The Alleyway Brawl, Three Years Ago

The blow connected with the left side of my face, sending me rolling across the alleyway. The men snickered, "well, guess what you shouldn't have done. It's a pity you are so weak, otherwise this would be kind of fun. Don't you think, boys?"

Everyone nodded and yelled in agreement. I tried to stand back up, only to be kicked backwards, towards the wall. I picked up an old baseball bat, throwing it at the head of my assailants. It missed heavily. Then again, what do you expect from a thirteen year old kid, who hadn't had a decent meal since noon that day?

I crawled backwards up the wall, barely standing. The men laughed, "kid, you shoulda just payed the bill. Then, I wouldn't have to kill you. That's what you get when you mess with Big Gus!"

His gang of cronies laughed, agreeing and cheering. It sickened me to see people like this. People who couldn't care about others. These are the people I hate.

Another sharp blow connected with the side of my face, knocking me against the wall. If anyone could see this, they would know that I needed help. But in reality, they couldn't care less about me. It's easy to watch someone who you don't know die, after all. They've never done anything to help you, and you've never done anything to help them. They're a complete stranger.

I slammed into the ground, groaning. The men snickered, before Big Gus picked me up, "now, let this be a lesson to you, boy. Next time we get into a fight, I won't let you live. I'll just kick you till you die. Make sense?"

I could smell the booze in his breath. He was probably a late night gambler, like the men who took my entire fortune from my father. All with the roll of the die.

"Then go ahead and kill me, you cocky bastards. But after, I'll just haunt you, until the very day you die and go to Limbo, where each and every one of you belong."

He grinned, "you think you can intimate me, boy? You think you can fight me, the meanest on the streets? The biggest guy in all of the Sukaibei? That's real funny."

"Nah, you're not the meanest. If you think that, then wait till Madem Elizabeth gets her hands on you. After all, she could pin you with her eyes closed."

He laughed, "you mean that orphanage hag? She couldn't even lift a finger against me. And why would she? After all, you're just another worthless mouth to feed, just like the rest of the kids on this damn planet!"

I smiled weakly, "because, I praise Leonidas, the High Chancellor of Illdonise! He runs this country, and takes orders directly from the gods!"

Gus threw me into the streets, before spitting on me, "oh yeah? Run along, kid. After all, you're blood is worthless if it's on my hands."

I tried to walk, but accidentally bumped into someone. I looked up to apologise, and the man grabbed my shoulder, "kid, you wait here. I could care less that you bumped into me. But as for these men," he stood, the six foot figure blocking the sunlight out, "have harmed a child of the Terrastone Family, and now, they deserve death."

I didn't realize what the man was saying at the time, but it was only a few days later that I was officially part of the family. My new and improved family.