Chapter two

  Come to me

  The sweet allure of her calls was always so enthralling. Forever pulling at something within himself that he felt as if he'd split in half at times. That painstakingly longing that wound tightly in his chest flared to life, spreading a burning to course through his body. The longer he went without her, the worse the pain grew forever lingering like an unbearable itch. Yet, he couldn't come to her. He wasn't ready to hone her.

  Come to me-... Juke!"

  Rough hands pulled him from the comfort of his slumber to the hard floor. The coldness from the ground sent a chill up his body as he and his sister ran. They were always running. Always running. Everything was spiraling, going out of control. Then there was a man. That masked man. His sister stepped up, but it wasn't supposed to be her. He stepped up then... it wasn't supposed to be HER!

  Clink!

  "NO! Juke, wait-"

  Clank!

  "Eclipse!"

  BOOM

  Clink clink clank

  "Amani!" Juke shouted as his sweaty body jerked upright, his fingers tightly clutched onto his blanket. His heart was thumping against his chest, with his breath coming and going in ragged gasps as the nightmare remnants lingered. His mind swam as his dreams and reality warped together, making it hard for him to focus. Palming his eyelids until he saw stars, he couldn't rid the images of his sisters last moments from his head. The chilled air started to blow against his hot skin. Still disoriented, he blinked blurry wet eyes, squinting as that annoying banging continued.

  The sound of metal on metal kept going strong and loud as he looked over and noticed the owner of the foster home, Ms. Hana, walking into the room beating two pots together. She was a woman around her early fifties but looked extremely good for her age as she strolled in wearing a dress that clung to her thick figure. Her saggy breast bounced with each she took. Hana was the type to wear more fitting clothes than women her age did, which made her kind of a badass. Her freckled, brown skin glistened under the dusty hanging ceiling lightbulbs. Her orange eyes -which were contacts- roamed around the space with her curly, hot pink hair pulled up into a messy bun.

  "Wakey, wakey you gremlins." Ms. Hana shouted with a gruff voice from years of smoking.

  Groans thundered out as the other children started to stir from their slumber.

  The room the kids were sleeping in was wide like a small gymnasium with cots lined around. Right now, there was around 15 kids, boys and girls in the foster home. Some of them were orphans and some had the potential to be reunited with their families.

  Hana growled at the grumbling bodies, "Get up and stop the whining. Geez, you kids act like this is a mystic ritual every morning. Breakfast will be done in 5 and I need everybody cleaned up, dressed and sitting in 10. We cannot keep getting late reports from the school."

  In Ezico Village, anybody under the age of 18 went to school. There were two buildings, the primary school, Luluni primary, which went up to age 12 and the secondary school called Salun high. The schools were pretty strict when it came to the rules, and they made sure that they were followed.

  A couple of young children walked up to Ms. Hana with bright smiles on their small faces.

  "Can we help set the tables?" One of them asked her.

  Ms. Hana peered down them with a grimace, however it was gentle. "Go get washed up first, then you can help me."

  The two squealed with glee as they ran to the washroom.

  Children ranging between the ages 5-17 got up from their cots and made their way to the back of the room where the washrooms were situated. It was separated into two sides, one for the boys and the other for the girls.

  Just take deep breaths. Juke rubbed the sweat from his face as he tried to calm his breathing. His hands trembled heavily as he tried to gather his bearings. It's been four years since that night, yet the grieving never grew painless. He was constantly haunted by the ghost of his clan. He can still feel the intense heat from the flames. He looked at his shaking hands on his lap, flashing images of red blood stains covered his arms. Their blood was forever marred on his hands. Just keep breathing.

  He glanced around sheepishly. Hopefully nobody heard me, he thought as he looked around at everyone waking up. Throwing his feet over the bed, the cold wood flooring greeted him quite rudely. This routine was becoming so dull, but it was always a distraction from his mental.

  On the cot beside him, Dre threw his blanket from over his head, rolled over and then started to get up all groggy-like. "Does she always have to be so loud." He groaned, blinking his eyes to wake up.

  Juke could only manage a stiff chuckle.

  Dre gave him a soft look. "You doing alright?"

  Juke gave him a glance, still thinking of his nightmare. "Yeah, I'll manage."

  Dre pushed himself up and clapped a comforting hand on Juke's shoulder. "One step at a time." He said then headed to the washroom.

  Juke blinked at him, One step a time.

  Before he could stand, his body jerked as his cot bounced from a sudden weight falling on it. Juke looked over, seeing a younger girl with caramel skin posed.

  'Morning, Juke.' Penelope signed, with her delicate fingers forming her words and greeting him with a smile. Her shiny, lavender hair was laid in pretty finger-waves, with big hazel eyes.

  Penelope was the last member of their little troupe. The girl was partly deaf, only having a little hearing in her right ear. Though she could speak some, she felt comfortable signing most of the time. Being the youngest of the five, she didn't hang around them too much, mainly because of their endeavors. However, the 11-year-old was clever and sneaky.

  'How you doing, Nele?' Juke signed back, asking with a smile.

  'I'm good. You weren't here when I went to sleep. You must have been really late?' She asked, flipping onto her back and giving him with a cheeky look.

  Juke chuckled, then signed, 'I don't believe in time.'

  Penelope's face puffed up, 'I'm upset you all left me.'

  'Hey, we didn't leave you. We got caught.' Juke responded, playfully rubbing her in the face as he stood up.

  Getting up, he went along with the other children and started their daily ritual of getting ready for the day. Stepping into the washroom wide enough to fit 10 at once, Juke was greeted by the normal shebang. Many of the smaller children played around as the older ones tended to wash up, grooming and freshening up.

  Money was short these days, so the children had to dress in clothes that Ms. Hana could scrap up. Many wore mix-match and some wore rags. That also meant that food came in scarce amounts. The smell of buttery bread lingered around. A piece of toast and a scoop of mashed potatoes were laid on the plates at the tables.

  The dining room was small and cramped as the children started filling in, bustling with so much energy.

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  "Utara miishi." The children gave their thanks then delved in.

  The juvies sat huddled at a table in the corner enjoying their meal. Juke bit into his toast as he watched everyone eat. For the last two years, this foster home was his safe haven. After losing his family, Juke spent two years bouncing around from place to place, from orphanages to the streets to family homes back to the streets, before Ms. Hana found him. Those times were dark, filled with total numbness and anger. He was called many things in those years, being introduced to the hateful and gritty life early on but he continued to fight through it. After grandma found him, he could honestly say that Everly almost gave him a little hope. Though she was mean on the outside, Hana had a soft spot for kids.

  Then there were the juvies, his crew. Since his first day at Everly, he just clicked with his friends. Being the only older teens at the home, they only had each other to rely on.

  Dre is the oldest in the home, having a few months' time before his 18th birthday. When that happen, he will leave the home. Don't want to think about that. Everly won't be the same without my crew. Juke developed a quick connection with Dre from day one, finding comfort in Dre's big brother energy. He come from a family known as the Kano tribe. Years ago, the tribe fell to their own hands. Like Juke, Dre is almost the last to his people, which makes their bond even more deep.

  Out of all the teenage girls he's met, Swazzy was different. She spent the early part of her life living on the streets with her mom, who had a strong addiction to drugs. Her life was subjected to the drug world until Ms. Hana saved her. Growing up on the streets made Swazzy an adept fighter, being able to keep up with the boys. It was kind of hot.

  Jade was a complicated fellow. He was born the fourth son to The Grandite family, a wealthy family across the crater. Though on the outside the family might seem normal, those people were sick. The Grandites desperately wanted a daughter, so when Jade was born a boy, they took measures into their own hands. Raising Jade as a girl, one could only imagine the horrors the young boy went through. Now, he's just a gender-confused kid.

  Penelope was sent here for her safety. She tended to get sick sometimes.

  Despite their past, these teens had created a deep bond.

  Once the kids were finished, they all contributed to cleaning up the dining room and they prepared for school. Grabbing their satchels, Ms. Hana guided them all of out of the door.

  "Be on your best behavior today and actually learn. I'm serious about no bad reports." Hana howled out as the kids marched through. When the teens reached the threshold, Hana's arm shot out blocking their exit. She gave the five of them a pointed glare. "I want you all to come straight here after school. No extra stops, or I will personally be picking you up myself from now on." She growled, then signed to Penelope.

  Awe. Somebody just needs a man. Juke waved her off dismissive, "We got it."

  Hana gritted her teeth hard, "And for you Juke-"

  "I know, I know." Juke interrupted the fussing woman, then dipped under her arm. "Sheesh, we won't get in trouble, grandma."

  Hana smacked Juke's head. "I'm not your damn grandma."

  The rest walked out of the home with Ms. Hana slamming the door shut behind them. Bam!

  The group started to head on. The villagers were up sweeping and proactive as they tended to put up festive decorations. The annual festival of the lights was nearly days away. It was when the colorful lights touched the mountains marking for a change for Nas, a phenomenon they called the Tuzlani. They believed that when this happens, this signified the great spirits return and a change was coming to the lands.

  Before they could get too far, Dre stopped, using a hand to stop Juke as well. "You all go on ahead. Me and Juke need to talk about something." He spoke to Swazzy, Jade, Penelope.

  Swazzy gave him a knowing look as she settled with a "Fine. Come on guys."

  The three walked on ahead.

  Juke gave Dre a questioning look, "What are we talking about?"

  "We need to take the edge off. Just follow me." Dre said.

  Confusion crossed Juke's face before it dawned on him. The drug bag. A wobbly smile formed on Juke's face. He totally gets me.

  Dre and Juke watched everyone walk on then ran around the side of the building. Dre knelt behind the bushes and pulled out the bag they took from those thugs. What sins could they find to get into?

  "I hope they have something good to smoke and nothing crappy." Juke muttered as he unzipped the bag. He was hoping for something to take his mind off of life for a while.

  "Just hurry up. We can't be late and risk Hana coming up to the school." Dre urged with a cringe, a chill going up his spine just thinking of the embarrassment.

  Once Juke got it opened, he stilled. What is this? Filling the bag was small tubes with blue liquid inside of them. Juke's face creased in confusion and curiosity. He had no idea what that substance could be, but it wasn't what he was expecting.

  "Check this out." Juke said, lifting a tube for Dre to see. The glass was cold against his palm as he swished the substance around.

  The older boy frowned, grabbing the item. "What the hell is it?" He asked, shaking the tube lightly.

  "Hell if I know," Juke grumbled.

  As Dre went to smell the tube, a deep growl rumbled from his chest growing louder. The boy eyes grew bright as his sharp canines bared dangerous with a growl vibrating in his throat. He unconsciously snapped out in a bite.

  Juke jerked aside giving the older teen a startled look. His frowned eyes stared at Dre concerned, "Hey, man. You good?" He asked.

  Dre, startled as well, just shook his head, dropping the tube back in the bag. "I.. I don't know. Whatever that is, my wolf don't like it, at all."

  A perplexed look overtook Juke's face as he slowly turned back to the bag and started digging around looking for some drugs or hooch. I know they have something other than that stuff. What is that anyway and why would they have it. Why is it making Dre react like that? His mind was in a frenzy before his body froze as something shiny grabbed his attention. "Dre, you gotta see this." The boy whispered out opening the bag wider.

  Inside, under the tubes were two weapons. Whatever it was looked like they were made with good techs. Juke's fingers brushed the weapon, shocked by how cold the metal was under his fingers. He lifted the object lightly, not expecting the slight weight of it to pull at his palm. It glistened under the sunlight.

  When Dre looked over, his eyes bulged as he gave Juke a look.

  Dre muttered, "Put it back and zip that bag up. We'll ask around later. Let's head on to school."

  Juke pouted, the wolfy Dre making him frown in concern. What's his deal? I really needed something to take the edge off. Not arguing, he zipped the bag up and pushed it back under the bushes. Those thugs said they worked for someone new, didn't it? What kind of dangers do they bring? What is going on? Something was brewing and it was more than just the thugs in the streets.

  The two got up and made their way to school.

  ...

  Inside of a wide dark warehouse, three people sat up on a platform. One of them sat further back, shrouded in the darkness, with only his piercing blue eyes glaring through. His tatted knuckles tapped along the arm of his seat. On the ground, a room full of men adorning purple and black clothing watched in quiet anticipation.

  Standing before the three men were the two thugs -from the teen's altercation- with a bright spotlight beaming down on them.

  The man in the center spoke up, silencing the room completely. "So, where are my items?"

  The two thugs glanced at each other nervously, before one answered, "These two punks took it."

  The man on the right let out a laugh, "You mean to tell us that you let two people take something from you?"

  The leader lifted his strong hand and snapped his fingers, the ricocheting sound silencing the floor. His eyes never wavered from the thugs, locking onto them. The energy in the room shifted as building started to heat up. "Where, are my items?"

  "I'm sorry boss, but those punks took them, but we can them back." The thug yelled out, his voice rattled with nervousness.

  The other one nodded his head quickly, "Yeah. It was that Okoyeshi survivor. We can make them pay."

  The woman to the left on the platform squinted her eyes. "The Okoyeshi clan survivor? He's a kid."

  The man on the right chuckled, this time it came out a little dark. "You got robbed by a kid?"

  The thugs shook their heads in defense, with sweat dripping down their faces. "No, boss, ya'll don't understand. There was another boy with him. He wore the flag of the late Kano tribe, so I'm pretty sure that means that he's the wolf." The thug tried to explain. At the mention of the Kano tribe, the man in the center eye's subtlety twitched in seeming recognition. The thug continued, "And that Okoyeshi boy, honestly, that boy is truly scary."

  The room grew silent as the other gang members listened intently. The thug's voice trembled as he recounted the encounter. "His eyes, they were like flames. And the way he moved, it was like he wasn't even human. They both were... terrifying."

  The two people on the platform looked to the man in the center.

  The tension was as hot the inside of building. The man slowly raised a hand, then pinched his fingertips together, except for the index finger. Light formed around his fingertips, and like an invisible force, sent a pulse through the two thug's bodies. Their posture instantly went rigid; taunt and stiff.

  "So, you stand before me telling me that two kids overpowered you and stole something that belonged to me... from you?" The man growled, his calm demeanor making him seem even more dangerous.

  The one on the left cringed her nose as she gave the men a disgusted look, "I heard that they instead ran, boss."

  "Do you fear him more than me?" The man asked out, his heavy voice echoed throughout the floor.

  The floor grew intense as everyone stared at the sniveling thugs unable to move. The thugs cried, "No boss!"

  With a flicker of his finger -Snap! Their bones bent in the wrong direction. The floor flinched as the men released painful howls.

  The leader fiddled his fingers, tapping them against his thumb like he was playing a symphony. The men limbs contorted, bending and breaking at each ligament. The crunching of bones and the men's painful cries flowed throughout the warehouse, causing many of the men to divert their horrified cringes. The boss continued to fiddle with his fingers before he clamped his hand shut, killing the thugs instantly.

  The mangled bodies crashed to the ground. The boss relaxed back into his seat as some of the gang members went to grab the carcasses and dispose of the bodies.

  "Roc, Killa." The man in the center, the boss, called to the two people seating by him. "It's time for the next phase."

  They nodded. The leader raised his hand to dismiss the meeting, and then the main light shut off.