Building pipe weapons is a problem when skulls knock a few screws loose. Would never think that these low lives would have such thick bones. My hands glide along the workbench as I applied meticulous pressure to tighten bolts and plates in the appropriate places. For some reason, it looks all wrong. Oh well, trial and error. I shove my tools and the makeshift revolver in my pack sack and made my way through the playground of Zaun. Such a dirty place, but it's been my world for as long as I can remember. For the most part, I have to pick my battles, because there is always the threat of being picked apart. Gangs are everywhere, around every corner, and within all blindpockets. Mostly, kids and teens form gangs for protection and survival, but rarely for comradery. I have no choice but to keep my head down and shift from non-threatening, to monstrous, or be completely deranged with all the weapons that I have on me. Now, one would imagine, wouldn't I be jumped and robbed for my things? Well....
I've made that mistake when I wondered into a dead end where people dump their junk. As I was digging through a healthy pile of garbage, someone yanked my bag back, and was surprised of how heavy it was. That surprise gave me the opportunity to arm myself with two brass knuckles, with spikes wield on each knuckle, and a one inch blade on the side of both pinkie knuckles. As one boy saw me pull out my weapons, fear struck him like a sucker punch, and he fell on his ass. Taking advantage of his screw up, I attacked him without a second thought, sinking both of my fists into the boy on the ground, piercing his torso. Looking around, there were four other boys waiting to die.
"Oh shit man!" one of the boys screamed, "I told you we should have brought bigger guys."
As that one ran away, another followed him. Sadly the remaining two were too stupid to run away. Rolling to the left, I caught the kid off guard and stabbed him in the leg and twisted the blade, causing him to shriek and squeal like a pig. Turning around, I found the other boy trying to drag the dying teen away. He looked at me with a mix of anger and terror.
"We're coming back to fuck you up." he managed to say while shaking in fear.
Raising an eyebrow, I grabbed the boy behind me, cut his arm and pushed him towards the kid.
"See all that blood? I cut an artery in his arm, so choose who you want to save." I stated as I returned to scavenge for junk.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I heard him say.
"You're wasting time. Save his life or let him bleed out, I don't care. The rats will pick his bones clean within the hour anyhow." I replied as I retrieved a nice pile of semi decent metal poles. After a few more minutes of scavenging, I've completely forgotten about those kids. Turning around, I observed the mess we left behind. For what it's worth, it's not that bad, only a puddle of blood, that's being greedily consumed by the rats. Then there's the trail of blood leading around a corner. As I left the dead end, I fought the urge to follow them and finish them off. But I've made enough enemies for now, time to move on. As I walked along the streets of Zaun, I looked over myself, can't go walking around looking like a blood stained killer, that would invite unnecessary attention. The good news is that I don't have to clean up much, as I don't wear clothes worth cleaning. Most days I wear a simple pair of trousers, nothing else. It never feels right to wear anything else, unless it rains of course. Just as I think it, a fat drip of rain landed on my nose. Not long after, it was raining, threatening to flood a good portion of Zaun. It's a good thing I'm homeless, I can go just about anywhere.
"Ah, The Drop." I muttered to myself. Walking over to the bar, I climbed onto a stool and patiently waited for service. As I waited, I looked around me and was growing increasingly unnerved of all the attention that I'm getting. Both adults and kids were looking at me.
"Can I, help you?" a big guy that looks like the bartender asked me.
"Yes, two tall glasses of your orange juice." I asked as I placed four coins on the counter. He gave me a strange look as he took the money and turned away to fill the glasses. Looking around again, I've noticed that I was still being watched, but discreetly. One fat man and his little kid, and a group of kids further within the bar. A skinny boy with messy hair, a bulky fat kid, a little girl with blue hair, and a rough looking girl with pink hair. "Here you go." he said as he placed my drink in front of me.
I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face, "Thanks!" I grabbed the handle and greedily gulped the glass empty. There is nothing more filling than properly pulverized and juiced fruit drinks.
"You're pretty thin for your age." the big man assumed.
'I might be, if you can guess my age." I challenged as I grabbed the handle of the other glass and brought it close to my mouth and started drinking.
"Hmmm, 10." he guessed with confidence.
I stopped drinking and set the half empty glass down. "Good guess."
He exhaled and he leaned onto the counter, "How long?"
I knew what he wanted to know. "As soon as I could crawl."
He shot his eyes up shock with is mouth agape. "You were alone? In Zaun? As a baby?"
Looking down, I silently admit that I couldn't recall the exact day when I was alone. As intelligent as I think I am, I cannot recall my earliest memories easily.
"That wont do." he stood up and crossed his arms while shaking his head.
"But I like it this way." I stated firmly, lowering my glass.
"WHAT!?" multiple voiced erupted in unison. I was so distracted that I haven't noticed the pink haired girl next to the counter. She was a fit girl with strong facial features. Something about this girl irritates me and I'm afraid I know why.
"What's the big deal? I'm alive aren't I?" I stated as I took sips of my drink.
"You're all bones." the pink haired girl ran her fingers down the side of my ribs. I locked eyes with hers, challenging the look of teasing aggression.
"Violet." the big man said with a voice of calm authority, then he turned back to me. "I don't suppose you have anywhere to sleep tonight?
"The sky is my blanket." I answered as I finished my drink. He seemed disappointed in my answer, including the fat man.
"What about tomorrow night?" he asked again with his hands on his hips.
"Different place, different star, same sky." I answered while trying to fight back a grin. He was amused, but he was also battling what might have been sorrow.
"So your just gonna starve out there with a smile on your face?" a new voice piped up, it was the thin boy with wild hair.
"Mylo, please, not now." Violet said as she laid a hand on his shoulder.
"You know, we have plenty of room here." the bartender offered.
No way. I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but honest warmth. It hurts, I don't know why. He isn't lying. Peering into many eyes within my short life and I have known deceit, cruelty, and sadism. To survive, I had to weaponize them all to earn another day of life. His eyes were the first that were kind.
"Hey kid." his voice brought me out of my contemplation. Looking back at him, I can see the pleading, the begging need for my acceptance, but its too warm. I'm afraid if I accept this, all of my troubles will follow, I can't.
"I'm sorry, but I can't." I said as I lowered my head and gave a quick smile before I turned around and start walking. "But I'll be back tomorrow." I yelled back as I waved at them. Violet and Mylo were talking to the big man and pointing at me. It seems as If they were asking to follow me. He might be their guardian or something. Wow, if only he were my dad, maybe I wouldn't be so bony.
For my bed tonight, I felt like climbing a building and sleeping under the stars. The air felt fresh after the rain and I didn't mind sleeping on damp concrete, it's better than sleeping in the mud. Placing my bag under my head, I made sure to remove all of the sharp objects first. I took a deep breath and planned my goals for tomorrow. It was strangely difficult because of the big guy and that girl. Those two, something was different about those two. There were many people who tried to raise me, the street kids that tried to adopt me as one of them, the beggars that tried to teach me how to beg like them and pick pocket, the gang members that taught me how to live life as a scoundrel. The various aspiring gang leaders that taught me lessons of ambition and the shadow self that guides our dark impulses. The bartender and the pink hair girl gave me the sneaky suspicion that they're good people. I turned to my side.
"No, no, that can't be real." I muttered to myself. But they didn't do anything weird, didn't try to mug me or worse, they were good people.
I turned to my other side.
"I have to make a choice." I muttered out to no one.
I can feel people like a fish feels predators in calm waters, they are good people. Closing my eyes, I allowed darkness to carry me away.
The best thing about being homeless is that everyone's garbage is your property by default. I found so many good stuff, I had to find a safe place to make dangerous toys. I mostly recovered blades, canasters of flammable oils, and more bolts. If only I had a forge, oh well, cant be picky. Although I can in many respects be picky, but I need to focus. For now, I must allow my mind to play with scrap, it's good for the soul, my soul at least. With my creative hands protected by my custom work gloves, I began wielding and smashing, and twisting until my forearms were on fire. This prosses of trial and error can take away hours. Before I knew it, the sun was setting and I have a new weapon, plus other useful things to sell. Usually when I have things to sell, there are specific venders that will give me a decent price. However, I can't rely on anyone with goods, so I figure it's best to expand my network wherever I can. As I walk along the sun kissed streets, my feet remain as comfortable as I remembered, callous and free of infections, for the most part. The market district buzz with life and constant activity. Whispers were thrown with hush smiles and sneering teeth. Excited customers haggle tight fisted merchants, while keeping one hand on their coin purse and another on a spare dagger. For the most part, no one stole and got away with it. We were united, in a sense that killing each other isn't profitable. However there are those who don't agree with such pragmatic views. Some people see blood as exciting and as valuable as coin.
Fortunately, I am stopped by an avenging peer.
"Is this the boy who did all of that?" a tall and well built teen of dark complexion asked a familiar face next to him. The boy next to him looks like one of the kids that i stabbed, or did I? Usually I'm good a remembering the faces I stab, might have not stabbed this one in the face.
"Yeah." the boy confirmed as he shift behind the tall teen.
I locked eyes with this guy, the guy who if I come to blows with, I'm sure I'll get the life beaten out of me. He doesn't budge and he has no reason to. Just by looking into his eyes, I can tell that his courage is backed by blood and broken bones. He nodded his head once, internally confirming that I'm not going to back down, even if it means saving my own neck.
"Okay, Hamin, go for a walk." he told the kid without taking his eyes off me. The boy obeyed.
The world moved on around us. We were just another duo of trouble makers, no different from the trouble makers of yesterday.
"Hey, if you two are gonna fight, take it somewhere else." some random vender said, they didn't distract us.
The longer we stared each other down, the wider space grew around us. For some reason, the passerbys thought that we were gonna erupt in a deadly game of shortlife. What would give them that impression?
"Listen, you have a blood debt, and you will pay it. Finish your business here, then meet me at the lead playground. I'll find you if you take too long." he said as he turned around and left.
I watched him walk away. When I couldn't see him anymore, I went to a tent that I would usually avoid if I could help it.
"What does a boy like you need from me...oh." she asked, but notice that I only meet her if I need enhancements and stimulants. I chose my ingredients and dug in my pockets.
The vender shook her head. "A child like you should be far away from a life you lead."
"Can't afford it, but I can afford these." I hand her the coins, she accepted them without another word. Everyone has to eat.
Taking my ingredients, I found a secluded place next to a fountain, across from the lead playground. Using the lighter I made from the junk I gathered, I lit the compound in the chamber of my design. When It liquified, I filled the syringe and waited for it to cool. On any day, I wouldn't have wasted that much money, but for occasions like this, it is necessary. Once I felt that it has cooled enough, I injected it into my vein. The first symptom is accelerated breathing, the benefits will set in when I get to work. Leaving my bag behind, I made my way to the lead playground, where a sizeable crowd of youths gathered. At least they know a good show when they hear one. As I approached, they parted for me to stand in the middle, across from the tall teen. There are a few familiar faces that were astonished that I was here. One of those faces were that girl, Violet.
I decided to make the first move and kick the teen in his balls, this undoubtedly caught him off guard and he fell to his knees. On his way down, I jumped and connected my head to his nose. This angered him and he managed to overpower the pain and grab me by the face and kick me across the area and into the crowd. They caught my body and threw me back towards him. The teen threw a punch and I weaved to land a punch to his ribs, but I am a boy and he is a teen, so he backhanded me away. As I skid on the ground, the crowd groaned in pain for me, as if I needed their concern. I stood up quickly and charged at him with speed that he wasn't expecting. I climbed on him and drove my elbow into the top of his skull. He grabbed my left arm and as he pulled me off I drove my elbow in the side of his left ear. I landed flat on the ground and scrambled to get up as the teen decided to forgo holding back and go ballistic, perfect. Anger usually make teens unfocused bags of hormones and bad decisions. Unfortunately, he was empowered with testosterone and it was a good decision for him to go berserk. His fist smashed into my cheek and his kick sent my body flying into the crowd again. To everyone surprise, including my own, I flew back at him and danced around the teen with ferocity, landing a combination of strikes that were effectively blocked and eventually countered with a meaty hand to my head. The world spun and my head hit the ground. That's where the miracle ended. The teen picked my body up and threw it against the ground again, sending fresh pain through my body.
"You're a tough kid, I'll give you that." the teen said as he fell to his knees in exhaustion. His head rose as the crowd erupted in amazement as I shot to my feet and kneed the teen in his nose, breaking it and getting my knee soaked in his blood. Grabbing his face, he tries to stop the bleeding. I stepped off his knee and landed a headbutt that sent us both to the ground.
"Damn right I'm tough." I said as I stood to my feet. The teen looked at me in astonishment. "You wanted blood? Well you got it, are we done here?"
He looked down at his hand, that is drenched in blood from his nose that hasn't stopped bleeding. Instead of calling is even, he decided to charge me. I countered with a back kick to his liver, which put him down in a puddle of his nose bleed. The crowd all applaud the fight. However accomplished I feel, i just know I made more enemies than not. I caught the eye of the pink hair girl, Violet. As fierce as ever, but in this moment, she pumped her fist at me, and I returned the gesture. That widen her already wild smile. I turned away to where I came, hoping that I won't be followed. Thankfully, the crowd respected me enough to let me pass. Unsurprisingly, when I got to my bag, I had a few followers.
"Hey, that fight was amazing." a feminine voice called out. Upon turning around, I saw them, along with her. I was face to face with Violet and she was taller up close.
"Yeah, it better have been. I don't think human beings are suppose to bounce on solid ground, at all." I stated, still wishing to feel most of my internal organs.
"Well if you put some meat on your bones, you would have beaten him in one hit." she said as she flexed her left bicep. Veins erupted across her bicep, with blood that carries more oxygen than the average human. What the superhuman shit, she is a physical specimen.
"Luckily for me protein is on the menu tonight." I said as I strapped my bag on, then I remembered what i bought before. She read my regret like a cat analyzing a rat.
"You don't have money for meat tonight?" she asked with a worried voice?
"We got plenty of food at The Drop, come on." Mylo said as he butt into our conversation.
Violet turned to Mylo, "Being generous huh? I like this Mylo."
"Hey, I'm always generous to the misfortune." Mylo protested.
I wont turn down a free meal, but I'm sure its gonna cost me somehow.
"I'll take you up on that offer." I said.
"Great, we're running out of places to store food, we could use an extra hungry mouth." Violet said.
We began walking to the bar.
'I'm Owen by the way, sorry if I was a stranger for too long. Kind of skipped my mind when my head was rolling along the ground." I joked. Mylo laughed fully while Violet tried to reframe from doing so.
"Do you usually self deprecate?" she asked with a keen interest to get into my head.
"Only when I deserve it." and I allowed her right in. I'm guessing that was Mylo's cue to ramble on about whatever until we finally got there.
"What happened to you?" the big guy asked as I sat in the high chair.
"A kid wanted to fight me. We fought and now it's over." I answered as directly as I could, no need for details yet, or at all.
"Right." he crossed his arms, "I'm guessing that you're hungry."
"I can pay." I stated as I took my bag off and started digging through it.
"No." Violet placed her hand on my shoulder, "It's on the house." she looked at the big man.
"That's right. After today, you need it. One Vander's special, coming up." he stated.
I watched him disappear around a corner.
"Hello." a different voice announced herself. It startled me a bit. I turned my head to see a girl with blue hair. "I'm Powder."
"I almost surrendered my ghost, please don't do that." I kindly stated. That got this Powder girl to giggle.
"Okay, sorry. What happened to you?" she asked as her eyes scanned the cuts and bruises on my face and my body.
"I played too hard and got thrown around for my trouble." I answered as Vander placed a bowl of something that is supposed to be special. I thanked him and dug in, because I would be damned to be ungrateful. They stood in silence as I ate. I'll be honest, I ate so fast that I couldn't feel the temperature. Come to think of it, I think that's due to what I put in my veins, huh.
"Wow, it's so special I forgot to chew." I stated as I started to drink the broth. Vander let out a hearty laugh as well as everyone else. I hate making people feel good, only to leave them.
"Got somewhere to stay?" he asked again.
I put the bowl down. To turn away their hospitality would be disrespectful, and respect is the most important thing down here.
"You can stay with us." Powder offered matter of factly.
I looked at Vander and he gave that warm smile that made me feel like trash.
"I've made enemies." I stated.
"Who hasn't?" Mylo said as he leaned against the counter.
"Yeah, this guy is a professional at that." Violet pointed her thumb at Mylo, in turn he shrugged, "But really, stay with us. And if anyone has a problem with you, they'll have to go through us."
This can't be real. I'm struggling to comprehend this, what is this?
"You would do that for a complete stranger?" I asked.
"Is this guy staying with us or what?" the fat kid asked as he approached the counter with a yawn.
"We sure would like to have him." Vander stated.
I lowered my head and shut my eyes.
"I've done too many, terrible things to people." I confessed.
"What do you mean?" Vander asked in a deep tone. I can hear it, the shame.
"I-I hurt people, everyday." stop doing this, stop being weak.
"Don't worry about that. We've all done what we have to do to survive." Vander said as he placed his hand on mine.
I shook my head vigorously, "You don't understand, I've done horrible things to people just to be respected and just because I can. I can't treat people the way that you do." I pulled my hand away and I fell off of the stool and my bag slipped off my shoulder. "I haven't spared anyone. I've never shared food, I rob, kill, and terrorize, I'm a monster."
They all looked at me with their combined gentle eyes of pity and compassion. Who am I to reject this? I want a home, I want a family, I want this love that I hear about. I want to run into the arms of a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, anyone who isn't trying to crush my skull. To embrace true compassion. Why can't I just accept this? Why does their compassion hurt so much? I know what lurks behind the eyes of people, I know the hearts of men and women. These people, they are different and it burns me. I am a monster and I don't want to bring them darkness.
"I can't." I crawled away and rose to sprint as far as i could, as far as my body can take me. Ignoring all the people and obstacles that were in my way, I ran. In my efforts to relieve the only group of decent people that I've met from a walking curse like myself, the universe decided to make my escape difficult. At the perfect moments, limbs, boxes, barrels, random house appliances, and building materials found a way to block my path. Any ordinary kid would have suffered severe injuries at this point. Given my track record of pissing off all the right and wrong people in my short life, I have become adapt to escaping their wrath. Obstacles such as this is literally child's play. The only thing that could stop me is my body, that is now in the process of slamming into the ground from pure exhaustion. As I rolled onto my back, to my shock five familiar kids were just behind me and all came to a stop, panting as hard as I am.
"You. Are. A. Freak. Of. Nature." Mylo said between deep breaths.
Violet was the first to recover and gave a weak slap to Mylo's shoulder. "You are a special kid, that's for sure."
Sitting up, I asked, " Why did you all follow me?"
"Please come back, we can be friends." a dark skinned kid, like me, said with a glint in his eyes. He hopped on his toes with excitement and boundless energy.
"Somebody has to keep Ekko and Powder out of trouble." the fat kid said as he walked beside Ekko and ruffled his hair.
"Being a monster doesn't scare us." Violet said as she walked towards me. Upon shifting to a sitting position, I looked into her eyes and saw the intention of a challenge. She's sizing me up, seeing how deep I breathe, how nimble I was while maneuvring the obstacles, and how fast I recovered from the fight earlier.
"No. I suppose no monster would scare someone like you." I said with trepidation in my voice. She rested her hands on her waist and peered down at me with a chest full of confidence and with the intent of healing me.
"Tell you what, you're warmed up, right?" Violet asked with a playful expression on her face.
Standing to the full height of an average 10 year old I answered simply, "Yes."
She smirked, "We'll have ourselves a friendly sparring match. If I win, you'll be apart of our family."
"And if I win?" I asked.
She shrugged, "You'll get to be alone I guess, but you'll have to eat at the bar from then on."
Lowering my head, I struggle to tear my gaze from her. Those bold blue eyes see what I am blind to accept. I nod my head, knowing the trial ahead of me will be one of a humiliating nature.
"Alright." she said with a genuine smile while assuming a boxer's stance, "I'm gonna go easy on you, okay?"
Cocky, I like that. I spun around and threw a round house kick to her head, which she ducked under, more out of instinct than knowing what I was going to do, this is gonna be a headache. A straight cross, that I did see coming, flew for my chest but landed on my hands instead, sending me off balance and back towards the ground. For fuck sake, was she born with dynamite for fists? Clearly, I can't match her in boxing, can I? Standing up, I tried to look for an opening. Her stance is solid and her mind is patient. Every move I made is being carefully observed by those eyes of hers. Maybe I can fool her mind by deceiving it. I use faints to open her up to over reacting by blocking high. When she fell for it, I stepped forward and thrusted my knee in her stomach. Her abs flexed by instinct, I bet I hardly caused any damage, maybe startled her at best.
"Huh, Owen is pretty good." Mylo stated as he rubbed at his chin. "I got two coins on Owen, anyone else wanna place a bet?"
The others glared at Mylo.
"I speak for everyone, two coins a piece on Violet." the fat kid said.
"My sister won't lose, she's the best." Powder stated with confidence.
"Yeah, just look at her! She's strong." Ekko reenforced.
Violet flicked her jab out at me rather slowly. They were easy to slip, which was strange. She backed me up around the area because of her relentless habit of not giving up space, always pushing forward. Before I knew it, she grazed my right eyebrow, cutting it. This can't go on. She over extended her next jab, now's my chance. So I committed to a straight cross to her exposed side. Out of nowhere the world spun, sending me on my back. My chin, I can't feel my chin. It was an uppercut from hell.
"Please, come home with us." that sweet voice called out to me. For her credit, it did wake me up, only to acknowledge how much I was bleeding. As I rolled over to my knees, blood trickled down the right side of my face and onto the dirt. Taking in a deep breath, I've come to a grim realization, I'm getting my bony ass kicked by a girl. Looking up, I see Violet lowered to my eye level, with her eyes gazing into me like a generous conqueror. It made my heart stuffy, what is this feeling?
"You are a brave boy. I'm proud of you little brother." she reached her hand out, "come on, lets go home."
Pushing myself to my feet, I stumbled backwards, that punch did a number on me. I stomped on the ground to steady my feet. The look on her face was one of a plead to end my stubbornness and just admit to her that she is now my big sister. It is my inevitable future and I'm not ashamed of it. But for the record, I want to teach her just how stubborn I can be. Assuming my fighting stance once again, Violet refused to settle in her boxing stance. Instead she just clenched her fist, understanding what I wanted to prove. I pushed a jab towards her face and she slapped it away with such force that I fell into her. I might as well have face planted into a brick wall. She caught me by my shoulders and whispered in my ear.
"Good fight little bro." then she delivered a punch to my solar plexus that made me curl up into a ball, making it easy for Violet to carry me. It was the only way that I was going to get any amount of decent sleep.