1 I

As a human, one shouldn't be wandering around outside at night at times like this. Many things can happen at the same time that one innocent mind can't comprehend.

Samty certainly wasn't the type to roam around alone like this. He clearly knew all of this 'accidents' and well knowledgeable that it is very unkind to one's eyes but he still didn't find himself to care enough. As a child raised in the streets, these things are not uncommon to his eyes and never really had an impact to his kid's mind. For almost eighteen years of his life in the town, things like this were one of his daily life. But the day he spent earlier when the sun rises might be kind of a different one since the man he thought was his father until yesterday lost the life on his eyes against his limp arms. It's tragic and he wanted to mourn for long and longer hours but circumstances forbids him to.

The starry night hanging above the numerous kinds of roofs blinks gorgeously down the town of Loares. The cheerful whirs of the engines and murmurs of the people it has earlier had been replaced by an eerie silence before the sun had fully retire for the day. The heat rays of the bright sun that meets the ground had now been substituted by the yellow warm light of countless street lamps. He rubs his nose as he shivers from the biting chilly wind that passes through his thin excuse for a clothing long sleeve shirt that did nothing to keep his body away from it. But what can a homeless man do if your stomach's been begging for food since midday?

Samty groans and hugs his self down an alleyway. He wouldn't really be here standing like a withering plant if he collect himself this noon and scavenged for food til supper. But he didn't and so he was left nothing to do but soothe his angry organ this late at night. The lamp that adorns an eatery far back a couple of steps away illuminates the wall in front of him. He and his known father almost passes by here everyday that he already knew the place belongs to that man that always sends them away every time they sit beside the construction to entertain people and hopefully get some earnings from it. He peeks out the edge of the alleyway he's in when he saw a shadow casted upon the light opposite of him.

Samty found an opportunity.

He crouched down and let his body be hidden in the shadows of the bins and trash, his only companion at his misery in his excuse for a life he is currently living.

'What's the point of going through this kind of life if you're going to die anyway?'

He groaned once again when his stomach grumbles for food for the nth time. Remembering at the process that the man told him yesterday at his deathbed that he should continue his own life and find his place in this town. He definitely knew there is no place for rats like him in here. The way everyone around the area, who knew them, where they usually sleep at night throws him nasty looks sends everything the man wants him to do down the pit of fire.

Samty waited patiently with a grimace on his dry lips as a hand fists his grumbling stomach. Angry to what his human doing and not giving him something to digest.

He narrowed his eyes to see clearly between the gap of the bins and found himself not disappointed when the man that is now twisting the key to lock door has a basket resting on the pavement beside him with two long breads peeking out from it. His stomach gave a furious sound out of hunger and the lack of food hits his head immediately, sending his eyes to be unfocused for a second. But before anything can happen, like the last time he vomited that bitter liquid out of his system from the same reason or be dizzy enough to not dare move his head even for the slightest bit, he took action and skillfully leapt out from his hiding place to crawl his way near his target.

His mind is completely concentrated of not giving his self away from the aforementioned man, and it was then on that fleeting moment that he felt a pair of eyes following his every movement. Looking at him with such intensity that leaves him to stop his track just a couple of steps away from the man. His barefoot limbs accidentally hit a lone small stone on the pavement that made a hollowed sound somewhere from his sudden halt. Not very keen to be seen at his vulnerable state, he skidded his way to plant his body down the nearest wall he can camouflage on before the man snap his face up from the sound. It's not like it's a futile way to hide himself but once the latter decided to see what had cause the commotion in this dead of the night and walks a two or three steps he will definitely be seen, and both is not gonna be happy if he will be caught.

But at last he turn around after only staring blindly at his position and with a last twist of the knob on the door, he went for his car to finally go home and surrenders the night. The eyes that were staring at him still didn't left after the whirring engine of the vehicle abandoned the silence circling around him. It's strong and heavy against his shoulder. The grumbling of his stomach has been long gone ignored to be replaced by full confusion. His head is bowed and his muddy feet is very clear for his eyes to see under the dim lights of the lamps scattered at the vicinity. His ears attentively reaching for any indication that he isn't the only breathing creature at the moment as his skin still prickles from the stare he is getting.

It's quiet—he's alone in the dark and deadly silence of the night so why does his mind is telling him that he wasn't the only one hiding behind the shadows? And if ever he isn't alone, why bother stay in the shadows and just stare at him? Why stare at him?

His senses can never fail him but he's still not chancing a glance to look around, afraid of the horror he would find.

Samty cage his lower lip between his teeth. Doing all his best not to breath loudly, not daring to break the continuing silence floating on the air. His body still glued on the wall and cold sweat dribbling down his nape. His heartbeat is skyrocketing and he can hear every pulse in his ear loudly, it's deafening. But surprisingly, he's not afraid. Not even shivering down to his bones at the moment.

'What..?'

He blinks blindly from this sudden thought.

' Run '

Samty worked his limbs and sprints away.