"come on!"Tyson ran past the makeshift homes made of metal sheet avoiding the few adults walking down the street "don't be a coward!"
His friend screamed trying to pressure him into their stupid plan, although he was starving he wasn't desperate to die, each step felt heavy as he ran with his withered body
His bones were visible through the baggy white clothes that hung on his body but this wasn't any thing strange in the slums most of the people had gaunt bodies and the clothes that were thrown out from the inner wall would often hang on their bodies
"Splash"
The muddy water splashed as he stepped in it and in an instant he felt knuckles connect with his face
"Thud"
"I was drinking that you brat" A tall gaunt man in black spoke as he fell on the sticky dirt the few people around did not bother to glance at them, dying here was nothing special
"I'm sorry" he looked back at his friends, who stopped chasing him and ran away "it was a mistake"
The man licked the single teeth that remained in his mouth on the bottom gum "my livelihood is a mistake" Tyson backed away dragging his butt throw the mud then
"Thud"
He felt and heard the metal sheet behind him as he looked at the man's bony fists
"You'll have to pay me for this" the men stepped in the mud he once drank grinning as he looked down on the child "and flesh is the only payment I accept" his eyes were filled with glee as he stepped closer then
Two silhouette figures appeared Tyson racing heart slowed down, he stood up the metal sheet rustle against each other as he used them as support glancing at the figures as he stepped away
The man stepped away looking down while the figures in clean navy uniform with a silver sparrow badge hanging on their clothes walked past them
"This place is always filled with unimaginable filths" one of them spoke as Tyson ran off again it was a miracle to see enforcers this early in the lower district
With the sun in his back Tyson kept running this time mindful of his steps as he ran up on the uneven ground of district 3
He smiled slowing down his speed as the sight shacks lessened, he looked at the his clothes as he stepped onto the stone road in district 2, filled people and street vendors with stall bursting in colour
The mud had dried off he dusted it off today was the last day of school for him, in the lower district children could chose not to go to school and no one would punish them
Most of the children in the lower district had no parents as such no guidance in life because of this most people in district 3 and 2 cannot read
Tyson walked in the back streets of district 2 it had few people during the day and he would not suffer any comments about him being from district 3
'Where am I going to eat after today?' He clutched his hands behind his dreads and looked at the white sky, like Tyson most children went to school for food instead of learning but that food came with an age limit and Tyson had reached his
'Should I try to join that school in district 1' he sighed as he remembered he wasn't number one in school, the schools in district 2 only thought reading and writing if you wanted to learn more you would need to go to district 1 but that would depend on how you can read and write
'No they say that test is impossible' he turned breathing in the bread filled air 'I hope they have meat today' his mouth watered as he followed the scent of food
"Look he still breathing" he sighed as he looked at his pale friends who stood at the stairs of a grey building
"Instead of saying that you could've tried to help me back their" he slouched and shoved his hands into his pockets
They smiled at him "hey you interrupted another mans meal why should we help you avoid judgement"
"That's really funny Peter" He stepped on the stairs and glanced at them "I hope you'll feel the same way when I do that to you"
"Hey don't be like that we called the enforcers" they followed him as he stepped into the hall filled with desks and other kids
"Your lying the enforcers wouldn't do anything because you said so" he walked past the wooden desks and chairs filled with graffiti
"No we really did man" Peter ran in front of him but Tyson raised an eye brow looking at Peter "we told them that we saw Dex in your direction" Peter looked at the ground folding under his gaze
"Are you insane" he raised his voice "what if they come looking for you?"
"They won't" Someone stepped in front of Peter "they don't really care about Dex"
Tyson pulled back a chair and sat down "Percy they do care he killed an enforcer"
"No they only care about how he did it" Peter dragged two chairs to his table as Percy spoke
"Come on think about it he killed an enforcer don't you want to know how he did it?" Percy smirked as he sat down
"Is that why you want to join Dex old crew?" Percy smirk vanished then
"Everyone sit down class is about to start" a lady in a red dress spoke standing on the podium and her voice rang out through the speakers on the walls
"Dude we're turning 12" Peter spoke in a hushed tone while everyone moved to their chairs "the school won't give us any food after we turn 12"
"We can always try to join the school in district 1" both of them looked at the carpet as Tyson spoke
"We going to try joining the school" Percy turned to the podium "but incase things don't go well for us we should join Dex crew" the boards on the podium was now clean and everyone went silent
Today they were not learning anything new but just revising the lessons they had in the past 6 month but while everyone was focused on the board Tyson was replying Percy's words
Other than school his options of getting food were limited to the jobs in district 2 and they were impossible to get at his age, stealing was risky because anyone caught stealing is beaten to death sometimes
Dex crew were the only people that always had food despite being in the lower district and they were meeting tonight at the shelter
'The test is in 2 days, and it won't hurt if I just check it out' he kept staring at the graffiti he drew on the table "guys I come with you"
They smiled as they leaned against his table watching the board
....
..
They smiled at each other as the teacher put down the pan "everyone I know this will be the last day I see most of you" she turned to the students
"But I hope you all apply for the schools in the district 1" some kids ran out as she spoke "the opportunity you will receive from joining those schools will change all of your lives"
Her voice soften "I know some of you have doubts about trying but you should know that in life you will never succeed in anything if you never try" she smiled at them "you can all leave"
She walked off the podium while Tyson and his friends stared at each other every one hiding their right hand
"Why does it have to end like this?" Peter eyes dotted between them
"It can't be helped Peter its for the groups survival" Percy gulped while Tyson sat their watching every move his opponents made
The silence between them was heavy that other students stared at them, Tyson gulped and spoke "now"
Everyone pulled out their hands and the loser was Peter with his pathetic paper draw amongst scissors
"Not again" Peter stood up and walked off while they smirked at him
"I told you he draw paper" Percy grinned amazed by his plan as he looked at Peter
"Yeah your the man" Tyson eyes glanced at the girls he couldn't understand why but lately they've been looking cute
"What changed your mind?" he turned to Percy and shrugged but Percy kept staring at him
"I didn't change my mind" he leaned back to the chair "I'm just going to see what they talking about"
"And?" Percy smirked leaning closer
"If what they say isn't stupid I don't mind joining" in an instant he felt Percy fist tap his shoulder
"Yeah if it isn't crazy" Percy turned to Peter holding their dishes while Tyson kept glancing at the girls, it was the vigor of youth