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Dark Planet
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Sunday. October 21, 4481, Crystal City.
“Man it’s cold out tonight!” “Just keep moving. And keep quiet!” Kyle Aider and his little brother were going back and forth and it was driving me crazy, but Damien was right. It was freezing. I felt like an ice dragon with every puff of air that came from my nostrils. The air was still and the moon was full. It was just the start of the season and I could already tell it was going to be a long and hard year. We followed close in line, one after another with Keenan taking the lead. Keenan was the eldest of the brothers and the biggest of the Aider family. Even as we stayed low, Keenan still towered over the lot of us. The moonlight defined every muscle bulging through the ripped black sweater on his back. He kept his grey eyes focused on the boarded up warehouse ahead. It was the halfway point from our neighborhood to our destination; the old book store on Birkin Street. “How can I hurry if I can’t see, dirt-bag?” Damien held on to Kyle as if his life depended on him for survival. He was annoying Kyle, but he couldn’t help himself. Damien wasn’t as brave or as strong as his brothers. Truth be told, he really wasn’t anything like them at all. Unlike their brothers, Damien and Keenan were the only two that resembled their mother through appearance with their black hair, grey eyes, and caramel skin, but that was as far as the similarities went between the two. Other than that they were polar opposites. Where Keenan seemed to fear nothing in this life, Damien jumped when he would run into something" “What are you talking about? There are plenty of stars out to light the way. Or would you rather have a giant spotlight saying, ‘Hey we’re the law breakers you’re looking for, Mister Officer! Come and get us!’ You’re such a moron.” Kyle brushed Damien off and adjusted his red checkered jacket. Every now and then he’d breath on his hands and pull his pants up… or rather one of his older brother’s pants. They were entirely too big for him just as his boots were. Even the red knitted cap he used to cover his short black hair was big. As the second youngest of the five brothers, Kyle bore a majority of the hand-me-downs before they got to Damien. Kyle was nothing like Damien in his personality, but he wasn’t exactly Keenan’s spitting image either. Keenan was a giant to him, tall and burly, while Damien was as fragile as a blade of grass, thin and short. Although he had more of a lean build, Kyle wasn’t much of a fighter if he didn’t have to be. “This is dangerous! If we get caught…” Damien’s eyes touched every corner, shadow, and inch of the sky above. His voice was shaking and his whispers were getting a little too loud. I didn’t blame him at all. My heart was two steps from the ledge. He wasn’t wrong, but I crossed my fingers that he wouldn’t be right. Not tonight. The laws in Druggon were not only specific, but deathly cruel in their punishments. “We won’t.” My mother’s voice was low, but stern. The Earth seemed to stand still before her. The breeze fell back and the moon hid behind a small passing cloud. Damien paused in the shadow of the rubble that shielded us from the main street. He loosened his lips to speak, but the only thing that was released was a small breath. He sealed his lips and let his gaze fall upon his bare feet. His fingers twisted around one another in the long sleeves of the ripped pink coat hanging off his shoulder. We all stood as statues in the dark. My mother's hand crept across my shoulder. She was smiling down at me and David. Her lips warmed my forehead. “Everything will be fine my little Thunder Bird.” I hadn't realized I was crying until she brushed a tear back. “Mommy will keep you safe.” Why was I crying…? “Let's go.” Keenan pressed on, quickly crossing the street. Kyle nudged Damien in the arm and followed after his older brother. Damien turned his head in my mother's direction. His eyes avoided hers, but his lips managed to whisper “Sorry”, before he ran off. “Rinko.” I turned back to one of my mother's arms extended. Without hesitation, my body found its place beside her. “Damien's right. If we're not careful,” “The only thing I need you to focus on, “ she knelt down, hugging Victor close in a thick blue blanket. “is taking care of yourself and your brothers. Understand? I need you to pave the way for them, while I defend you. I know what could happen. I know what's at risk when we come out, but the punishments of the district bear no weight compared to our everlasting rewards for our faithfulness. Trust me Ri, for all things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to His purpose. As long as you stay focused and faithful everything will work out.” My mother gave me one last kiss on my forehead and turned me around. “Let’s go.” As we walked, Damien kept finding a reason to grab onto Kyle; whether it be over the shadows he thought he saw or the things he thought he heard. We stayed close to the walls and kept under the veil of darkness. To lower the risk of getting caught, Keenan and my mother agreed that we'd take the longer way around to our usual meeting place. We kept out of the streets and lights as much as possible, weaving through back alleyways and demolished buildings. Behind the rubble of an old liquor store, Keenan stopped us just at the edge of the debris. "What is it?" Why'd you stop?" Damien was frantically trying to lean over Kyle to see. He was having no luck, with Keenan being as bulky a guy he was. On top of that he stood about 6 feet. All Damien could see was Keenan's upper back. "Quiet!" His voice was so deep that I could barely make out his words. "What do you see?" My mom whispered behind me, bouncing Victor in her arms. "Patrol. Five armed. Assault rifles and an armored jeep." Keenan quickly peeked around the corner when it was safe to do so. I couldn't see them on the street, but I could see the lights waving back and forth over our heads. They must have been pacing the streets looking for "criminals". People like us. Keenan turned back towards the rest of us. "We wait until they pass before we go." He nods to my mother and she returned the gesture. After a few moments pass, the lights waving above us had moved on halfway down the block. Keenan raised his fist as he readied himself to move. Once The lights hit the corner, Keenan looked back again and nodded to us all. Crouched against the wall he lowered his hand and peeked around the wall one last time. "Ri." My mother whispered over my shoulder. Her smile was soothing. "Don't be afraid. You're stronger than you think." She squeezed my shoulder before her gaze went back towards Keenan. Keenan crossed the alley first from the old liquor that shielded us to the charred bricks beside it. The building was unrecognizable from what it used to be. Keenan had to almost lay flat beside the ashes to stay hidden. He waved a hand to Kyle to cross next. We all inched forward as Kyle hesitantly readies himself. I stayed crouched behind Damien. After a wave of light passes, Kyle quickly slides across and dives behind Keenan. Damien was next. Just as Keenan waved him over, a bright light came quickly from the direction we were heading. It was followed by loud humming in the street. The lights from the patrol that had passed were making their way back. Keenan quickly raises his hand to Damien to wait. Not that he had to be told. As soon as the lights started coming our way, Damien hugged the shadows trembling. Kyle waved to get Damien’s attention and raised a single hand over his mouth. Damien followed suit in an effort to muffle his heavy breaths. Overhead we could hear voices not too far off. “Officer Blake, you and your men are relieved for the night. Go home and take a load off.” A rugged man between his 50s to 60s jumps out of the passenger seat of the black armored truck. Five men follow after; four out the back door and the driver. They fell in line behind the loud officer holding the belt of his pants. “Heads up!” Officer Blake approaches the arriving party as his men fall into place following his order. “Officer Myers. I wasn’t expecting to see you until we doubled back and reached the borders of zone 3. Is there a problem?” Officer Blake rests his rifle on his shoulder. His green eyes fell on the men behind Officer Myers as he responds. The two men furthest to the left had swollen right eyes. The middle man had limped into position and the man beside him, second to the right, was red in the face. His eyes seemed to be fighting back tears. Patches of his messy blond hair had red spots. He stood with his weight shifted on a trembling left leg. The last man in line seemed untouched. He kept his stare straight forward, not looking at anyone or anything in particular. “No,” Officer Myers pauses and looks over his shoulder at the blond. “but we were tired of entertaining each other so I figured we’d get to work. As they say, idle hands make a madman.” Officer Myers chuckled. He paces past Officer Blake and scans the area. “I suppose.” Officer Blake watches Myers circle around his men, looking them over. “I see you still have the rook.” Officer Myers nods and grins towards a young man in his early 20s who could easily pass for 15. The young man swallows hard from across the street as Officer Myers closes in. “He serves his purpose. Works hard like everyone else. Maybe even more so. Isn't that right, Private?” Officer Blake steps in front of Officer Myers in the middle of the street. “Uh-, yes Sir!” The young man is quick to respond. His eyes light up at Officer Blake’s words. Officer Blake gives him a slight nod before turning back toward Myers. It seemed like a lifetime and a half waiting for the patrol to switch shifts. I had never seen them take so long just talking. It made me wonder what was going on and I could tell I wasn't the only one. Keenan kept peaking around the debris at them while Kyle was attempting to silently comfort Damien, whispering softly. My mother gently stroked my back with a single hand. “Why won't they leave?” Damien leaned towards his brothers whispering. “It’ll be alright. They’re just talking, right Key?” Kyle tapped Keenan on the back, who in turn nodded to Damien. As Damien sighs into his palms, Keenan glances at my mother. He frowns and nods to her too. In response she looks over her shoulder and goes back a few steps. At the crossing we took before, she looks out at the patrol. “Ma-ma?” “Sh.” David was trying to reach past me towards our mother under his two blankets, getting her and the brothers’ attention. I tried to hold him close and bounce him, but he kept pushing away. “David!” One of his tiny hands found its way in my face and a finger slid up my nose. "Hello. Who's there?" A man's voice called out from the street. One of the officer's. “Ma-ma. Ma-ma! Ma-ma!” It didn't take long for David to turn to tears. His usual response to anything not going his way. “Rinko, shut him up!” Damien spun around so fast it looked like he rolled his ankle. He launched toward David, covering his entire face with a bony palm. Before I had time to react my mom was beside me. She smacked Damien across his head so hard he fell back against the wall, freeing David to pout and whimper. “Ri take your brother, baby. Aw, David, come here. Come to mama.” My mom dropped to her knees beside me and extended Victor towards me. David didn’t even wait. He lunged his entire little body at her, impaling her chest with his face. I quickly took up Victor and rocked him gently. He was silent. His eyelids were heavy. His nose was a faucet. He looked up at me and smiled. A chubby little mitten pushed through the wrapping of my bed sheet and held my bottom lip. He giggled quietly to himself before mumbling some nonsense. My mom smothered David into her giant wool sweater, drowning his forehead in kisses. As Officer Blake and Myers continued their conversation, Private Brycen Nicoles paces his small area on the side street. He kept watch over the buildings and shadows like the rest of the men in his unit. Private Nicoles takes a deep breath and smiles to himself. "Works hard like everyone else. Maybe even more so." "You're a good man Brycen. You're a good man. Make the right decisions." Private Nicoles chants to himself under his breath. He checks around to make sure no one else can hear. "Ma-ma?" A soft, high pitched voice calls out. Private Nicoles pauses where he stands. In a moment of silence he stares into the darkness. Before him is a blackened brick wall that stood as tall as him next to a pile of wood, concrete, and bricks. A sign laid in front of the wall near a gap forming an opening to enter into the structure-less building. JOE'S LIQUOR "Hello." Private Nicoles whispered under his breath. He placed a trembling hand on the gun holstered on his hip. He was answered by silence. A shiver danced down his spine with the kiss of the night chill. Private Nicoles took a step forward. He remembered his flashlight and shines it towards the alley between the liquor store and the pile of rubble. "Who's there?" He calls out a bit louder. His tone was just above that of a whisper. A few feet back from the wall, Private Nicoles notices a slab of glass with a large letter "J" attached to it. He can see a reflection in it. "Ma-ma. Ma-ma! Ma-ma!" Private Nicoles pulls his gun. He moves in. Just a few feet from the wall, he can see a reflection in the glass. A woman in a sweater with long dark hair resting on her shoulders comes into view. She takes up something small wrapped in a thin blanket or sheet and holds it close. A small hand fights through the wrappings and hugs the woman. Private Nicoles watches as she rocks the small child back and forth. His shaking arms slowly drop to his sides. He steps back. "You're a good man Brycen. Make the right decisions." “Marion.” Keenan was up on one knee with a hand behind his back and the other against Kyle’s chest, keeping him back. “I know. I know.” My mom bounced, rocked, and hugged David tightly, but he didn’t let up. “Damien calm down. It’ll be okay.” Damien fell back against the wall and clasped his hands together. He buried his head between his knees. Tears were falling down his cheeks as he mumbled under his breath in what sounded like a foreign language, as the officer’s heavy boots drew closer. “Father please forgive me. Spare me from my sins. Please, please, please, don’t let me die here. I can’t… I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. Please! Please deliver us!” I tried to comfort him; hugging him, but he didn’t seem or hear me. Even Victor leaned in to give him a sloppy kiss. Meanwhile Kyle seemed to be arguing with himself, as Keenan pulled something small and red from his back. It reflected the moonlight in his hands. “The hell is that? What are you doing? Th-that’s Dad’s lucky knife! Are you kidding me? You can’t use that stupid, broken piece of metal against them! They have guns! Hey! Hey! Keenan are you listening to me? Urgh!” Kyle’s arms flew up as his back hit the wall. Keenan knew what he was doing. Or at least I hoped he did. Getting caught out past curfew would mean a life sentence for all of us, including the babies. But fighting back, even carrying a weapon of any kind is supposed to carry harsher punishments. Torture, labor work, poison, lashes… whatever they can think of to make you suffer. He knows that and even then... “Get ready to run.” Keenan pushed his little brother back. He nodded to my mom. She nudged Damien, then grabbed my arm as she continued rocking and kissing David. With as hard as my legs were trembling, it felt like the earth was shaking beneath me. The air was thinning. “Mom.” “Where are we supposed to go?” Damien leaned towards his brothers. “Quite!” Kyle popped up over Keenan’s shoulder. “What are we supposed to do?” He was getting closer. Out of cover. My mom snatched him back. “Damien, calm yourself.” She spoke gently to him, like she did David. “Shut up!” Kyle was whispering, and yet somehow managed to shout at Damien as well. “Dad said stick together! Keenan!” Keenan raised a hand to still him, then put a finger to his lips. “Baby brother, calm yourself. Even if I leave for moment, I will always come back.” Keenan’s words were a breath of relief. Damien crawled back into the shadows and slid between me and my mother. She rubbed his back and took his hand. Even David was calming down. I looked around for a place to hide. If Keenan was going to be a distraction for us to get away then we had better make his fight worth it. The closest building was the drug store just a few feet from Keenan and Kyle. Beyond that we could head further down the street as long as we weren’t seen. I checked around for a second escape, but there was none closer. There was a mirror. It sat between us behind the liquor store and Keenan’s pile of rubble. In the reflection you could see my mom. They could see my mom. She didn’t see it. “Keenan, mom look.” I pointed toward the glass. We all stood frozen. My mom let out a long, heavy breath. She held David close. He was silent in her arms, laying his head against her chest. She stared long into the mirror. She shook her head slightly. Private Brycen exhales as his gaze meets with the woman in the mirror. He closes his eyes. Private Brycen notions for the woman to move along. She nods to him. Brycen turns his back and lowers his gaze to the pavement. “Make the right decisions.” “Let’s move!” Officer Blake calls out to his men. Officer Myers and his men continue of down the street. Private Brycen turns slightly to look back, but stops himself. He follows on after his comrades back home for the night. My mom turned to Keenan and pointed off in the distance past the mirror. There was a small light shining from behind a wall full of tags and a portrait of a woman with long, stringy black hair hanging over her face. We could see two heads peeking around at us. As the new group of patrol passed on down the street we cut back through the alleyway towards the light. Behind the tagged wall we met with the two heads that flagged us down. It was Logan and Timothy. The last of the Aider boys. I didn’t know much about them. I never did. Logan never seemed to like being around children and Tim was like Ms. Lee, but with women. They normally didn’t bother with my family unless they had to. Tim would visit from time to time a few years ago before my brothers were born, but eventually he just stopped. Keenan took the lead with Logan at his hip and Damien at his heels. They talked and laughed among each other the entire walk as if nothing happened. My mom took me up by the arm and pulled me against her. She squeezed and kissed me before she let me go ahead of her. She kept watching our backs, as we got back on track.
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The night sky was blanketed by dark clouds as our destination came into eye shot. It was an old bookstore that hadn’t been used in years. The walls had shed their once vibrant sky blue and were now growing patches of blackened mold and thick vines across the entire building with a fence of weeds separating it from the rest of the world. Where the glass door should have been, there was a long wooden board nailed across the doorway. There was no difference between the street and the sidewalk in front of it; it was all broken in. The last time we were here I was around 6 or 7. It was only used in emergencies or when patrol was heavier in the streets, but even then it was tended to. Then, the grass was just at the ankles and you could walk up the sidewalk into the store. But things change.
“Finally! We’re almost there.” Damien let out a breath of relief. Timothy pushed him into Kyle, who pushed Damien back at him. It was nice to see them playing after earlier. They were kind of like Victor and David, only older and able to talk. And they didn’t poop themselves... I suppose. “But we’re not there yet. So keep on guard. And keep quiet!” Logan scolded them from over his shoulder. He stayed by Keenan’s side. They spoke so low it was hard to even guess what they were talking about. All you could really hear was Keenan’s growling. Logan’s voice wasn’t as deep, although it wasn’t high either. Kyle mocked Logan behind his back, while Damien’s head sunk between his shoulders. He fell back beside me. “Don’t listen to him D.” Timothy grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back up with his brothers. “It’s okay. You ain’t gotta worry. Ya big bros gotchu.” Timothy put an arm over Damien’s shoulder. “Besides we’re only a few feet away. Literally. It’s right there.” As Kyle spoke, a figure ducked out from under the board. “Yeah. And once we get inside you can repent.” Timothy jabbed Damien’s arm. “For what?” Damien shoved him away. “For killing a man’s pride ya ch’ch’chicken!” Kyle put his hands under his arms and flapped his elbows back and forth. “Next time D, pray for a pair you can actually use.” Timothy grabbed at himself below the scratched silver snake skinned belt buckle. “Timothy Sean Aider!” My mom’s hand slapped me hard in the face as she covered my eyes. My head would've fallen off if it wasn't for my neck. “Shut up! And you weren’t even there Tim!” Damien’s raspy voice broke as he shouted. “Sorry momma.” “Oh! Timmy’s in trouble. Ouch!” I could hear a number of blows following Kyle’s teasing. My mom finally lifted her hand and Tim, Kyle, and Damien were all on the ground rolling around. Kyle had his legs around Damien’s waist from behind. Tim had Kyle’s head trapped under his arm. And Damien was swinging wildly at both of them. Keenan and Logan were just about gone in the shadows of the book store. My mom stood beside the doorway, waiting. I held Victor close as we crouched under the board and pulled back the black sheet that hung behind it. My mom’s hand rubbed my shoulder and Victor’s hand rubbed hers. Inside, Keenan and Logan were standing with the figure from before. It was Mr. Nathan Trembol. He was shaking Keenan’s hand. Nathan always seemed like a funny man to me. He always wore suits or kind-of-nice shirts and pants. Every gathering he wore the same thing; a black jacket that strangled his arms with black pants to match and a red… or orange… or a brown shirt that never buttoned all the way so you could just barely see his chest hairs gasping for air. The hairs on his belly poked through the stressed buttons. His long black hair was pulled back into a sweaty ponytail that rested between his shoulders on his back. His left toes wiggled out of the hole of the black house slippers. No matter what was going on he was smiling wide with his giant yellow teeth. They stood in the center of the store. As Keenan and Nathan continued talking, Logan took a small box from his back pocket and showed it to Nathan. “Ri! Get over here!” Before I could turn my head I was dragged away. I tripped over my own feet and came to a sudden stop as my face hit something hard. “Lexi! Careful girl, before ya kill ya sister an’ brother!” I backed away to find I had ran into Ms. Lee. She was unbuttoning her red coat. Her hair was pulled up in a neat bun. She hustled past me and went in for a hug with my mom. David tried to push her away, but she was not having any bit of his attitude. She started scolding him immediately and smacked his hand away. He argued with her by crying. “Oh, come on Davey.” My mom frantically started digging through her pockets. She pulled out a small candy bar and gave him half of it. “Mama! Mama! Da! Wri-wri! Da!” Victor was squirming to get free. He was watching his brother or at least the candy bar hard. I unwrapped him as fast as I could while lowering him to the floor. He took off. “Pe! Mama! Pe! Mama!” “Ahem.” Lexi was anxiously tapping her foot. “What?” “What, what?! No ‘Lexi I miss you’, ‘How’s it going girl? Are you okay? I was worried!’, I can’t even get a hug from my bestest friend!?!” Her hands flew to her hips. She looked down on me with her nose in the air. “W-well, I knew you would be here and…” I opened my arms to her, but was rejected by a slap to the hands. “You wasn’t a lick worried?! I thought I was ya best friend in the whole dang gon world! And to think me and ma’ got ya’ll a present.” Lexi crossed her arms and turned from me. I went in to hug her again, but stopped. Over her shoulder I could see her fighting back a laugh with a huge grin on her face. “Alexis!” I hit her in the back. “It’s not funny to make people feel bad!” “Ow!” She hit me back in my arm and boy did it hurt. Without a thought my hand covered the throbbing muscle. Lexi was bigger than me after all. She hits like a brick wall. “GET OFF ME YOU OVERGROWN GORILLA!” “Stop crying all the time and I’ll think about it!” “Bite his nuts off. He’ll let go.” “Aw man! Ri check it out! It’s the franks!” Lexi laughed as she pointed towards the doorway. Kyle, Damien, and Timothy had come wrestling in. Timothy was egging on his brothers as Kyle was overpowering Damien. Poor Damien. It looked like Kyle was tossing around a pile of clothes. Damien was kicking and swinging wildly and then THUD! Damien’s body hit the floor hard and he went silent. “Kyle!” Keenan roared over the laughter. His words rang through my ears, flowed down into my blood, and shocked my bones. David and Victor both started crying. Kyle jumped up and back against the wall beside Timothy. They both were pale. Keenan went to Damien and knelt beside him. “Are you two dumb? What part of ‘keep quiet’ do you not understand!” Logan was standing beside Keenan. I couldn’t see Damien, but I could hear his whimpers and sniffling. “Are you alright honey?” My mom and Ms Lee went to Damien’s rescue. “He’s bleedin, but it ain’t all bad. Lexi had a worser cut just the other day! He’ll be just fine.” Damien’s arms squeezed Keenan's back. His words were muffled through his tears, but Keenan spoke clearly. “It’s just a small scratch. It will heal.” “Cover it with this.” Ms Lee removed the patchwork one would call a scarf from around her neck and handed it to Keenan. She stood to face Kyle and Timothy. “Ya know, you boys should stop playin ‘round all the time and fight over sumin worth while. Like me! Y'all just ain't got no sense! It's like ya’ll don't see me over here!” Ms Lee started on about her looks and how she had so much to teach the boys. I guess she was about to hit a milestone, because Nathan and my mom both grabbed her aside and pointed towards me and Lexi. “MA! Stop bein an old vulture! You makin er’body sick!” “Oh, why don’t you shut ya dang trap! I am a gift to the world!” “You a gift to make us hurl!” “‘Xcuse you! Honey don’t gon and forget who you done came up out of! I’ll suck ya right back up! Just ‘SWOOP!’ an ‘POP’! Just like that. Have the good Lord go on and take ya stank attitude right back. You best show me some respect!” “I pray that is nowhere near how motherhood works Ms Lee.” From the back room of the bookstore Mrs. Elaine Trembol waddled in. She rested one hand on her back and the other on her stomach. She was literally glowing in her yellow dress under the moonlight from the holes in the ceiling. Her frizzy golden hair bounced against her cheeks and over her shoulders. Her smile was as bright as her blue eyes. “It ought to be! Would’ve saved Eve a mess of trouble. I tell y’all these dang on kids make my ass itch!” Ms Lee stuck her tongue out at us and headed toward Elain with my mom. Nathan was the first to reach her. He kissed her hand. “Well look at you now, Elaine!” My mom hugged and kissed her too. “I’m surprised to see you out.” “If my brothers and sisters can find a way through the darkness, then so can I. As well, I see my brothers collecting themselves and still goofing off. “I’m warning ya boys!” Ms Lee growled at them with a raised fist. “If I gotta come on over there! Kyle, I swear I’m gonna jerk ya bald, boy!” “Sweetheart you should be sitting down. I can bring everyone in.” Nathan took her by the elbow and tried to turn her around, but she just shrugged him off. “Love, I genuinely mean it from deep in my heart when I say that ‘I am fine’. You worry so much. Besides, if I remained home, I suppose I would miss out on all of the excitement here.” She nodded towards the boys.” She tried to lean in to kiss him. “That ain’t gon happen.” Lexi whispered in my ear. “Hush!” I nudged her in the arm. “What! They too fat!” “She’s pregnant!” “He ain’t!” My defense of the Trembols was short lived as their bellies bumped together, making Elaine step back. They giggled at each other and both rubbed her stomach. “Told ya!” Lexi chuckled quietly. “Hush!” Nathan extended his arm out towards the back room Elaine had come through before. “I suppose we should get started. It’s getting late and I don’t think anyone else is coming.” Elaine nodded. Nathan was the first gone, followed closely by Keenan, the moms with the twins, then mom to be, the rest of the Aider brothers , then Lexi and I. “Man that Elaine is a piece of work.” Timothy was rubbing his hands together behind Kyle. He removed his green leather coat full of holes and tucked in the dark red t-shirt. He straightened the ripped tie around his neck. Kyle and Damien laughed as he tried to get his curly blondish-brown hair to lay down by licking his hands and pulling it back kind of like Nathan’s. Timothy’s hair was too short to pull back into a ponytail, though. It kept jumping out at the sides of his egg shaped head. “I would say I’m surprised by your bad taste in women, but then again you’ll jump just about anything, won’t you?” Kyle pushed Timothy’s hair forward and held it down over his face. “Leave him alone, Kyle. You know he’s into the supernatural and everything. That’s why he likes her. Freakishly short, ghostly pale…” Damien was walking on his toes behind him, waving his fingers around Timothy’s head. “Broad shoulders, big feet, mustache…” “Would you both shut up!” Kyle caught Timothy’s fist in his shoulder. Timothy swung around to Damien who backed away so quick we almost ran into him. “And of all people, you shouldn’t be talkin, how many times I’ve wiped yo a-!” “Chill man!” Kyle shoved Timothy against a wall. “It’s not our fault you suck at finding a decent broad!” “Oh, that’s about as good as it gets coming from you!” Timothy was nose to nose with Kyle. Damien was as quiet as a mouse beside us. “Tell me, how does it feel again to tongue a guy? Asking for a friend.” “Yo, that was a mistake, num-nuts!” Kyle and Timothy started shoving each other back and forth. They were both red in the face. Somehow they went from joking to fighting again in under a minute. “Hey! Y'all better cut it short ‘fo my momma come back and give y'all what for!” Lexi forced her way between the two. Timothy gave Kyle one last shove before he let him go and disappeared down the hall. Kyle followed, cursing his name. “Just plain immature”. Lexi’s hands met her hips again as she watched them go. “They’re trying…” Damien mumbled from behind us. He kept his head down. “It’s hard when dad’s not around…” He sank against the wall and hung his head in his arms over his knees. Lexi’s hands dropped to her sides. She looked at me, then back down the hall after Kyle and Timothy. I went and sat beside him against the wall. “I’m sorry, Damien. I-I can’t imagine what it feels like to have him and then...” Lexi knelt down in front of him and rubbed his back. We could hear him sniffling. I sat up to face him. “I know Mr Aider… he loved you guys so much. Whenever he came over he would always talk about how much you guys have grown and how well you’re handling everything. He was proud of all of you.” Damien shook his head. He had started whimpering louder and rubbing his eyes. “Not me. I’m not strong like them. I’m not brave. I’m not smart. I’m lost without him. I can’t-I can’t survive. Dad always helped me. He protected me. Dad was always with me. He knew what to do. He loved me when mom died. He stayed up with me. He found medicine for me when I was sick. He hid me when the officers came. He…” Damien’s voice broke. There was a heavy silence between us. Lexi moved her lips to speak, but Damien cut her off. “They beat him again and again and again… and he never gave me away. He’s gone. They took him from us. They took him because of me! They took him and just left his body there like…” Damien gripped his arms tight. Lexi and I both squeezed him as hard as we could. “What’s taking so long? Where’s Daim-” I didn’t notice Keenan coming into the hall. His booming voice echoed in the halls and made Lexi and I both jump. He paused when he saw Daimen. He looked away for a moment. “Was so… his face was…I couldn’t….” Keenan took a deep breath. He moved in between us. He never looked at us. “Your mothers are looking for you both. Go.” Damien dived into his brother. He flung his arms around him, screaming into his chest. Keenan hushed and rocked him side to side. “I know it hurts.” “I need him! I want my dad back! I can’t do this without him! I’m scared! I want him back! Bring him back Keenan! Bring him back! You’re the strong one! You know everything! You can fix it!” Damien was, screaming, crying, and wailing into Keenan wildly. Lexi pulled me away from them. “Come on, let’s go”. “But, they…” I wanted to stay; to hold Damien a little longer. To help Keenan talk to him, but what could I do? I really didn’t know how he was feeling… How any of them felt. I hadn’t seen or heard from them in almost a year. “Key’s got it. Come on.” Sunday. October 21, 4481, Crystal City.
“Man it’s cold out tonight!” “Just keep moving. And keep quiet!” Kyle Aider and his little brother were going back and forth and it was driving me crazy, but Damien was right. It was freezing. I felt like an ice dragon with every puff of air that came from my nostrils. The air was still and the moon was full. It was just the start of the season and I could already tell it was going to be a long and hard year. We followed close in line, one after another with Keenan taking the lead. Keenan was the eldest of the brothers and the biggest of the Aider family. Even as we stayed low, Keenan still towered over the lot of us. The moonlight defined every muscle bulging through the ripped black sweater on his back. He kept his grey eyes focused on the boarded up warehouse ahead. It was the halfway point from our neighborhood to our destination; the old book store on Birkin Street. “How can I hurry if I can’t see, dirt-bag?” Damien held on to Kyle as if his life depended on him for survival. He was annoying Kyle, but he couldn’t help himself. Damien wasn’t as brave or as strong as his brothers. Truth be told, he really wasn’t anything like them at all. Unlike their brothers, Damien and Keenan were the only two that resembled their mother through appearance with their black hair, grey eyes, and caramel skin, but that was as far as the similarities went between the two. Other than that they were polar opposites. Where Keenan seemed to fear nothing in this life, Damien jumped when he would run into something. “What are you talking about? There are plenty of stars out to light the way. Or would you rather have a giant spotlight saying, ‘Hey we’re the law breakers you’re looking for, Mister Officer! Come and get us!’ You’re such a moron.” Kyle brushed Damien off and adjusted his red checkered jacket. Every now and then he’d breath on his hands and pull his pants up… or rather one of his older brother’s pants. They were entirely too big for him just as his boots were. Even the red knitted cap he used to cover his short black hair was big. As the second youngest of the five brothers, Kyle bore a majority of the hand-me-downs before they got to Damien. Kyle was nothing like Damien in his personality, but he wasn’t exactly Keenan’s spitting image either. Keenan was a giant to him, tall and burly, while Damien was as fragile as a blade of grass, thin and short. Although he had more of a lean build, Kyle wasn’t much of a fighter if he didn’t have to be. “This is dangerous! If we get caught…” Damien’s eyes touched every corner, shadow, and inch of the sky above. His voice was shaking and his whispers were getting a little too loud. I didn’t blame him at all. My heart was two steps from the ledge. He wasn’t wrong, but I crossed my fingers that he wouldn’t be right. Not tonight. The laws in Druggon were not only specific, but deathly cruel in their punishments. “We won’t.” My mother’s voice was low, but stern. The Earth seemed to stand still before her. The breeze fell back and the moon hid behind a small passing cloud. Damien paused in the shadow of the rubble that shielded us from the main street. He loosened his lips to speak, but the only thing that was released was a small breath. He sealed his lips and let his gaze fall upon his bare feet. His fingers twisted around one another in the long sleeves of the ripped pink coat hanging off his shoulder. We all stood as statues in the dark. My mother's hand crept across my shoulder. She was smiling down at me and David. Her lips warmed my forehead. “Everything will be fine my little Thunder Bird.” I hadn't realized I was crying until she brushed a tear back. “Mommy will keep you safe.” Why was I crying…? “Let's go.” Keenan pressed on, quickly crossing the street. Kyle nudged Damien in the arm and followed after his older brother. Damien turned his head in my mother's direction. His eyes avoided hers, but his lips managed to whisper “Sorry”, before he ran off. “Rinko.” I turned back to one of my mother's arms extended. Without hesitation, my body found its place beside her. “Damien's right. If we're not careful,” “The only thing I need you to focus on, “ she knelt down, hugging Victor close in a thick blue blanket. “is taking care of yourself and your brothers. Understand? I need you to pave the way for them, while I defend you. I know what could happen. I know what's at risk when we come out, but the punishments of the district bare no weight compared to our everlasting rewards for our faithfulness. Trust me Ri, for all things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to His purpose. As long as you stay focused and faithful everything will work out.” My mother gave me one last kiss on my forehead and turned me around. “Let’s go.” As we walked, Damien kept finding a reason to grab onto Kyle; whether it be over the shadows he thought he saw or the things he thought he heard. We stayed close to the walls and kept under the veil of darkness. To lower the risk of getting caught, Keenan and my mother agreed that we'd take the longer way around to our usual meeting place. We kept out of the streets and lights as much as possible, weaving through back alleyways and demolished buildings. Behind the rubble of an old liquor store, Keenan stopped us just at the edge of the debris. "What is it?" Why'd you stop?" Damien was frantically trying to lean over Kyle to see. He was having no luck, with Keenan being as bulky a guy he was. On top of that he stood about 6 feet. All Damien could see was Keenan's upper back. "Quiet!" His voice was so deep that I could barely make out his words. "What do you see?" My mom whispered behind me, bouncing Victor in her arms. "Patrol. Five armed. Assault rifles and an armored jeep." Keenan quickly peeked around the corner when it was safe to do so. I couldn't see them on the street, but I could see the lights waving back and forth over our heads. They must have been pacing the streets looking for "criminals". People like us. Keenan turned back towards the rest of us. "We wait until they pass before we go." He nods to my mother and she returned the gesture. After a few moments pass, the lights waving above us had moved on halfway down the block. Keenan raised his fist as he readied himself to move. Once The lights hit the corner, Keenan looked back again and nodded to us all. Crouched against the wall he lowered his hand and peeked around the wall one last time. "Ri." My mother whispered over my shoulder. Her smile was soothing. "Don't be afraid. You're stronger than you think." She squeezed my shoulder before her gaze went back towards Keenan. Keenan crossed the alley first from the old liquor that shielded us to the charred bricks beside it. The building was unrecognizable from what it used to be. Keenan had to almost lay flat beside the ashes to stay hidden. He waved a hand to Kyle to cross next. We all inched forward as Kyle hesitantly readies himself. I stayed crouched behind Damien. After a wave of light passes, Kyle quickly slides across and dives behind Keenan. Damien was next. Just as Keenan waved him over, a bright light came quickly from the direction we were heading. It was followed by loud humming in the street. The lights from the patrol that had passed where making their way back. Keenan quickly raises his hand to Damien to wait. Not that he had to be told. As soon as the lights started coming our way, Damien hugged the shadows trembling. Kyle waved to get Damien’s attention and raised a single hand over his mouth. Damien followed suit in an effort to muffle his heavy breaths. Overhead we could hear voices not too far off. “Officer Blake, you and your men are relieved for the night. Go home and take a load off.” A rugged man between his 50s to 60s jumps out of the passenger seat of the black armored truck. Five men follow after; four out the back door and the driver. They fell in line behind the loud officer holding the belt of his pants. “Heads up!” Officer Blake approaches the arriving party as his men fall into place following his order. “Officer Myers. I wasn’t expecting to see you until we doubled back and reached the borders of zone 3. Is there a problem?” Officer Blake rests his rifle on his shoulder. His green eyes fell on the men behind Officer Myers as he responds. The two men furthest to the left had swollen right eyes. The middle man had limped into position and the man beside him, second to the right, was red in the face. His eyes seemed to be fighting back tears. Patches of his messy blond hair had red spots. He stood with his weight shifted on a trembling left leg. The last man in line seemed untouched. He kept his stare straight forward, not looking at anyone or anything in particular. “No,” Officer Myers pauses and looks over his shoulder at the blond. “but we were tired of entertaining each other so I figured we’d get to work. As they say, idle hands make a madman.” Officer Myers chuckled. He paces past Officer Blake and scans the area. “I suppose.” Officer Blake watches Myers circle around his men, looking them over. “I see you still have the rook.” Officer Myers nods and grins towards a young man in his early 20s who could easily pass for 15. The young man swallows hard from across the street as Officer Myers closes in. “He serves his purpose. Works hard like everyone else. Maybe even more so. Isn't that right Private?” Officer Blake steps in front of Officer Myers in the middle of the street. “Uh-, yes Sir!” The young man is quick to respond. His eyes light up at Officer Blake’s words. Officer Blake gives him a slight nod before turning back toward Myers. It seemed like a lifetime and a half waiting for the patrol to switch shifts. I had never seen them take so long just talking. It made me wonder what was going on and I could tell I wasn't the only one. Keenan kept peaking around the debris at them while Kyle was attempting to silently comfort Damien, whispering softly. My mother gently stroked my back with a single hand. “Why won't they leave?” Damien leaned towards his brothers whispering. “It’ll be alright. They’re just talking, right Key?” Kyle tapped Keenan on the back, who in turn nodded to Damien. As Damien sighs into his palms, Keenan glances at my mother. He frowns and nods to her too. In response she looks over her shoulder and goes back a few steps. At the crossing we took before, she looks out at the patrol. “Ma-ma?” “Sh.” David was trying to reach past me towards our mother under his two blankets, getting her and the brothers’ attention. I tried to hold him close and bounce him, but he kept pushing away. “David!” One of his tiny hands found it's way in my face and a finger slid up my nose. "Hello. Who's there?" A man's voice called out from the street. One of the officer's. “Ma-ma. Ma-ma! Ma-ma!” It didn't take long for David to turn to tears. His usual response to anything not going his way. “Rinko, shut him up!” Damien spun around so fast it looked like he rolled his ankle. He launched toward David, covering his entire face with a bony palm. Before I had time to react my mom was beside me. She smacked Damien across his head so hard he fell back against the wall, freeing David to pout and whimper. “Ri take your brother, baby. Aw, David come here. Come to mama.” My mom dropped to her knees beside me and extended Victor towards me. David didn’t even wait. He lunged his entire little body at her, impaling her chest with his face. I quickly took up Victor and rocked him gently. He was silent. His eye lids were heavy. His nose was a faucet. He looked up at me and smiled. A chubby little mitten pushed through the wrapping of my bed sheet and held my bottom lip. He giggled quietly to himself before mumbling some nonsense. My mom smothered David into her giant wool sweater, drowning his forehead in kisses. As Officer Blake and Myers continued their conversation, Private Brycen Nicoles paces his small area on the side street. He kept watch over the buildings and shadows like the rest of the men in his unit. Private Nicoles takes a deep breath and smiles to himself. "Works hard like everyone else. Maybe even more so." "You're a good man Brycen. You're a good man. Make the right decisions." Private Nicoles chants to himself under his breath. He checks around to make sure no one else can hear. "Ma-ma?" A soft, high pitched voice calls out. Private Nicoles pauses where he stands. In a moment of silence he stares into the darkness. Before him is a blackened brick wall that stood as tall as him next to a pile of wood, concrete, and bricks. A sign laid in front of the wall near a gap forming an opening to enter into the structure-less building. JOE'S LIQUOR "Hello." Private Nicoles whispered under his breath. He placed a trembling hand on the gun holstered on his hip. He was answered by silence. A shiver danced down his spine with the kiss of the night chill. Private Nicoles took a step forward. He remembered his flashlight and shines it towards the alley between the liquor store and the pile of rubble. "Who's there?" He calls out a bit louder. His tone was just above that of a whisper. A few feet back from the wall, Private Nicoles notices a slab of glass with a large letter "J" attached to it. He can see a reflection in it. "Ma-ma. Ma-ma! Ma-ma!" Private Nicoles pulls his gun. He moves in. Just a few feet from the wall, he can see a reflection in the glass. A woman in a sweater with long dark hair resting on her shoulders comes into view. She takes up something small wrapped in a thin blanket or sheet and holds it close. A small hand fights through the wrappings and hugs the woman. Private Nicoles watches as she rocks the small child back and forth. His shaking arms slowly drop to his sides. He steps back. "You're a good man Brycen. Make the right decisions." “Marion.” Keenan was up on one knee with a hand behind his back and the other against Kyle’s chest, keeping him back. “I know. I know.” My mom bounced, rocked, and hugged David tightly, but he didn’t let up. “Damien calm down. It’ll be okay.” Damien fell back against the wall and clasped his hands together. He buried his head between his knees. Tears were falling down his cheeks as he mumbled under his breath in what sounded like a foreign language, as the officer’s heavy boots drew closer. “Father please forgive me. Spare me from my sins. Please, please, please, don’t let me die here. I can’t… I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. Please! Please deliver us!” I tried to comfort him; hugging him, but he didn’t seem or hear me. Even Victor leaned in to give him a sloppy kiss. Meanwhile Kyle seemed to be arguing with himself, as Keenan pulled something small and red from his back. It reflected the moonlight in his hands. “The hell is that? What are you doing? Th-that’s Dad’s lucky knife! Are you kidding me? You can’t use that stupid, broken piece of metal against them! They have guns! Hey! Hey! Keenan are you listening to me? Urgh!” Kyle’s arms flew up as his back hit the wall. Keenan knew what he was doing. Or at least I hoped he did. Getting caught out past curfew would mean a life sentence for all of us, including the babies. But fighting back, even carrying a weapon of any kind is supposed to carry harsher punishments. Torture, labor work, poison, lashes… whatever they can think of to make you suffer. He knows that and even then… “Get ready to run.” Keenan pushed his little brother back. He nodded to my mom. She nudged Damien, then grabbed my arm as she continued rocking and kissing David. With as hard as my legs were trembling, it felt like the earth was shaking beneath me. The air was thinning. “Mom.” “Where are we supposed to go?” Damien leaned towards his brothers. “Quite!” Kyle popped up over Keenan’s shoulder. “What are we supposed to do?” He was getting closer. Out of cover. My mom snatched him back. “Damien, calm yourself.” She spoke gently to him, like she did David. “Shut up!” Kyle was whispering, and yet somehow managed to shout at Damien as well. “Dad said stick together! Keenan!” Keenan raised a hand to still him, then put a finger to his lips. “Baby brother, calm yourself. Even if I leave for moment, I will always come back.” Keenan’s words were a breath of relief. Damien crawled back into the shadows and slid between me and my mother. She rubbed his back and took his hand. Even David was calming down. I looked around for a place to hide. If Keenan was going to be a distraction for us to get away then we had better make his fight worth it. The closest building was the drug store just a few feet from Keenan and Kyle. Beyond that we could head further down the street as long as we weren’t seen. I checked around for a second escape, but there was none closer. There was a mirror. It sat between us behind the liquor store and Keenan’s pile of rubble. In the reflection you could see my mom. They could see my mom. She didn’t see it. “Keenan, mom look.” I pointed toward the glass. We all stood frozen. My mom let out a long, heavy breath. She held David close. He was silent in her arms, laying his head against her chest. She stared long into the mirror. She shook her head slightly. Private Brycen exhales as his gaze meets with the woman in the mirror. He closes his eyes. Private Brycen notions for the woman to move along. She nods to him. Brycen turns his back and lowers his gaze to the pavement. “Make the right decisions.” “Let’s move!” Officer Blake calls out to his men. Officer Myers and his men continue of down the street. Private Brycen turns slightly to look back, but stops himself. He follows on after his comrades back home for the night. My mom turned to Keenan and pointed off in the distance past the mirror. There was a small light shining from behind a wall full of tags and a portrait of a woman with long, stringy black hair hanging over her face. We could see two heads peeking around at us. As the new group of patrol passed on down the street we cut back through the alleyway towards the light. Behind the tagged wall we met with the two heads that flagged us down. It was Logan and Timothy. The last of the Aider boys. I didn’t know much about them. I never did. Logan never seemed to like being around children and Tim was like Ms. Lee, but with women. They normally didn’t bother with my family unless they had to. Tim would visit from time to time a few years ago before my brothers were born, but eventually he just stopped. Keenan took the lead with Logan at his hip and Damien at his heels. They talked and laughed among each other the entire walk as if nothing happened. My mom took me up by the arm and pulled me against her. She squeezed and kissed me before she let me go ahead of her. She kept watching our backs, as we got back on track. With the store in sight, I caught Ms. Ann Lee herself at the entrance; engaging with her customers. 'A 38 year old woman that didn't look a day over 25' is how my mother always described her. She was quite a sight. Her brown hair rippled down her back in its worn black tie. The white blouse painted on her body showed off her great bust through its thin lace. Even her green skirt was suffocating. We suffered enough in my opinion, but sometimes I think Ms. Lee was trying to kill herself. I could never see myself or my mother wearing clothes like that or her white 3inch heels.
"Thanks for shoppin at Lee's Family Foods ma'am. Thanks! Come again! We appreciate yer business. Welcome to the family. Welcome. Hello, how are...? Oh! 'Xcuse me hon!" Ms. Lee nearly knocked over a bony blond girl that couldn't be but a year or so older than me. The girl scoffed at Ms. Lee over her shoulder as she caught herself against another passerby. Ms. Lee paid her no mind. I doubt she even valued the girl's existence in that moment. Instead, she honed in on a dark man weaving through the crowd. He kept his head turned from her direction. The toned man tried to blend in with a group entering the store, but Ms. Lee was quick and persistent. She shoved through the crowd and pressed up against him. “Oh, my, my, my. Mister William Jones! How are you this lovely day?” Ann's hands flowed down the man's chest and around his abdomen. She pulled him in by the waist. "Ms. Lee! I-I'm doing well. Just came to get some food... for my family and my wife." He staggered backwards with his hands on her shoulders. William looked to everyone in passing in distress. Women either laughed or rolled their eyes. The men quickly ran in or out; avoiding the entire situation. "Good enough to eat! And y'all know I love me some chocolate!" She wrapped a hand around his lower back and spanked him with the other. "Yeah, I think you told me that before." William managed to turn his body around and grab onto a leaning sign beside the shop. Ann hugged him close around his waist. "I got some other thangs I wanna say too!" Ann pressed her breast into William's back. He pulled himself away with one hand on the sign and the other trying to remove Ann's hands. "Ms. Lee you do remember I told you I was married... and had kids! Ann!" Ann's hands danced up and down William's body and found their way under his shirt against his swiping and pulling away. "Oh boy you know I'm just playing." William stumbled forward as she released him. He caught himself on the brick red wall. Ann gave him one last slap on the seat of his pants and bit her lip. William spun around with wide eyes. He felt his way along the wall to the entrance of the shop and dashed in. "Good morning Rinko!" Her smile was blinding as she turned to greet me. The sun brought out the emeralds of her eyes. "Good morning Ms. Lee." It seemed like she towered over me in those heels. She was just barely taller than my mom at 5'5" and wore her 200plus lbs like a diamond ring. There was no shame in her life. "Oh child, I've told you only bout a hundred times to call me Ann baby." She placed her hands on her hips and furrowed her brow at me. I would have taken her seriously if she wasn't poorly forcing back a grin. "I'm sorry Ms. Lee. I forgot again. How's Lexi?" Alexis, her 12 year old daughter, was my best friend. She was a little taller than me and a little bigger in weight, but it was mostly muscle. Like me, she was a mix breed; half white from her mom and half whatever her tan father, Rubio Gonzales was. You'd never tell from looking at her though. She was as pale as a ghost and hated every bit of it. "Oh she's doing just fine. She's over her cold and now she's just sleeping away like a baby. When she wakes up I'm thinkin I'll fix her a big meal. Ya know, like pasta and chicken with some tacos and pop on the side." She laughed at the thought. Even if she had the food for it, I doubt she'd waste it. There was no guarantee that we'd eat tomorrow so what we could afford to save today was worth saving. All and all she was a loving mother. She placed a hand on my back and led me inside the small shop. "That's good. I miss her." I had to clear my throat as we entered the shop. I could feel a tickle deep in my throat. You could see the dust fall kicked up from the white-tiles-painted-black-and-brown from the heavy traffic in the light beaming through the holes in the walls. The chipping blue paint uncovered the concrete base of the wall, making the entire store look like some sort of prison. "What yer lazy momma sendin ya for this time honey?" Ms. Lee leaned on the wooden counter to the left of the entrance. Behind her hung several photos of her and Lexi, my mom, me, and the twins. "A half-gallon of milk and two loaves of bread." I decided to go for the bread while Ms. Lee went for the milk in the large freezer against the back wall across from the entrance. "That's all that Mari can afford this time 'round huh? These times we living is just a hot mess." She shook her head as she stared at the nearly barren freezer. There was one whole gallon of milk and three half gallons spaced out between two half empty packages of hot dogs and four slices of a whitish-green cheese. "She's trying really hard." The bread was on a table in the center of the shop with a pack of nuts, two jars of PB & Jelly, and a can of formula. There was only six loaves left and most of them were half empty. "Oh honey you ain't gotta tell a gal twice. All we can do is try. Try and pray. Y'all gon see. God always answers our prayers, now." She nudged the milk at me and turned towards the counter. "He will Ri. Just gotta give it time. Time and patience. His power knows no limitations." "I know. Things will get better." They had to for my mom and my brothers. I can't continue to watch them suffer. A cough forced it's way up and out of my soul as I spoke. The air in the shop was humid, but the area around the table was particularly suffocating. Behind me was the produce table. Or what was left of it. The cloth covering the table was damp. The floor around it formed its own puddle out of the colorful dripping fluid on the cloth. Everything on the table was either shriveled, black, green, fuzzy, bleeding or all of the above. That would easily explain why my stomach was turning inside out. I quickly grabbed the one untouched loaf and a half loaf of bread that didn't have as much mold as the others and retreated. On the way to the counter, I passed by the meat cooler on the floor against the store front wall. The food was covered in blood and flies. It was hard to believe that anyone would eat it, but then again... A man quickly rushed the counter where Ms. Lee was placing my milk in a plastic bag and demanded something to eat. He was stumbling all over the place and using the counter as a means of balance. Ms. Lee held her nose as they talked. The problem became clear to me as he approached the meat cooler next to me. The smell of alcohol oozed from his body. He was covered in so much filth it was hard to distinguish his skin color from his filthy rags. And just as quick as he was in, he had snatched up a pack of meat and was out. I didn't see what he threw at Ms. Lee for payment, but whatever it was she didn't bother to touch it. Instead she used one of the plastic bags from her stack and slid it on the floor behind her. At the counter I laid the loaves down and started fumbling around in my pockets for the money my mom gave me when I heard it. Behind me hung a new small screen TV on the wall by the entrance. It cut on suddenly and a very young, very thin blond woman appeared on screen. "Avilon City, a place where dreams come true and success is made easy. Bustling businesses and great prices has made Avilon City the number one city in the Druggon District. With its safe family environments and exemplary school zones, Avilon..." The woman spoke over clips of happy, clean children playing in grass covered parks and a woman in a colorful flowing dress. There were men in suits gathered around at tables discussing who knows what with laughter and glee. The meat in the ad was a lighter shade of brown than I had ever seen here and the produce looked like it was grown somewhere nice. I had never seen a table so lively in any house more so than the one that was shown. A woman and man sat at a table with three children, in descending age I assume, around the table. Each person had their own individual cup and plate along with eating utensils of all things. Each plate had some white fluffy looking food covered in a brown sauce. There was a chicken leg on every plate right beside a tiny green tree and what looked like picked apart corn. In the middle of it all was even more bowls and plates of food. Talk about a waste of resources! "That TV plays the same damn thang over and over again. Showing pictures of the 'beautiful city an all it has to offer'. Those Rats brought it in earlier with my shipment of what they trynna pass as groceries from the capital. Like the boxes in our homes ain't good enough anymore; now they gotta remind us what we working so hard for. Show us what life is all about. Ain't nut'in, but a load of hobo sweat if ya ask me. An excuse for someone to come an rob me blind is what that is! And Imma be the one who's getting in trouble behind it. Just repeatin the same 'ol thang every hour." She was putting the bread into a paper bag behind me. I understood what she was saying, but that was it. That was the life my family longed for; what they needed. The women were gorgeous. Their skin was without deformation. Their eyes sparkled against the jewels in their ears and around their necks. There were smiles on every face. The size of their homes could only be bested by the unnatural amount of food they had. And to top it off the grass was green, the trees were growing, and the pavement was all smooth. There wasn't a crack, scratch, or fade of color on a single thing. Even the clothes the people donned were without shade. "We'll never live like that. They ain't interested in people like us. A symbol of perfection is what they want. People here too much of a threat to their prefect society." I turned to give her the money. Staring at the TV too long would start to hurt. Ms. Lee had her hands on her hips, glaring at the TV. If her lashes were loaded, that screen woud've been full of holes. I think that was the first time I genuinely saw her upset about anything besides family. "How much?" "Twenty bucks suga," she held her hand out towards me as she greeted two young men that waked in. I gave her the twenty and asked if I could have a candy bar with the five I had left. Candy was the most expensive of all the things in any store. It usually never spoiled or melted and regardless of the rotted teeth that came with it, it was satisfying. Ms. Lee kept the candy she sold locked in a metal box under a tile behind the counter. She smiled and pulled out two Stanford Bars. "You share that extra one with your block-head brothers now Ri. I know they like them some chocolate too. An' you tell Mari I said 'Hey', kay?" She blew a kiss as she said it and laughed. Her cleavage jiggled over the counter as she leaned on it. Before I could even think to head for the exit I ran around the counter and squeezed her as tight as I could. Her hold was even harder. At the entrance I turned around to thank her and say good bye. "Oh and Ms Lee..." "What you call me now Ri? She squinted at me as far as her eyes would go without completely shutting. "Oh. Um, Ann?" Her smile was more than an approval. I could feel its warmth from the door. Her teeth were sparkling. "Would you please..." And then it hit me... hard. In a matter of seconds there was three Ann Lees behind the counter fading in and out of each other. "Um... Would you please tell..." With all my might I pulled as much air as I could into my lungs, but it wasn't enough. My chest was caving in on itself. A cough manages to slip through, "...tell Lexi..." My legs were struggling to hold the rest of me up. They were expelling more energy quaking, than maintaining my body weight. A few more coughs stabbed my throat as they pushed their way up. I tried to fight through it. "I...that I said..." I was forced into a hunched position by my stomach receding into my spine. My hands involuntarily clutched my chest. "Sweetie you okay?" Ms Lee rushed over and flung her arms around me. "I'm okay." It took a minute for the air to clear. I clutched my chest as I caught my breath. "I go through it everyday. I'm fine." I wasn't fine. My legs were burning. My body was on fire. The shop seemed hotter than it was a moment ago. I forced a smile. "I wanted Lexi to know that I said hi and that I can't wait for her to get better. "Of course I will Rinko. You're like sisters after all." Her tone said relieved, but her frown and watery eyes lingered on her face. I understood why. The last time I did that in front of her I collapsed and stopped breathing altogether. A man that happened into the shop gave me CPR and when I awoke she was in tears and Lexi followed suit in her arms. I hated making them feel that way. "I better hurry on home." I hugged her again; not just for myself, but for her too. "You need me to go Ri? I could wake Lexi. You ain't gotta go it alone." Ms Lee was walking and talking. She was already coming back from around the counter with sandals in one hand, while she started removing her heels in the other. I know she was worried, but I couldn’t let her do that. Lexi was recovering from being sick and if she left her store would get robbed for sure. “No. I’m fine really. It was just a brief fit. I’ve been doing a lot better lately. I promise. You don’t have to worry.” I smiled at her and quickly headed out the door. I was already out of earshot by the time she switched shoes and made her way outside. I assume she understood that there was nothing she could do, since she just stood their waving bye to me and welcoming someone else in with a half smile that was much less inviting. Of the four Districts in the new world, the Druggon District is the most advanced when it comes to technology and enhanced city life. Cars that are not only self-sufficient in maintenance but energy supply as well, running solely on solar power are the best means of transportation for the people of the city, alongside rail stations. The buildings rose to the stars and the cities expanded as far as the eyes could see. Homes were built inside the safety of the titanium dome. There was never a frown on the faces of the good citizens. Almost everything in D-District was computer generated and engineered. It was created to keep the smart and wealthy safe inside. With constant surveillance through satellites, security cameras, metal detectors, and SBs (serve bots) the people in the main cities of D-District had nothing to fear.
Saturday. July 16, 4481, Crystal City. In the early mornings, the police can be seen walking the streets of our neighborhoods, enforcing the 7pm to 9am curfew. They like to keep us in line, making sure the laws are upheld. They were known as the ‘Rat Patrol’ to the people on the outside. I watched them march through, in my tank top and sweatpants, like soldiers heading off for war. My mother and brothers were still asleep. Every step caved the broken pavement in more. They paid no mind to the filth around them. It was around 8:30am and soon, by the grace of God, they’d be gone. “You there!” I heard one of the officers yell from the collapsed streets, as I had turned away from the broken second-floor window. I looked back and saw one of my neighbors, Samuel Burette in his front yard calling out to his black and brown Rottweiler pup. She stood in the middle of the yard, howling at the officer as he approached the white picket fence with his hand on his gun’s holster. Mr. Burette should’ve left her out there. He knew better. I walked away. I sat at the small round table in the kitchen and turned the TV on to max volume. Even though there was only static at this time of day, it was better than what I was about to hear. “What are you doing out before curfew is lifted?” The officer stopped at Samuel’s old fence that was falling apart around his house. His voice is stern. Cold. “Oh, please. Forgive me, officer. I was just getting my girl, Coco. Sometimes she gets out and...” Samuel limped his way to his dog as fast as he could, barefoot and still in the dirty white robe he went to bed in with a white shirt full of holes and blue shorts underneath. His wife, Larisa, was standing in the doorway of their small brick-red cottage-like home, terrified, still in her nightgown. The screen door barely hung on the top hinge before her, swinging back and forth in the summer breeze. “Sweetie, come back inside” she yelled; her voice shaken, as she took a step back into the darkness of their home. “Druggon Law states; the curfews for sectors H, G, F, B, and M is from 1900 to 0900, no exceptions. State your name.” the officer demanded, never moving from the position he was in. Samuel pleaded with the officer before him, “Sir please, I-I‘ve kept my record clean. Given all that I had to our glorious District and its ruler.” He picked up Coco. “I live here alone with my wife. We are in our eldest years, please. Won’t you spare a-a 75-year-old man and his dog?” Tears built up in his eyes as he back toward his house. He bowed his head off and on, but never took his eyes off the officer. The officer stood stern, not bending his will and again commanded, “State your name. Your punishment is 10 years imprisonment unless you choose death.” Larisa cries at the door as she dropped to her knees, fearing for her husband’s safety, while Samuel begs and pleads with the officer, “Please, can’t you see? I’m heading back inside! I won’t last in prison. I’m too old. My wife will be lonely. There will be no one to take care of her or our home! I will die there!” Coco jumped out of Samuel’s hands and ran toward the officer, barking, and growling. “Coco no!” The officer kicked down the already, broken gate with enough force to shatter it. Coco bit down on the officer’s pant leg. “Druggon Law states, for the following sectors, H, G, F, B, and M, assaulting an officer is a class E felony. The immediate punishment is death.” He kicked her to the side. She ran and whined from the pain. “Coco!” The officer pulled a knife from his belt. The word punishment engraved on the blade itself, the metal handle made with twin dragons rising up to the blade. It was sharp and light. With the flick of the wrist, the officer embedded the knife into the pup’s neck. The clean silver painted red onto the brown grass. “This is your last warning. State your name” he began counting down from 5 as he ripped out his knife and placed it back in its sheath. “No!” Larisa screamed. She forces herself up and staggers to her husband, grabbing and pulling him back toward the house. “5, 4, 3…” Samuel dropped to his knees in front of the officer clasping his hands together “Please! I will give my home, all my wages, everything please! Let me go!” “2…” “Leave us in peace!” Samuel pleaded as his wife insisted on fleeing, while she tugged and pulled. “…1” The officer grabs Larisa and throws her to the side away from her husband. Samuel tries to fight the officer away, who remained unfazed as he was being punched. The officer grabs Samuel by his throat, lifting him off the ground. Samuel's feet dangle at the officer's knees. He swings away at the officer's arm for his life. Larisa rises to her feet. She joins in, hitting the officer as hard as she can, screaming for him to let go of her husband. With one quick thrust of his fist, he strikes Samuel in the center of his chest. Samuel shook violently in the officer’s hands as he gripped his chest. He gasps for air until his frail body had enough and draped there in the wind. The officer releases Samuel and watches his corpse drop to the ground. A single tear fell from his eye. Larisa pulls her husband to her, sobbing uncontrollably. “Why are you out before curfew is lifted?” The officer asks as he now turns his attention to Larisa. “Why are you doing this? You monster! Why?” She screams at him through a fog of tears. The officer is unresponsive to her emotions. He stands as cold as before. “Druggon Laws states; the curfews for sectors H, G, F, B, and M is from 1900 to 0900, no exceptions. State your name” He kept his stare fixed on her, never looking back at her husband. “Just kill me! I don’t want to live in a city where we’re murdered for bringing a dog in the house! Kill me! Kill me so I can be with my husband! You beast!” She buried her head in her lover’s chest. “State your name. Your punishment is 10 years imprisonment unless you choose death.” “Just kill me! Kill me, kill me, kill me!” She begs as she thrust herself toward the officer, repeatedly hitting him in the chest. “This is your last warning. State your name.” Larisa drops to her knees, holding onto the officer’s bulletproof vest, crying. “5…” Larisa looks up at the officer one last time before calmly bowing her head, “Woe be the world engulfed by the evil one and the spirits of the wicked risen forth…” “4…” “The power of the Almighty will course through the veins of His chosen to cleanse the demons of humanity and rid us of our sins...” “3…” “So that we may know freedom and joy in the Holy One’s Kingdom. And as a father whose child is without obedience and spoiled by the maid…” “2…” “This world shall know true pain. “ “…1” “Amen.” The officer forces Larisa up by her short grey hair. Another hand swiftly compresses her neck. Larisa's eyes roll back under their lids. Her limbs fall by her sides, as her spine crackles between his fingers. The officer releases his grip and allows Larisa to join her husband in the front yard. The two lay at each other's heels. Larisa's hand falls in Samuel's. Adjusting his navy uniform, the officer returns to the march ahead of him. “Rinko, what’s going on? Turn the TV off before you wake up the whole neighborhood!” my mother, Marion Steel, yelled over the static. Her long brown hair was all over the place. Her white tank hangs loosely on her shoulder. I admire my mother. She was such a pretty light brown color and her eyes matched. Although her appearance was youthful, her presence demands respect. People frequently say she matured at a young age. Scratching her leg through the hole of her pink pants she said, “Baby you’re always up so early. Aren’t you ever tired?” I wanted to laugh, but the coughing came out instead. It didn't last long, but it was enough to interrupt her yawning. She rushed to pat my back. As I cleared my throat, she kissed my forehead and searched the kitchen cabinets. One after another, each one was empty. Finally, she found something. On her toes, she reached in, removing a half-filled jar of jam and a loaf of bread. I felt my stomach turn when her head dropped. “Everything will be alright mom.” I smiled. I wanted her to know that, as she fixed our meal, I had faith. I told myself if I pretended to be happy she wouldn’t have to try so hard. She wouldn't feel so bad. With her hands on the counter, she sighed. “It will be soon Ri… I promise,” she tried hard to smile, then came over and held me tight. My little brothers started crying from the back room. “Will you go check on them for me while I get breakfast ready? Please?” “Yeah.” I got up out of the wooden chair and headed down the hall. In our shared bedroom, my brothers were laying in the pink crib next to the bed, my mother had traded for when I was a baby. It was still sturdy, but too small for two babies. I stepped over the clothes and toys on the floor that would’ve been in a dresser if we owned one. The sight in the crib made everything clear. Victor somehow ended up with his foot in his brother's face. David probably woke up to his brother's foul socks. It could be frustrating how easy it is to upset David. Victor could roll over while they were going to bed and David would cry. As big as David was, he truly took the title of 'crybaby'. I picked up David first. He started kicking and hollering wildly in his sagging diaper. I laid him across the messy bed and picked up a diaper and a few wipes out of the plastic bag. I ripped two of the wipes in half since we seemed to be running a bit low. “Ri-ri, the boys okay?" My mom was leaning in the doorway. David starts squirming as soon as he hears her voice. “David’s wet. I haven’t checked Victor yet, but I'm sure he needs a change too.” Victor called himself having a full blown conversation with himself in the crib. He was leaning against it on wobbling sticks. Mom kissed Victor and took him from the crib. His white snapper was wet around the collar. My mom cradled him in her arms and spoke softly to him while trying to wipe his mouth. “Rinko, baby” mom came and stood next to me. My stomach started to turn again. She looked worried. David fought to get away from me. I wrestle him into my arms just for him to end up turned around and on his side screaming. Mom and I do a smooth switch. David's screams subside. He's so comfortable in her arms. His head goes down and his eyes shut in an instant. Victor, on the other hand, was alive. A wet hand slapped my nose. It seemed like he was speaking parables. His eyes were locked on mine and turning my head did not change that. “I won’t have to work today until later this evening, so I’ll stay and watch the boys if you can run some errands for me. Or will that be too much for you today?” “No, I’ll be okay. Fresh air will do me some good.” I smiled at her, but she didn’t seem to buy it. “There’s nothing fresh about this air, but... if you feel okay today, then I got a few things for you to do. Only a few.” She laid David in the crib since he was asleep and relieved me of Victor. Even though he was babbling at her, he kept giggling at me. A rascal and a goofball. “Hand me my purse off the floor. I want you to go to the store and buy two loaves of bread, a half-gallon of milk, and…” She digs out 25 dollars and two packs of cigarettes. “Trade these with Tony and Riley for some diapers and wipes okay? We'll be out of clothes to wipe butts, here in a minute.” She rubbed her nose against Victor's stomach. “Okay. If there’s some money left can I buy a candy bar?" With the way she laughed, you'd thought I told a joke. She nods with Victor's fingers in her mouth. “Thanks, mom!” “Okay! Just hurry up and be careful.” I was too excited to wait for anything else. I snatched up my purple hoodie off the floor and kicked on my pink and white shoes. In a second I was out the door and down the stairs. My excitement was halted when I found myself surrounded by the lobby's musty aroma. At times, it was easy to forget how our brothers and sisters were when we were behind closed doors. In the comfort of your own home, the rest of the world doesn't look so dark. The walk to the door wasn't long, but the journey weighs down on me. Cast aside for 'hazardous' health conditions beyond our control, Avilon City was taken off the table for a large number of Druggon's population before it even became an option. Instead, many of us grew accustomed to decaying structures we were forced to share with feline sized rodents and palm-sized insects. None the less, it was a home. It was normal to see people laying about in the lobby still sleeping. The group of young boys cornering a rat wasn't unusual. No one paid mind to them running around wildly with a wooden fork in hand, pushing and shoving each other out of the way. There was a woman standing near the restroom auctioning a pile of torn clothes for smokes to a boy who looked about 16 or 17 holding on to two small children and a man with his arm around a silver-haired woman. I nearly jumped out of my skin when something rough and wet slid across my ankle. "Marion. Marion!" Under the darkness of the stairs, Mister Rodey peaked out at me from behind a sheet he had pinned up on the wall. He squinted hard at me before he spoke again. "H-hello, Mister Rodey." I came around the stairs and planted myself beside the wall, just outside his 'door'. I was disgusted by the sweat and muck dripping from his body. I never understood why he dressed so heavily in sweaters and coats when he stays indoors all hours of the day. He positions the sheet to block the light of the lobby. "You... You're not Marion. You're..." I didn't expect much from him. Normally he talks with my mother and she'd rushed me upstairs with the boys, but she also told me to talk with him if he confuses the two of us. Apparently, he had a memory type of illness. "Marion!" "Yes, Rodey?" His eyes wandered past me into the rest of the lobby. The way he eased back into the shadows sent a chill up my spine. I could barely make out the thin jagged scar running alongside his left eye and down into the bridge of his wide nose. "There's a storm coming." I could feel my arm quaking as Rodey's suddenly took hold of me. His voice shook. A wet drop hit my hand in the shadows. "There are no storms Rodey. The weather looks like it will be fine for at least a couple of days and..." I nearly fell over when he snatched me in. His bony chest slapped me hard. I found myself gagging on the sour aroma seeping through the yellow chunks attached to his shirt. My stomach was doing back-flips. Unlike me, my arm was able to breathe again when Rodey set me free. I was used to him saying things that didn't make sense or just rambling on about how his deceased son stepped out for groceries and would be back soon. This was different. My mother said he had been paranoid lately. "Stay away. Keep the girl away from the light. The lightning. Your precious little girl..." I couldn't see it, but I could hear his whimpering. The sheet fell in front of me. I lifted my hand at it, but my own trembling stopped me. My purple sleeve was stained black above my wrist. "Bye, Mister Rodey." I didn't realize it until I started walking away; It wasn't just my arm, but my legs were shaking too. I dried my palms against my pants and tried to walk it off. My feet were dancing all over each other. I need to take a breath. My mother's words echoed as I collected myself with my back against the wall. It's not his fault he's a little strange. Rodey has lost a lot of people to the District and his own paranoia. I had better get back to my errands before my mom starts to worry. The entrance of the building was heavily 'protected' for the citizens sake. There was a gate that was lowered during curfew hours to protect us from criminals and a metal detector for deterring people from bringing in any type of weaponry in living locations. People were required to check in and out at a small booth in order to enter and exit the building; to verify their identity and purpose of travel. Traffic was regulated by SBs. Our building's receptionist was built with sleek curves. Its glass eyes lit up when approached, sending a red light up and down our bodies. It moved about on silent wheels. I stood face to face with chrome breasts at the metal detector. "Good morning ma'am! What may I do for you at this lovely hour?" It glided out from behind the monitor in the metal booth. Its voice was mature but warm and friendly. Had I never seen it, I might have assumed there was an actual woman in that booth every day. I stood at its breast. "I need to enter the marketplace to exchange items for goods." I spread my arms outward from my body; awaiting violation by cold-hard-hands. "Please spread your arms and feet, and remain still." It slid behind me and began feeling down my body. From my arms to my feet, it pulled up every piece of cloth and flipped every pocket. Its hands eased down into the holes of my clothes. My body shivers from the frosted fingertips. "Are you carrying any firearms or weapons of any kind?" "No." My peripheral was blinded by the beaming red light. "Are you carrying any illegal substances, contraband?" "No." "State your residence and present your ID card." The SB came back in front of me and stretched a hand forward. I pulled the ID card from around my neck on its makeshift shoelace-necklace. A faded picture of me forcing a smile covered the back. The front held my basic information. "3805 Northeast, Boulevard Street Green Hill Apartment 12, second floor." As it glides back into the booth, I straightened my clothes the best that I could. The SB inserted my ID card into a small slot next to the monitor built into the blue wall and read off my information as it came up. “Rinko Marie Steel. Age: 12. Birthdate December, 16, 4469 at 1607. Brown eyes. Black hair. Half-breed, African and Hispanic female. 5 feet 1 inches. 106lbs. Illness type: not classified.” A ding sounded and the slot shot my ID back out. The SB came back to me with my ID. Instead of handing it over, the SB leaned down in my face. "Facial scan is 96 percent in features. Please remain still..." I knew what it was getting at before it finished. I've had to do this every time now for three years. I pulled my hair up off my shoulders into a ponytail and held it for a re-scan. Unfortunately, anything less than 100 percent could mean you stole someone else identity and warrants a re-scan. After I was cleared for the 100 percent, the SB returned my ID and stood to the side with a hand out directing me to the electronic pad protruding from the side of the wall. "Please step forward and place your right thumb over the hole in the center of the scanner. Place the remaining fingers in the outlined handprint." I stepped on the white placemat and looked into the camera staring at me. The mighty Druggon District pays for such nice things in our little undeserving city. Everything was clean from the mat to the ceiling of the booth. Not a smudge rubbed an inch of the chrome border between our resting place and the outside world. With my thumb over the hole of the DNA scanner, I felt a slight pinch that lit the pad around my hand. Another ding. The SB rolled into the booth and played away on the keyboard. I can't say why it happened, but for some reason or another, my eyes wandered into the booth. I could see my picture pop up next to a lengthy list that resembled a page from a book. Then, suddenly a red box jumped on the screen; CSID ORDER FORM 386 CASE EXTREME What did that mean? Extreme case of what? My illness? I've never seen that before in years past when I checked in and out so why now? Red letters are never a good sign. First Rodey freaks me out, now I have a CSID ORDER FORM 386 Case Extreme on my profile... "Rinko Marie Steel is verified and accounted for in Crystal City. Thank you for your cooperation this beautiful morning." The SB glided past me toward a palm-sized metal box in the wall next to the wide gate. The tip of its index finger popped backward allowing a thin dual pointed pin to slide forth into a hole the size of a nail under the box. Turning the key, the metal cover over the box raised to reveal a large red button. "And have a nice day!" "Yeah. Thank you." The horizontal slats shutter as they brought daylight into the building. The soft breeze crept through the openings of my outfit, tickling every bit of skin it found. People were already hitting the streets left and right. A group of children was quick to form around the Burette House. Their parents were scolding them to stay away, but the kids paid no heed. A hefty boy maybe 14 or so picked you part of the broken gate and jabbed at the bodies. The nerve they had. No respect for the living or dead. It was bad enough the couple would be there until they decomposed or someone else moved in, but he didn't have to play with them. Why don't people care? They were our neighbors. Good people. You would think that if the District didn't care, we would at least ban together on some things! Then again if too large of a group got together for anything, the police would somehow turn up and shut everything down. They always do. You can't control a people that fight back. Knowing there was nothing I could do, I decided to press on while I could still stand the clear skies. It had been nearly a week since the last time I was outside. I had forgotten how jagged the sidewalk and street actually was. As I walked along the streets I was greeted by everyone I crossed and I made sure to greet them back. I was brought up on good manners and courtesy; my mom would have her way if I did anything different. In our studies my mom taught me that Jesus loves those that love and rewards people who strive to be in His likeness, so we should do everything we can to behave properly. Even so, it was hard to smile at everyone. A lot of these people worked as hard as they could to make a living and the best homes they make for themselves were tents woven out of useless laundry or the rubble of demolished buildings. There was a strong number of people that had nowhere to go. I was fortunate enough that my mother and her family had been living in Green Hill most of her life and because of that, we were never homeless. There were so many structures with caving rooftops and molded walls. A majority of the buildings I passed by were nearly barren with vines making up for the lack of paint and weeds posing as flowers. There were faces in the darkness, hiding behind broken glass. With all of the people about, there were still quite a few that preferred not to leave their homes if they could help it. It was understandable. If they did, they run the chance of their homes being stolen, their belongings disappearing or being arrested. Not to mention all of the ways one could leave this world. People feared the police, but there were two other major threats here besides them. The first was us; the people. When it comes down to it, when a man is standing on his last leg, people would do anything so that they or their families could survive. Bodies lined the city daily from someone trying to eat. When we're not threatened by our own community or the police, there is always the worry of disease. Unlike other districts, D-District separated its people by three things: wealth, power, and health. The people placed on the outside, like me and my family are either extremely poor or for the most part deathly ill. Their resources are too precious to waste on people incapable of working or contributing to the capital, so they cast us out and placed a giant steel dome around the city to regulate who comes and goes. Anything outside of the capital was up to us to deal with. Because of this, thousands of people are forced to inhale heavy must, decaying flesh, and bodily waste. Funerals were luxuries for people who didn't have to work and the privacy of restrooms was reserved for paying patrons of the marketplace or people with homes. It was impossible to walk the streets of Crystal City without nearly stepping in something you would regret. "Hey, Rinko! Wait up!" Just the person I needed to get me out of my head. Or at least one of them. I turned back to find Riley running through the crowd. He gripped a brown paper bag close to his chest. His thin blond curls flew back behind him. As he was running barefoot, an elder man sitting on the sidewalk was having a coughing fit and hurled right in Riley’s path. It was too late for him to get out of the way; the ship had landed. It must have been one of those days for Riley because he kept coming. On one foot he hopped and was shaking the other off in the air. "Ri, hey..." Riley came to a stop just short of me, huffing and wheezing with his hand on the knees of his torn blue jeans. He was bleeding sweat from every inch of his body. He was going shirtless today; most likely to show the muscles he thought he had. He claimed that it was the reason so many women, including my mother, flock to him even though he was only fifteen. He was as thin as a toothpick and as tall as a tree. Riley was one of the nicest and sweetest guys in the city. His green eyes were always full of hope. He shook both his feet, trying to get the remaining vomit off as he spoke between breaths. “Did your mom have any smokes today? Cause um… I got these diapers from a guy in Dire who didn’t need ‘em anymore since his kid… ya know… killed over. So um… yeah. She gots anything for me?” He stood up and flicked his hair from his face. His poor pale skin burned all over. “Yes, sir. One pack of cigarettes to go. And if Tony doesn’t have any diapers, I’ll come back and find you for the rest, okay?” I dug out the Cannon Vestos from my back pocket, since they were his favorite and traded him for the brown bag half full of diapers and a nearly empty pack of wipes. His face lit up like a light bulb as he laughed. “Oh man, fu-...I mean heck yeah! Tell your ma I said thanks, Ri.” It was funny how Riley only stopped himself from swearing around me and the twins. It's not like I was unaware that he does it. He says it's out of respect for my mom, but I'm certain it's the fear talking. “Yeah. No problem.” I started to turn away to head to the grocery store so I could hurry back. I didn’t want my mom to worry too much that I was gone, but before I could go Riley swept me away by the hand. He led me aside between a dented in rusted barrel half my size and a leaning hydrant. He glared at every passerby before he decided to whisper. “Ri, about Tony…” There was a moment of hesitation as if he was searching for the words. He bit his lip and took a breath. Best guess; bad news. “Look. Tell her Tony got checked out last night.” His brow pressed together. He turned from me and didn't utter a single word. “What do you mean? What happened? Did he break a law? What about his family? Are they-" "Hey, hey, hey. Slow down okay! It's not that. It's just,” He took another deep breath and rubbed my shoulder. He kept glaring at everyone on the streets. Did he know something I didn't? A gust of air brushed his hair across his eyes. He flicked it back, but the wind was persistent. He held it back with one hand and stuck a cigarette in his mouth. "Just tell ya mom, they been crackin down on those 'extracurricular activities' you guys do. There's heavier patrol at night now and knowing Mari, she won't stop just because they say so. So you guys be careful out there. I'd hate for anything to happen to ya kid. People'll be all torn up ya know." Riley roughed up my hair before disappearing off into the crowd again. I didn't know Mister Aider well, but I was familiar with his sons. A father of five. He was a gentle and honest man. Mom knew him from her childhood. They were closer than anything. He was there for my birth and always showed up when I fell ill. I could feel my heart drop, but now wasn't the time for tears. I really needed to find us some food before the shop was all sold out again. I had to push Tony to the back of my mind and treat him like just another unfortunate soul, for now. Lee's shop was just two blocks down. |
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