SMF Chapter 1 - My territory, my rules

Deep blue colored car showed up in front of the Main House, across the street. Everyone in the area were watching, guarding. From shadows. It wasn't so rare to see outsiders here, in streets of this slum-like area called Kerdon where people from outside the society, poors and outcasts gather to live. But this one reek of cops. Not that cops were a direct threat to ones living here, but what cops could bring with them.. Sanctions were always harmful.

Someone steps out of the car. A man wearing a dark light jacket start moving around his car, eyeing his phone, like searching a way, trying to decide what to do and where.

"Free?" young dark haired boy calls quietly when it start to seem like man wasn't about to leave any time soon. Boy turns his look toward the older guy who was standing nearer the end of the alley, also eyeing the man intently.

"Don't worry. I'm on it," young man turns his look to this worried boy, smiling, petting now his head to calm him. Then he makes his move and steps out from the alley, giving two young boys behind him this simple order. "Move into sight so he can see you. Stay calm."

Walking now confidently closer toward the man who was still eyeing his phone, next to his car, Free takes a deep breathe in and out, ready to bring out a show. He puts his act-smile on. "Can I help you, sir?" he finally speaks out loud, to take mans attention.

Man turns to look the comer, carefully eyeing his appearance. A blonde, young man was wearing a casual white shirt with v-neckline, blue ripped jeans. Pair of sunglasses. This fresh and clean outfit made him look like a normal teen, not like one of the usual residents from poor slum area man was assuming to meet in this side of the city, according to his long experience. Kid didn't look like a threat, so older man was instantly showing a smile back, being willing to talk back.

"You seem lost, sir. Freaking the kids out so..," young man keeps and nods toward the alley where these two younger boys stood, staring carefully back, showing the man the blond guy was not alone. "Care to tell me why you are here? You parked your car in front of our orphanage." Free stops his steps, properly meeting the man with a wider, friendly smile. 

"Oh, yes. I'm not anyone suspicious," man states calmly and searchs his chest pocket, shows his official badge. He was one of the public officers, from police. "I'm just looking for someone. Had a hint he might have been seen this very area in the long run."

Eyeing the badge curiously, younger man hums. "Well if it's for the law and peace we are willing to help as much as we can," he shows this nice and polite face, giving out he was just one friendly citizen, willing to help a man in duty.

"I didn't know there was an orphanage in this area," man admits, feeling a little confused but also glad. If some, then the runners of the orphanage must know the residents living around. They were worth to talk with. "If I may speak to the head of your household? There is no need a young man like you to-"

"Our mother is not here today," young man suddenly clears. "That is why I had to come to you myself. I am the oldest here so.. And I have lived here my whole life. I can help."

Sounding a little depressed-like, kid must take his responsibility seriously. Man kept staring at him a while, thinking his options. "Well, this is not really a big deal so I can let you help me with this then," he finally sighs out, smiling. It was better than nothing.

Young mans smile seem to turn happier after hearing that. Maybe letting this young man take a little bit responsibility of his younger siblings and his homearea by helping a police officer might be the key to lead him to the right path of life. So the older man drops his charges and finally shows this printed photo to Free.

"He is called Aki. The photo is old, but he should be around fiveteen years old now. Natural, dark brown hair. Has a scar behind his left ear from removed tattoo. Have you seen anyone"

Young guy was carefully eyeing the photo, thinking. "No offence but this photo is not so helpful..," he smirks relaxedly, pointing out the photo was very poor quality. Which it was, since it was old and clearly a shot from some security camera. "But I know SomeONE called Aki. He is about the same age. Could be him.."

"I would appreaciate if you could take me to him."

"I'm sorry. As much as I would love to there is one problem," Free smiles apologizing. "This 'Aki' is part of the gang, you know. If he has done something and I get involved.. I live with orphans so.."

Man nods, understanding. He wasn't here to bring troubles to poor citizens who already have it hard. Hearing this much was more than enough for now. "Okay. I understand. Can't be too cautious with gangmembers."

Young man hums. Then takes a step closer, lowing his voice a little. "But if it's any help I can at least tell where he lives..."

- - - -

An hour later the red brick building next to the Main House aka orphanage was surrounded by cops. First there was just one car. Then two more with their sirens on. Now an ambulance. The scene was something you usually never saw in slum area. Mostly because no one bothered to come here even if someone was in serious need of help. That was the barren truth. Something every single one living here knew.

"I heard some cop tried to chat with Binny," young man with a light brown hair states, eyeing the scene further from them. He was the oldest in their household, Kain. A runaway kid who had also found his temporary place to live in this very 'orphanage'. With him were the same two younger boys who witnessed the moment the cop in question arrived on the scene. They were all standing in front of their house on the side walk, watching the chaos at next door like watching some tv show. "I bet Binny beat the hell out of him. And drag the whole gang of troopers here. Even if it's nothing to do with us, those shit hats always bring problems with them.."

"Was it the same cop Free talk with?" other little boy, Dino, wonders while leaning to the back of his hand, sitting on the first stair which connect to the wide terrace in front of the buildings front door.

"Free?" Kain repeats the name snoring. "Should have knew he's involved.."

"Wow, that looks fun..," fourth person was calmly walking toward them from the back of the building, also eyeing the blue and red lights around the area, showing this wide and cute smile of his. Other three turn to look at him after hearing his voice. The blonde young man with white shirt and jeans on him walks next to Kain, not dropping his staring from the show further. "Someone actually died?"

"Free! What did you do?" Tim, the other of two boys asked whispering. "That cop you talked earlier was beaten!"

"I know that much," Free answers calmly, giving a pile of cash to Tim. "I also sold his car." After hearing him admiting that everyone stare him unbelieving.

"Whatta fuck! That's too bold!" Kain tsihs. "That was a cop, for Gods -"

"I couldn't help it. He was too easy," young man just states and walks pass the others, walking the steps up on the stairs, still eyeing the cars and people making a fuss at next door.

"If Binny finds out it was you, you are screwed," Kain points out back. Free usually wasn't this bold, at least not around their own neighborhood. One mistake would doom 'em all.

"Then don't sell me out," Free smirks and finally turns his look away, walking toward the front door to get in.

- - -

Just two days later this new nuisance appeared to disturb the peaceful life of Kerdon. Another unknown vehicle was driven in front of the Main House, across the street, once again. The very same place where the slum-orphans live. This time no one get out of the car. Just parking still. Like waiting. Keeping guard.

Since it was summertime, it was hot in the middle of the day. You couldn't run the heat in this concrete hell. Free was walking toward Kerdon, been working on way too long 'night shift' and now finally ready to bed. He usually woke up around these hours so he felt damn exhausted. But when you could find a job to get paid from, you can't be too picky but just go with it. Getting money was everything here.

While living in streets, there were three kind of jobs someone like Free could do to make a living; stealing, dealing and simple selling his body. Compared to others he had one advantage; his godly good looking appearance. Having his mothers genes. Being young and handsome, or more like beautiful, was more than helpful here.

That was both very useful and very unfortunate. Since his face was also the very reason why he live in streets now. When he was younger, his addicted mother sold him out to centlemen with little, troublesome hobbies. And being so used to it, ironically, years later, he was still doing the same. For the money.

Well, Free had his reasons. One was the place where he was living now. Kerdon. It was a small part of the sidecity where poorer inhabitants live, including outcasts like Free. There lies The Main House, as Free called it. 'Run' by Frees landlord, Lady Blue. A heroin addict who a few years ago had inherit some premises around, including this old hostel building. Along with them there live four other kids as well. And for the sake of having this save place to live, they have to do their share of collecting money.

They were all young, between ten to seventeen. Someway somehow Free has slowly became their so called Leader, albeit he was around sixteen years old himself, not the oldest. Well, he was the first one here. He knew how to make money from streets. Knew people. After spending five years in streets have teach a lot. He has build his own good reputation too. Knowing his ways around. The whole south area of their city being his backyard.

What else Free could have done, but keep pushing his way forward in streets. He had nowhere else to go. Nowhere else to live. He has had some issues with cops and social workers so he didn't trust public authorities. And against the byrocracy his changes were zero; basically Free didn't even exist. He died five years ago, when he end up living here. At least he himself liked to think so. And if you went even further Free never exist in the first place. He was not in any register. Has never officially born. He was a ghost. Born and raised in shadows.

Stealing for living, way or other, that was all he could do to survive. In the end it wasn't so bad if you were good at it. And the place and his so called siblings were a big reason he could keep living in here. His 'brothers' were all he has. All what still could keep him from falling too deep in this dark world of streets.

"Free!" Tim calls him immediately when he spot the older guy finally coming back to their street. "There's another car!"

"My ass is killing me. Do I have to deal this now..?" Free mumbles while walking through the alley toward the younger kid, stopping his steps next to the side walk. Young man could spot the car parked across the street. He shows a bored look, yawning. "It's a cop. Probably here to check how things are after that incident next door. Let it be. He will be gone soon."

"If you say so..," Tim says and watchs Free walking up the outdoor stairs and disappearing inside the building. The Main House, as they called their home, was an old hostel building, with two main floors and the basement floor what was build underground. There used to be a nice dining room next to the professional kitchen area with professional appliances like stoves and deep fryers and so. But that scene was a long gone. Everything any valuable here has already been sold out. The area was kind of clean, but empty. Outsides of this building really looked nice and warm. But insides couldn't be more reverse.

Well, Free has always insist they kept the house clean. It was really empty from furnitures, but if someone from outside would walk in at any moment now, they would see this building was under care, not abandoned. Since they have a running water, showering once a day was his number one rule. They might be poor and unwanted, but they should not stop taking care of their hygiene because of that. When Free still lived out on streets, more than once he had to hear from random people around the city how he was filthy and stinky just because he was sitting on the alley or down the bridge.

He didn't want others experience the same. As long as he could get money, they could at least afford having luxuries like water and electricity and more. Including soap.

"Oye, Aki! Por favor, pasa!" Lady Blue smiles when she saw Free walk in the lobby. The skinny, flassy outfit wearing woman who looked double her age. That's how Free would describe the lady of the house. Red lipstick was her must-to-wear, day and night.

Blue wasn't so bad. Tried to act normal, like a caring aunt or so. But deep down she was rotten. All about the addiction she had. Free has known her for four years now and from his view this womans condition was worsening year after year. If kids want the place to live, she needed to be high. Then she was 'normal'.

"Don't call me that. No one uses that name anymore. Almost got in trouble because of that!" Free states annoyed and walks inside the room on the left from the lobby. This was Lady Blues so called area. When the other rooms on the middle floor were empty, this room was the opposite, looking like a poor junk store, full of items and ornaments which Free didn't even know why Blue obsessively wanted to collect them. Because of all the stuff in, the room was dusty. Blue also smoked inside her room, so the smell of tobacco have grown stuck at everything already.

"Tell me, was it your doings yesterday? The light show next door," Lady laughs teasing, speaking halfly Spanish.

"Not my fault. That bluebird was looking for me. Or what I was. Aki. Got the name and a surveillance camera photo of me. I didn't even know there was any photo..," Free sighs and sits down on the couch. "I just teach him not to bother and play his snoops here. Don't even know why he was looking for 'Aki'. After all these years.. He knew about my tattoo being removed. Guess the artist who you ask to remove it told him. But freaking why.."

"Maybe some relative is looking for you?"

"Yeah, right. Don't have any. And even if I had, that wouldn't change a thing," Free also changes to speak spanish with her. That used to be his mother tongue too. Very useful when living on streets, since streets were full of people speaking both English and Spanish.

"Free. Everyone wants to get out from the streets. If you find a change you have to take it. You are a smart kid. Try to reach higher."

"Hah. What change someone like me would ever find? I have no place in Their world. Besides, what you would do if I wasn't around anymore?" he says and hands a small white bag to Blue. Changes back to English. "I got your order. And have the money for the week."

"What have you done this time? Did you sell yourself again mocoso?!" Blue rudes after she had count the money. "You are still doing it? There are many other ways to get this shit! Thinking about THAT makes me sick."

"Does it matter how I get the money. You are just jealous of my beauty," Free answers back while getting up. He has heard that nacking many times before. Knowing it really didn't mean anything when Blue talk about it. She herself wasn't any better when it comes to things they have done for money. "I will go to my room. My shift is over."