When the Wolves Call

I was passing through the poor streets, but there was a difference from how it was earlier. No one was outside. The sun was setting behind the mountain, and that's when the Wolves come out. Not literal wolves, but a dangerous gang.

They call themselves "Tragico Destino," which roughly translates to 'Doom,' or 'Tragic Fate,' but the locals call them Wolves, sense they prey on those who are dumb enough to wander around during the night. I am unfortunately one of the dunces right now, although I try not to stay out past sunset out here.

The Wolves, like many in the poor area, aren't very well educated. They are also unreliable if you are looking for them to do a job for you, but they will reliably murder you if they find any reason to.

The city refuses to do anything about them. This way of handling crime is very different, and sort of new. It's only select states that do this is my country. The city won't throw out any of them, unless there is a formal complaint about the conduct of certain individuals. If the court rules that they have broken laws against the City, they won't throw them in prison, they throw them out. Usually I'd say this was a horrible idea, but only about 25% survive once they've been thrown out. When it's winter, that number drops to 10%. It's a rough world out there. If they had prison, they'd at least be fed.

Now because of these weird ways of handling crime, it's always dangerous to go out at night. No one even bothers to report them either. Reports are recorded in public records, so to find out who reported who, all you need to do is look at the records. This enables Wolves to eliminate those who dare report them, and the city would be none the wiser.

The city is working on fixing it without having to reconstruct their whole justice system. Honestly, all they have to do is give the citizens a way to anonymously report crime, and leave it out of public records, or maybe even put in some sort of protection system, but that would cost them quite a lot of money, money they don't want to spend. Maybe it's a lost cause, but it sure is a change that needs to come.

Anyway, I'm passing through, and this woman gets in front of my carriage. I'm not going fast, so I'm able to stop. She looked old, and frail, probably not really aware of where she is.

I thought about giving her a ride to her house, but that would be a hassle, and I don't have enough time anyway. I still have a bedtime after all. I can't let one woman throw my schedule off.

I tried to go around her but she kept getting in the way. I got frustrated with her, so I hopped off my carriage to confront her. That was my first mistake.

"Oi!" I shouted. "What are ya' doin'?"

She didn't say a word. She only stared. She was cotton-eyed, and I presumed her to be drunk. I thought that was the reason for her irrational behavior, so I tried directing her off the road. That was my second mistake.

As soon as I touched her, I heard a voice yelling "Oi! That's my granny you're pushin'!" I turned to see a trio walking out from an alley. It was a setup.

"Get off me granny stronzo!" The leader of the trio yelled.

I could see they had knives. They weren't dull like that idiot at the village, so they were actually a threat.

"I'm not pushin' her, friend." I said. He scoffed and tilted his head.

"I know what I saw." He said, raising his arms. "Hand over your money cagna."

I pulled my own knife out. I backed up behind the old hag and grabbed her shoulder, and then I raised my knife to her neck. I told you, they aren't very smart. If they were, they would've accounted for this.

They acted tough at first, I wasn't pushing against the granny's neck.

"Idiota!" They laughed. "You think you scare us?"

I didn't say a word, but I did bring my knife closer and closer to her neck as they approached. Eventually they got worried.

"Hey man, put down the knife, alright?" They'd ask, but to no avail. I'd only keep pushing harder.

I felt liquid run down my hand as the granny winced, but I never looked down. I kept my attention on the trio.

"Hey calm down!" One commanded, as the other pleaded, "please stop cutting her neck!" I wouldn't stop though. I just kept pressing harder, and harder, and harder. Suddenly though I heard another voice, a third party.

"Lance!" They yelled. "Che diavolo stai facendo?!"

I looked up to see Augustine. He looked worryingly at me, holding the old woman hostage. I let her go, and she ran to the three men, and they ran off.

My brother stared at me in shock. I had never expected him to see me doing such an act. His jaw was ajar, and he looked like he had seen a ghost. That 'ghost' was me. That worry turned into concern, and that concern turned into fear. His sweat glowed in the dying sunlight while the sun was being obstructed by the mountains as it set.

I quickly got back onto my horse, and moved along out of the city. My brother just stayed and watched as I left, horrified that his own brother could do that to someone.

I got out of the city. The vendors on the outside were starting to pack up, and go back to their plot. I got to a guard that marked my leaving of the city. But he was confused, as he pointed at my hand.

"Mind explaining Mr. Gannon?" He asked. I looked down at my hand and remembered the blood that trickled down it when I was cutting the neck of the woman.

"Oh that," I explained. "I was helping my old friend cut a dead pig! It does make for quite the mess!" I smiled cheerfully. I was suspicious, but he believed me.

"Have a good night sir." He said, smiling a fake smile, and he let me on my way.

What an inconvenience today has been.