Protection Fees

***

Back to present,

Chris just got back from work, and jumped on his bed, his legs and arms were hurting so much that he was constantly in pain.

"Stupid younger me, why did you make such a promise to Sophie when you couldn't even finish high school? Who the heck would hire someone like you and pay you decently?"

Sighing, the 22 years old Chris was thinking about the same thing again.

His promise with Sophie.

After five years passed, she probably forgot about it already, but Chris didn't.

Since he didn't finish his studies, Chris had a hard time finding a decent job, and he could only find those that require daily presence and paid him per work done, not per hour.

The first time he cleaned a whole 3-Star restaurant' bathroom stall, it took him around eight hours, and he got paid 80 UEC. The announcement said he will get paid 400 UEC though.

Asking why, Chris was told that it was because of his low studies, and that he should be happy that they were even willing to pay him something.

As such… His life never got better even after Sophie helped him escape that shit hole back then.

Right now, Chris was staying in the city neighbouring his birth city Pallas, called Gheza.

Saying that he was a citizen living in the worst district was a praise, this was actually a slum. He could barely afford to have a room for himself.

'Let's see, I made about 1.100 UEC this month. Rent was 200, food and living expenses plus other bills were around 500, Bruno's food and my failure of a date were 100, the shitty clothes I bought were another 150…the total is… 950 UEC. I saved up 150 UEC this month, that's great!'

Knock knock!

Right as Chris finished counting his money, a few loud knocks were heard on his door, this made him remember that he forgot to pay the protection fees this month!

Protection fees for what? Of course, for the gangs around this slum that were fighting for power and territory!

If he walked carelessly and was spotted at the wrong time by the wrong people, Chris was going to get beaten, but if he paid the protection fees, they would let him walk around the neighbourhood.

'Shit! It's 100 UEC…'

"Don't make us break the door, we know you're here!" Hearing that, Chris quickly hid 40 UEC away and went to open the door.

Quickly stepping inside were three men wearing hoods and hideous grins on their faces.

"So? Where's our money little brat?" Asking this was a middle aged man with a scar on his right hand.

He was named Carlos and was renowned for being one of the roughest people in the district.

"Sir Carlos, here are the 100 UEC for this month!" Quickly presenting the bank notes to the man, Chris looked to be extremely scared.

"You made us wait too long at the door, give us 10 UEC as extra fees!" Laughing, Carlos went behind Chris and grabbed his shoulder playfully, but it still hurt him.

"S-Sir Carlos, I only have 111 UEC left, if I give you 110 UEC, I'll only have 1 more until last month… Please spare me, allow me to keep these 10 now and I'll give you 20 next month!"

Smack!

Carlos suddenly slapped Chris before his smile slowly faded from his face, "Kid, do you think I'm a fool? You probably have other money saved up, don't lie to me."

Hearing that, Chris's heart almost stopped for a second, but by living with such people for a long time, he already learned to control his facial expressions and he didn't let out anything to show on his face.

"I-I don't have anything left! I swear on my mom's life! Please believe me!" Quickly trying to grab Carlos's leg and beg the man, Chris was only met with a foot in his face.

'Mm…' He couldn't help but try to feel his lips, the taste of blood inside his mouth was clear as day.

"Kid, shut the fuck up already and bring me the money. We are members of a criminal organization that saw all kinds of things and people, don't think you can lie to me. Just give me those 110 UEC already and no one will say anything."

"Yeah, just get over it you little shit."

"Hurry up!" The other two men with Carlos also shouted at Chris, they were starting to lose their patience and were prepared to take something out of their pockets.

Seeing that, Chris quickly tried to compose himself and took out his wallet. Handing Carlos 110 UEC, Chris couldn't help but sob for a while.

Witnessing his breakdown, the trio scoffed at him before getting out and closing the door behind; the last thing those brutes wanted to hear was a young man crying.

Once those three left, Chris stopped sobbing and looked at the door, hatred apparent in his eyes.

'You fucks, one day I'll make sure to kill you.' Swearing, Chris slowly got up from the floor and made way back to his room.

There, his good old friend Bruno was limping on the floor. His precious friend was only left with two legs and couldn't even bark anymore after that robber gave him one stab in the neck, and four at his hind legs.

Suddenly overtaken by sadness after Bruno seemed to feel his mood and tried to lick him to make him feel better, Chris only sighed as he patted him.

'If only I had money back then to send Bruno to that freaking surgery, he wouldn't have lost his hind legs and vocal chord…'

Taking slow breaths, Chris gently laid on the floor alongside Bruno, resting his head on the dog's stomach.

Bruno also got in a sleeping position and calmed down after Chris did that.

Both of them were calm and tried to rest after such a bad day.

Slowly, their tiredness overtook them, and both fell asleep on the dirty floor.

Will the fate of the miserable human and his loyal dog ever change?

The two of them didn't think so…