here.
It was a sort of tradition for the area; no one knew how it started or when, just that there' always been a place where the dregs of society hung out. The police had never liked the idea and somehow always found out where it was located; busting the operation to stop any illegal activity that might be going ahead, but of course there never was, they were all too clever for that. It was like a routine: the police would come in, search, find nothing and leave again; maybe taking a couple with them for some reason or another. Then they' all move on and it' start over again. No one ever knew how the police found them but a mole was suspected although it couldn' be proven. It was all like some kind of game anyway.

'Get your filthy hands off me pig,' a protested shout echoed round the building, followed by the sound of a hand hitting skin and one of the guys there sniggered.
'Go Alex,' there was a certain hint of sarcasm in the voice and the remark was followed by more sniggers.
'Up yours Seth,' a different female voice called out, 'give the girl a break.'
The guy, Seth, smiled sardonically. 'Oh come on Jude, you know you want me babe.'
'Oh yes, you're the one for me,' the speaker mocked. 'In your dreams.'
Both male and female sounding laughs and taunts came from all over the warehouse, each person siding with one or the other. The noise slowly increased as obnoxious and sarcastic remarks were thrown around the building.
'Shut it, all of you!' The sharp command again rang out through the loudspeaker and they reluctantly quietened down. The police officers continued with their searches, much to the displeasure of everyone. The girl who had originally protested, Alex, ran a hand through her hair as the officer she had hit recited the caution. There was no point in even attempting to make a run for it, with so many police in and around the place there wasn't a hope in hell of getting far; she tossed her head impatiently and flicked her waist-length brown curls back over her shoulder. A pair of handcuffs were produced and wolf whistles pierced the air, laughter breaking out in various places.
'Get a life you guys,' Alex shouted at them, she blushed slightly as most of the eyes in the building turned towards her, wary of the attention. The arresting officer coughed to draw her attention back and she pushed her long sleeves away from her slender wrists while he placed the cuffs round them, they all knew the procedure. The girl was ushered down the stairs from the upper balcony, her long patterned skirt flowing round her equally long legs. Surprisingly enough two more arrests were made and all three of them were escorted out the building while the rest were dispersed out onto the streets.
� Kiandra Riley 2004