Pleasure and Pain Part 5

Ricochet Pov

I guess it's true what they say about near-death experiences. They do make your life flash before your eyes. Because despite my state of shock, I couldn't help but remember a time long past. I don't know about the other Cons, but I've been a member of the lower levels of Krimo all my life. I didn't have any biological family or any guardian looking for me. This means that if no one knew my name, I had to make one, and so I did: Frank Pidima.

The only people I've ever looked out for were some other orphans like me who did everything they could to survive. We only had our own two feet, and our kleptomaniac's hands feature that we used to full effectiveness. For years on end, we plagued our little district with the legend of crafty freerunning thieves that couldn't get caught if they tried.

Out of all them, though, my powers, build, talent, and naturally good looks made me the de facto ace of the group, saving our asses more than once. But I would be dishonest if I said I didn't get off from the thrill. Whenever I made that jump between pleasure and pain, I couldn't help but get excited.

This is probably why when our numbers grew in size, we decided to try and give the middle levels a try. It wasn't too much, unlike Eternus' little scheme, except there was a huge difference; there was no rule number 2 in our creed. Like so many times before, we ran for dear life, hopping over boundaries and passengers like it was hopscotch.

But one of us couldn't keep up, eventually getting captured by the police. I called out to the others while running back, fighting all of the cops on as best as I could, but no help ever came, not even from the one I saved. And just like that, for a simple robbery and resistance to arrest, I somehow ended up ten years in prison. And as I sat in that cell for what felt like untold days, I had an epiphany.

What is the point of effort in the end? After all, limitations are put the day you're born in this society, and most die far before reaching their goal. And no matter what you do, people are far too selfish to recognize the efforts of others anyway. So why not see what life gets me when I play by its rules?

For months I stupored out in the brand new world with drugs, alcohol, and more drugs, turning my body into a ruined temple. And one day, when I found myself so passed out that I didn't even know my name. Eternus found me and gave me an offer I couldn't refuse.

"If you want to sleep and drink all day, go ahead; I'll accept you at your best and worst so as long as you do a little work for me."

And that was all it took; after all, no matter what comes, if you have no expectations from someone, you can't be disappointed when it all comes crashing down, right? So little did I know that the madlad would impress me beyond any measure.