Heavy rain poured down the cracks of an old wooden terrace while two boys stood shielded underneath it. They watched as the drops splashed down at their feet, muddying up their well-worn boots. Rain was a rare occurrence in Yuna, and as it was watering the soil, it proved to be a great form of amusement for the children. They were gnawing on a piece of bread they had just stolen from the local bakery, chewing with open mouths.

  “Poor bastard didn’t stand a chance, ha-ha!” Sav laughed, savoring the taste of the crust he had torn off.

  “Right, old Haggerty is no match for us with those bad knees of his!” Sam exclaimed, proud of completing another one of their little heists. The boys had waited all night for the bakery to open, and when the smell of freshly baked bread hit their nostrils, they’d made their move and were now enjoying the riches of their labor.

  Sav tossed the last piece to his brother and wiped his hands on his pants, looking around. The rain had simmered down and an almost red sun came up, causing rainbows to adorn the roofs of the houses. Sav wondered if they could find a pot of gold at their ends. Then he glanced back at his little brother.

  “You done with that?” he asked. Sam was three years younger than him and a head shorter, but what he lacked in height, he made up for in heart.

  “Yeah, why are you always giving me the last piece?” Sammy questioned.

  “Because you gotta grow big, little brother,” Sav teased, shoving him lightly.

  Sam pushed his brother back and found himself on the ground, fighting him off. They were scrambling for a dominant position, rolling around in the mud as if they were a pair of piglets having the time of their lives. Sav trapped his brother between his legs, and they broke off in sudden laughter, shaking their heads. He helped Sammy to his feet and they noticed that it had gotten strangely quiet. The rain had come to an end.

  Wandering around the unforgiving streets of the city with their muddy clothes, the boys were searching for their next victim. They weren’t at the age where they could earn a living through honest work nor in a position of privilege to choose. They were simply surviving how they knew best. The brothers had never known their parents. They were left in a foster home as babies and looked after by the people who worked there. Their rebellious nature had been evident even in that frail age and as they grew up, the scuffles with the other kids also grew, all of it boiling into them being kicked out of the home when they were deemed fit to take care of themselves, forever the outsiders.

  Sav pulled his brother behind a thick pillar and pointed at a small house nearby. The owner was leaving and had forgotten to close his window— a perfect opportunity for the boys to strike. They waited until the area was clear and tiptoed towards the empty building. Sam jumped inside first and signaled to his brother to follow him. The brothers rummaged through everything they could get their hands on—tables and couches. They checked under the vases, rugs, even behind the pictures the owner of the house had hung up on the walls. They were about to move into the bedroom when the door slid open, and the owner walked in. Sav managed to roll behind the couch and hide, but Sam couldn’t register what had happened in time, facing the man in the center of the room.

  “What the hell are you doing in my house?” the man shouted, stepping closer to Sam.

  “Me? What’re you doing here?” Sam joked.

  The owner stopped for a second as if he was really considering his question, then grabbed him by the shirt, dirtying his hands. In the meantime, Sav had snuck his way around the couch and grabbed a nightlamp. He stood behind the man and watched as he picked up Sammy off the ground, then he smashed the lamp upside his head before he could slap his brother. The man fell on the wooden floor with a loud thump, and the boys began searching him for his keys and wallet, wasting no time.

  Running off to the streets, they erupted with laughter, looking for a place to hide and see what they had acquired. They hid in a dark alley between two abandoned buildings and split the profits: a few hundred zens and some old coupons.

  “Thanks for saving me out there, Sav,” Sam said.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Sav replied and ruffled his brother’s hair.

  “We should get out of here.”

  They were about to walk out of the alley when they noticed a tall figure blocking their way. Had the owner followed them? He began closing in on the boys and they had nowhere to run, trapped against a wall. Sav told his brother to get behind him, then he lifted his hands in the air, ready to fight off the stranger. Sam peeped from his brother’s back, trying to figure out who the man was.

  When he got to a distance where they could see him clearly, the brothers noticed the man had bright green eyes, shining on them with great intensity. He looked at Sam hiding behind his brother, then at Sav. The man wore a beige suit with torn-off sleeves and an obsidian black hat.

  “Hello!” he greeted them.

  “We’re not giving you anything!” Sav shouted, scanning for a weak spot to attack.

  “You misunderstand me,” the man said. “I’m here to offer you help, if you need it.”

  “Help? Why would you help us?”

  “Because I’ve been in the situation you are,” he answered. “I’m Joan.”

  “I’m Sav. This here is my little brother Sammy,” Sav said.

  “You wouldn’t happen to know Haggerty, would you?” Joan asked, failing to hide his smirk.

  “What if we did?” Sav pressed, letting his guard down. The man didn’t seem like a threat.

  “I’d say good job, but the old man’s an easy target. You need better competition,” Joan replied.

  “So, you’re stealing too?” Sammy asked, now standing beside his brother.

  “Something like that, and I don’t do it alone.” Joan said. “I’ve got a bunch of guys with me, from smugglers to fighters. We could show you how to earn some real money.”

  “Yeah? What’s the catch?” Sav asked. People around the city rarely helped each other without an ulterior motive being involved. For all he knew, this could be a scheme to get them to do someone’s dirty work, or even worse.

  “There’s no catch. I only have one condition.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “You stop living on the streets and come stay with me.” Joan said. “You’ll get shelter, food. I’m going to put some new clothes on your backs, then we get to work.”

  Sav was about to answer when his brother pulled him aside, a worried look on his face.

  “Sav, we’ve got to think about this. What if the guy is some weirdo?” he asked.

  Sav glanced at Joan, then back at his brother. “I guess we’ll have to take the risk. He seems sincere enough.”

  Sam didn’t think for too long. “Fine.” They approached Joan, standing side by side. “We accept.”

  “Excellent. Now follow me.”

  The brothers were walking towards a field close to the borders of the city, treading their way through a sandy road. Specks of dust fluttered around with each heavy step. They’d grown older now, the soft, childlike features long gone, like the wind in the night. They had joined Joan’s gang on that fateful day and time had passed by them as if they were actors critiquing their own short film. Sav had proven to be a beyond capable fighter, whereas Sammy had made a name for himself in the smuggling world. Neither of them had chosen an easy life, and as they grew, the differences between them became more and more apparent. Despite the difficulties, they had always managed to reach common ground, their brotherly bond prevailing over any circumstances.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Stopping in the middle of the field, they began warming up, facing each other. Sav had convinced Sammy to come train with him, although he knew his little brother didn’t share the same passion. Sav stood on one leg and grabbed the other one, leaning over to touch his toes.

  “I never understood how you could do that,” Sam said, groaning and almost falling over in his attempt to replicate the movement.

  “Some things just come naturally. I haven’t really given it much thought.” Sav replied, then switched to another exercise.

  “You were always a talented fighter, even before this whole thing with Joan…”

  “How’s business?” Sav asked.

  “Eh, it could be better. The pipeline from 67 has dried up. We do whatever we can to get our hands on the new stuff. The involvement of those High State fuckers doesn’t help either. They’re just a big pain in my ass.” Sam answered, cracking his knuckles.

  “They’re like a virus, aren’t they?” Sav chuckled, getting into stance.

  They exchanged glances and began circling each other, their hands held high. Sam rushed forward with his lead hand and missed by inches, too late to retract. Sav didn’t waste the opportunity and countered with a straight of his own, smacking his brother. Sammy took a breath, then went for another jab, searching for the body of his older brother. He received a hit and fell down on the dirt. Sav had met him halfway with a left hook over the shoulder.

  “You okay, Sammy?” Sav asked, standing over him. There was no response. He crouched over his brother and shook him around, worry creeping in. Had he hurt him that bad? Sav called out his name again— nothing. He could feel his heartbeat quicken in that deafening silence.

  “Haha! I got you good, didn’t I?” Sam burst out laughing, rolling on the ground.

  “Oh, you clown!” Sav let out a big sigh, punching his brother on the shoulder. He offered him a hand and helped him get up to his feet, both looking into each other’s eyes. Time had stopped around them, and all Sav could hear was the repetitive angry sound of a siren nearby…

  He woke up staring at the ceiling of the apartment. He was in Kybernan, and his phone was ringing. He blinked twice before reaching for it, then answered even though he didn’t recognize the number.

  “Yeah?” Sav said.

  A squeaky voice replied. “Sav! It’s Manny! I have a proposition for you!”

  “Manny? How did you find my number?” Sav asked, sitting up and rubbing his face. It was dark outside and the countless lights of the skyscrapers around him split the night in half.

  “Ah, that’s not important. Listen, there’s a party going on downtown in some fancy club, and I’ve heard that some very important people are going to be there. I think we should go, me and you.”

  “It hasn’t been a day since we’ve arrived, and you already want to mingle with those folks?” Sav asked, shaking his head.

  “Well, yeah? Meet me in front of the complex in five. I’ll be waiting!” Manny said then hung up before Sav could decline.

  The busy streets of the capital were crowded with people and Sav and Manny struggled to make their way through the herd. Sav had improvised with his clothing and tried to appear as classy as his wardrobe allowed him, regretting not bringing more clothes with him. They saw a big golden sign that read “The Goblet”. Two henchmen stood in front of the club’s entrance, and the duo approached them warily.

  “Do you have a reservation?” They asked in unison.

  “I don’t think we need one,” Manny replied and tried to squeeze past them, only to be stopped by the meaty hand of one of the guards.

  “We can’t let you in without a reservation,” he grumbled.

  Manny stomped his foot on the ground and bared his teeth, keen on going inside. “Quit fucking around, alright? I’d know if reservations were required. Do I look like a fool to you?”

  “Sir, we’re going to have to ask you to leave the premises,” the other guard chimed in.

  “We’re with her actually,” Sav said, pointing to a woman who was surrounded by a small crowd of people near the entrance. Everybody had focused their attention on her, and she spoke with a certain sense of authority. The young fighter had a feeling she was someone important and hoped she wouldn’t notice the delay in their entrance.

  The guards looked at each other cautiously, then back at the fighter and his short friend. They nodded towards them and stepped aside, letting them inside of the building. The fighters brushed past the blonde woman, and the loud music blasting from the speakers hit their senses like a tsunami of melodies and rhythmic beats. The floor carried a misty atmosphere due to the sheer amount of smoke circulating around, and the unmistakable smell of opioids hung heavily in the air.

  Manny leaped towards Sav to talk into his ear. “How do you know her?” the short creature asked.

  “I don’t!” Sav shrugged in response.

  They found themselves at the bar, and Manny began ordering before Sav could sit down, choosing the most exotic sounding beverages the place had to offer. The white creature struck up a conversation with the bartender, and soon they engaged in a passionate discussion. Sav could tell by the way they gesticulated with their hands. The young fighter took the cocktail Manny had handed to him and downed it in one gulp, chewing the orange leaf that had been on top of the glass. It tasted citrusy.

  Sav studied the people dancing all around him, swaying their bodies left and right, oblivious to the current melody. He felt the world spin around him, and he saw their shadows separating from their bodies, dancing in their own fashion, looming over their owners’ heads. That drink, Sav thought. He left Manny at the bar and headed towards the bathroom, maneuvering through the colorful shapes the people had turned into after the drink. Along the way he felt a tug on the back of his shirt and let himself be pulled into a different room, stocked with bottles of alcohol. The figure pushed him against the wall, and he felt a knife against his ribs. It belonged to the woman they had seen at the entrance.

  “Who are you?” she demanded, glaring at Sav with angry eyes.

  “Nobody important.” He knew that she wasn’t a threat, yet he had the feeling that the woman could be reckless enough to slash him right there.

  She pressed the knife against him. “You claim to know me. What’s your name?” she asked.

  “Sav. And you’re holding the knife the wrong way,” he answered. The woman glanced down to check and realized he had lied to her. A few seconds was all Sav needed. He struck her wrist before she could look back at him, causing her to drop the knife.

  “Stop!” Sav warned her and blocked the exit, putting distance between himself and the woman.

  She hurried to grab a bottle of alcohol and faced Sav, ready to strike. “Yeah? Let’s see what you’ve got!”

  “Hold up, I’m not here to fight you.” Sav said, showing her his hands.

  “You told the security that you were with me. You don’t seem too innocent!” She wasn’t letting her guard down.

  “I must’ve confused you with someone else,” Sav lied.

  “Bullshit! There aren’t many women in this city you could confuse me with, and you’d be wise to know that.”

  “Look, we just wanted to get past the guards, and they wouldn’t let us in. I had to improvise, and I saw you standing there, surrounded by a bunch of people. I figured you were someone important,” Sav explained. His hallucinations had died out.

  “I’m not sure I’m convinced, but I’ll let you go.”

  “Let me go? I’m the one standing next to the door, if you hadn’t noticed.” Sav chuckled.

  The woman put the bottle back in its place and approached Sav, pushing him aside.

  “Wait, do I get to know your name?” Sav asked.

  The woman turned around, one foot out the door, and glanced back. “Allani.” She rolled her eyes then left.

  Sav returned to the bar to find Manny resting his head on the counter. He recalled how the creature had kept chugging the drinks they were being served without showing any signs of drunkenness. He had told Sav that their species possessed an incredibly high tolerance to such substances and had continued gulping away, joking around with the other patrons. Sav attempted to shake him awake, but Manny muttered something to himself, then continued his slumber. The young fighter asked the bartender for a glass of water and dumped it all over Manny’s face, making him jump off his seat with his claws outstretched, ready to attack.

  “Woah, Manny!” Sav cautioned.

  “Sav? What happened?” Manny asked.

  “We have to get going. Party’s over,” Sav said, expecting his friend to protest. The short thing stared at him as if he had revealed some dark secret, then headed for the exit.

  Back outside, they sat on the stairs and watched as guests began leaving one by one. Their first night in Kybernan had been surprisingly uneventful, and Sav wondered if it wasn’t fate playing another one of her cruel jokes on them— letting them succumb to the niceties the city had to offer, only to strike them down with a tragedy the instant they let their guard down. The way Sav avoided such things had always been tied to the absence of any authentic connections or relationships. He strayed away from possible attachments, so when the inevitable hurt presented itself, there would be no one to take the damage but him. The young fighter was at peace with the notion, but looking at Manny, who was in a rough state from all the drinking, he questioned whether one could truly go through this life without having any companions.

  “You feeling better, champ?” Sav joked.

  “Oh, yeah, I’ll be okay,” Manny said, holding his head. “We recover just as quickly as we absorb those drinks.”

  “I see…” The fighter mused. “Have you heard anything about the other guys? From Cell-35, I mean.”

  “No, not really. I haven’t seen them since the ship. I’m just glad we won’t be fighting—me and you.” Manny answered.

  “Yeah, who knows? We might have to, down the line.”

  “I hope not,” the little creature exhaled.

  “It’ll be alright.” Sav stood up. “We should probably focus on training though. Not whatever this was…”

  “Heh, you’re right.”

  “I’ll see you around, Manny.”

  “Yeah. Thanks for coming.”