The city was Brassvale, but nobody called it that. Everyone around here called it Blenc. Some said it was short for \u201cblend,\u201d because it blended broken dreams with broken people. Others swore it was a bastardization of an old factory name long since boarded up. Whatever the truth, the name stuck like the smog that clung to its streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For seven-year-old Jahnny, Blenc was all he\u2019d ever known. His world was a patchwork of cracked pavement, rusted streetlights that flickered more than they shone, and towering buildings that seemed to lean in on themselves as if tired of standing. Even in the daylight, the city looked like it was in a permanent state of dusk, shadows stretched long across graffiti-covered walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That evening, Jahnny was outside on the stoop with his older sister, Lila, who had just turned nine. She sat with her knees pulled to her chest, chewing on her thumbnail while Jahnny flipped a busted baseball in his hand. \u201cThink this used to belong to someone famous?\u201d he asked, holding the scuffed-up ball toward her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lila glanced at it and rolled her eyes. \u201cYeah, probably Dave Swoot\u2019s. He left it here just for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe he did,\u201d Jahnny said with a grin. He tossed the ball against the stoop wall and caught it on the rebound. Behind them, the faint crack of a bat hitting a bottle rang out from the alley, where neighborhood kids were playing their own version of baseball. Jahnny could hear their laughter and cheers, but he didn\u2019t join them. His mother had told him to stay close. \u201cDon\u2019t want you getting caught up with the wrong crowd,\u201d she\u2019d said, though to Jahnny, everyone in Blenc felt like the wrong crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMom said to come inside before it gets dark,\u201d Lila muttered. \u201cYou know how Dad gets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny shrugged. \u201cHe\u2019s not home yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the problem,\u201d Lila said, her voice quieter this time. She stood up and brushed dirt off her patched jeans. \u201cC\u2019mon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside, the apartment smelled faintly of burnt toast and baby powder. The kitchen felt smaller every time Jahnny stepped into it. The wallpaper sagged in long, curling strips, revealing water stains that spread like the cracks in their lives. Near the sink, a steady drip echoed through the room, each drop landing in a chipped ceramic mug left to catch the leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clara sat slouched on the couch in the adjacent room, flipping through a magazine she\u2019d read a hundred times before. Her chipped nail polish and the magazine\u2019s frayed edges were both fading testaments to things that once mattered more. At thirteen, Clara barely lived at home anymore. She spent most nights at her boyfriend\u2019s place\u2014\u201cfriend\u201d being a generous word for a guy in his thirties who sold car parts out of his garage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marie was in the kitchen, bouncing the youngest of the siblings, little Betsy, on her hip. Betsy had just turned one last week, though there hadn\u2019t been much of a celebration. A store-bought cupcake with a single candle was all they could afford. Jahnny had eaten half of it when Betsy got distracted, her baby teeth struggling with the frosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJahnny, wash your hands before you sit at the table,\u201d Marie said, her voice weary but steady. She was sitting in the corner chair, her blouse unbuttoned just enough to let Betsy nurse. Her face was drawn tight with exhaustion, and though her dark curls were pinned back, loose strands framed her face in disheveled chaos. One hand supported the baby, while the other absentmindedly rubbed at a stain on her faded apron, a futile effort against years of wear and tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny sighed and headed to the bathroom. The faucet sputtered to life, spitting out cold water in uneven bursts. He rubbed the grime off his hands and dried them on his jeans, knowing better than to waste one of the few clean towels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the time he got back, Garth had stumbled through the front door. Jahnny froze in the hallway as the familiar sound of his father\u2019s boots thudded against the worn floorboards. \u201cMarie!\u201d Garth barked, his voice already slurred. \u201cWhere\u2019s the money?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the rent jar, where it always is,\u201d Marie replied sharply, without missing a beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat jar\u2019s got nothin\u2019 in it but pennies,\u201d Garth snapped. \u201cI need real money. Not this kid crap.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all that\u2019s left,\u201d Marie said, setting Betsy down in the playpen. \u201cYou gambled away the rest, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019d you say to me?\u201d Garth\u2019s voice dropped, low and dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny could see his mother\u2019s back from where he stood, straight and unyielding. She didn\u2019t flinch. \u201cI said you gambled it away. We got nothing left, Garth. Nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou think you\u2019re better than me?\u201d he snarled, stepping closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny didn\u2019t realize Lila was standing behind him until she grabbed his arm and tugged him toward their shared bedroom. \u201cCome on,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clara didn\u2019t follow. She stayed on the couch, arms crossed, glaring at their father with a boldness that made Jahnny\u2019s stomach twist. He wanted to tell her to stop, to come with them and stay quiet. But he didn\u2019t say a word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once inside the bedroom, Jahnny flopped onto the mattress he shared with Lila. She sat down next to him, hugging her knees to her chest. \u201cI hate him,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t say that,\u201d Jahnny mumbled, though he didn\u2019t sound convinced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a waste of space,\u201d Lila said, louder this time. \u201cMom would be better off without him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The words stung, even if Jahnny couldn\u2019t disagree. Still, he hated hearing anyone talk about their dad like that. Even if Garth was mean and loud and drank too much, he was still their dad. And some part of Jahnny still wanted to believe he could be better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The yelling from the kitchen rose to a fever pitch before cutting off abruptly. Jahnny held his breath, waiting for what came next. But instead of a crash or a slap, there was only the sound of boots stomping toward the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It slammed shut behind Garth, leaving an uneasy silence in its wake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Much later, after the apartment had sunk into its usual uneasy silence, Jahnny slipped out onto the fire escape. The metal was icy under his hands, biting his palms as he pulled himself up. He perched on the edge, cross-legged, his thin frame silhouetted against the weak orange glow of the streetlights below and invisible from the railways that ran the city’s higher sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The skyline of Blenc stretched out before him, a jagged silhouette of crumbling rooftops and leaning smokestacks. Above it all, the stars tried to shine through the choking smog. Jahnny squinted, trying to count them, but they flickered like dying embers, faint and fragile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the point of making wishes,\u201d he muttered to himself, \u201cwhen the stars can barely breathe?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Behind him, the window creaked open, and Lila\u2019s voice broke through the quiet. \u201cYou\u2019ll catch a cold out here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny didn\u2019t turn around. \u201cDo you think they can hear us?\u201d he asked, pointing at the stars. \u201cIf we wished for something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Letting out a sigh, Lila sat beside him, tucking her knees to her chest. She didn\u2019t answer right away. \u201cMaybe,\u201d she said softly. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think they\u2019re listening to people like us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, but what if they do?\u201d Jahnny pressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lila hugged herself, her voice quieter now. \u201cThen I\u2019d wish Dad never came back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny didn\u2019t reply. He just stared at the stars, his tiny fingers gripping the edge of the fire escape until his knuckles whitened. {I don’t care about wishes,} he muttered in the back of his mind. {Wisehs don’t do nothin’. I just… I just want to be strong enough to make this stop.}<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The thought hit him like a punch to the chest. For the first time, he realized he didn\u2019t just want someone else to fix things\u2014not his mom, not Garth, not even some invisible star in the sky. He wanted to be the one who could stop the pain. Even if it meant becoming someone he didn\u2019t recognize. Nobody in Blenc could ever hurt his family again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny tightened the frayed laces on his too-small sneakers, his knobby knees poking out from holes in his jeans as he crouched on the cracked pavement. The alley behind their apartment building in Brassvale smelled like oil, damp cardboard, and something sour he tried not to think about. A few neighborhood kids dashed by, their laughter bouncing off the graffiti-covered walls, but Jahnny stayed where he was, focused on his game of stickball with Lila.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cQuit hoggin\u2019 the ball, Jahnny,\u201d Lila hollard, her hands on her hips and her face set in the same mock-serious expression their mom used when lecturing them. Her brown curls, tied back in a messy ponytail, bounced as she stomped one foot, a movement that would\u2019ve been intimidating if she weren\u2019t so small. Offering him a look of annoyance in the way only a big sister could. Lila was eleven now, practically a grown-up in her own mind, and not afraid to remind Jahnny of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny smirked, tossing the taped-up ball in the air and catching it with exaggerated ease. \u201cNot my fault you can\u2019t hit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can hit,\u201d Lila shot back, snatching up their makeshift bat\u2014a splintered broomstick that had seen better days. \u201cI\u2019m just waiting for you to actually pitch like a pro instead of like a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlright, fine,\u201d Jahnny said, mimicking the windup he\u2019d seen on TV in the laundromat window. \u201cHere comes the heater!\u201d He hurled the ball, and with a resounding crack, Lila sent it soaring over the dumpster and bouncing into the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHome run!\u201d she screamed, throwing her hands in the air. Jahnny stared in shock before breaking into laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat wasn\u2019t fair,\u201d he said, though he was grinning. \u201cThe dumpster\u2019s too close!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcuses, excuses,\u201d Lila teased, as Jahnny gave a smirk before sprinting towards the street to retrieve the ball, dodging piles of trash and\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n
~HOOUUNK!!~<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lila gasped as Jahnny just barely skidded to a stop before a car, falling to his knees at the last second, it’s horn forcing them both to jump, leaving Jahnny to grab his stomach as the car didn’t bother to stop, instead speeding off faster than he came.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The distant shouting of the driver didn’t bother Jahnny, most people in the city yelled. After a moment to catch his breath, he retrieved the ball and looked back to his sister, sticking his tongue at her in play-mockery, holding it up like a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWas almost as dangerous as your swing,\u201d he said, tossing the ball to Lila as he returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She snickered. \u201cBetter dangerous than boring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a puckish smile cutting across his face, Jahnny looked around, the thought of the park he would occasionally sneak off to crossing his mind for a moment before asking, \u201cYou wanna do something really dangerous?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking back to her brother, Lila paused and gave a light laugh as he exaggeratedly walked out of the alley, similar to how people in old cartoons would sneak around, on their tiptoes, waving for her to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wandering down the block, their feet dragging on the cracked and uneven sidewalk. The dim glow of streetlights cast long, flickering shadows, and the air carried the familiar smells of the Brassvale slums\u2014burnt grease, damp concrete, and a faint whiff of something metallic that Jahnny had never been able to place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old park loomed ahead, its rusted fence half-swallowed by weeds. Jahnny slowed his steps, his eyes scanning the empty space. The swings hung limp, their chains twisted like nooses in the wind. The slide, once gleaming silver, was scarred with graffiti\u2014angry slashes of thick letters spelling gang names and curses he didn\u2019t yet understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A single tire swing dangled from a splintered tree at the park\u2019s edge. It swayed gently, its rope frayed and ready to snap. Jahnny wondered if it would break under someone\u2019s weight, or if it would simply hang there forever, forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actually, it was fairly similar to their recently departed alley. Still, it was better than sitting on their stoop, waiting for Garth to come up with another excuse to yell or being confined to their closet-sized walkway where their ball would occasionally drift into traffic, one time even busting a windshield, though luckily their neighbor took the fall for that one as they had just tossed a remote out the window, also hitting the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His gaze lingered on the remains of a merry-go-round in the far corner, its paint chipped and peeling. It creaked softly in the breeze, spinning in slow, uneven circles\u2014like a memory of joy that refused to stay still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s sit over there,\u201d Lila suggested, pointing to a rusted bench near the edge of the park. Jahnny nodded, though his eyes darted to the small cluster of men loitering near the basketball court. Their voices were low, their movements sharp, and even at nine years old, Jahnny knew what they were doing. Everyone in Brassvale did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They sat side by side, Lila with a knee pulled up to her chest, the other kicking under her, and Jahnny fidgeting with the tennis ball in his hands. The night was quiet for a moment, save for the creak of the swings swaying in the breeze and the occasional muffled laugh from the men by the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou think it was always like this?\u201d Jahnny asked, gesturing to the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Lila tilted her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLike\u2026messed up. Do you think it was nice before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lila shrugged. \u201cI guess. Mom says things used to be different in Brassvale. Before people started moving away and the gangs took over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny squinted at the men by the court. \u201cWhy don\u2019t they fix it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho\u2019s \u2018they\u2019?\u201d Lila asked, her tone skeptical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI dunno,\u201d Jahnny admitted. \u201cLike\u2026grown-ups. The mayor or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lila snorted. \u201cThe mayor don\u2019t care about people like us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t know what to say to that. He bounced the ball against the pavement, letting the rhythm fill the silence before a shout broke the quiet causing both kids to tense. One of the men from the court was walking toward them. He was tall, lanky, with a mean smirk filled with gold, a typical grille, and a cigarette dangling from his lips, it’s ash desperately hanging on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat you kids doin\u2019 out so late?\u201d he asked, his voice low and gravelly. His eyes lingered on Lila, the type of look that the guys that hung around their apartment would give Clara growing up and it made his stomach tighten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re not botherin\u2019 nobody,\u201d Lila said quickly, her arms wrapping protectively around her knees as she pulled her second up in a defensive posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man chuckled, blowing out a plume of smoke. \u201cDidn\u2019t say you were, sweetheart. Just curious.\u201d His gaze swept over her, and Jahnny felt his hands ball into fists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLeave her alone,\u201d Jahnny said, standing up. His voice shook, but he planted his feet firmly, letting the ball fall under the bench they were on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man raised an eyebrow, amused. \u201cOh, we got ourselves a tough guy, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJahnny, don\u2019t,\u201d Lila whispered, grabbing his arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, listen to your sister,\u201d the man said, taking a step closer. \u201cYou\u2019re a little young to be playin\u2019 hero.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust leave us alone!\u201d Jahnny snapped. His face burned, but he refused to back down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man\u2019s smirk faded, replaced by a scowl. \u201cYou got a big mouth for a little kid.\u201d He flicked his cigarette to the ground and moved so fast Jahnny barely saw it coming. The first shove knocked him off balance, and he stumbled backward, his knees scraping against the pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, man, they\u2019re just kids,\u201d one of the other dealers called from the court, though he made no move to intervene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShut up, Eddie,\u201d the man growled before turning back to Jahnny. \u201cYou think you\u2019re smart, huh? Think you\u2019re gonna save the day?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny scrambled to his feet and swung his fist wildly, hitting the man\u2019s stomach. It felt like punching a wall, and the man barely flinched. A sharp slap across the face sent Jahnny sprawling to the ground, his cheek stinging and hot tears welling up in his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJahnny!\u201d Lila cried, moving to help him, but the man shoved her back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou wanna mess with me, huh?\u201d the man sneered, looming over Jahnny. \u201cThis ain\u2019t no fairy tale, kid. You\u2019re in Brassvale, where you either have the brass,” he said grabbing Jahnny by the collar and raising an arm. “Or you’re sent to the veil<\/strong>!” he whispered through a voice that one would assume could only come from a dimen before slamming his fist into Jahnny’s cheek, clicking his teeth and sending his face into the pavement they stood on with a sickening crack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey!\u201d A shout came from the court, louder this time. One of the other men started walking over, his hands raised. \u201cChill, Dee. They\u2019re just kids, man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dee snorted but backed off, spitting on the back of Jahnny’s head as he chocked on tears but manged not to let out a scream. \u201cKeep your punk ass outta my face,\u201d he muttered before walking back to the court, hands in his pockets and taking wide steps, as if to show dominance over the court itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lila helped Jahnny to his feet, her hands shaking. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny nodded, wiping the tears and snot from his face, though his head throbbed and his cheek felt like it was on fire. \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d He shakily let out, knowing he couldn’t show his sister that all he wanted to do was cry. Scream. Cry until his eyes fell out of his head and the only wetness to escape them was the blood from their sockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, you\u2019re not,\u201d Lila said, her voice breaking. \u201cYou\u2019re stupid, Jahnny. Why\u2019d you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He shrugged, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand a few more times, trying his best to hold back his feelings. \u201cHe was bein\u2019 a jerk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou could\u2019ve gotten us both hurt,\u201d she said, but her tone was softer now, more scared than angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They sat back down on the bench, Lila getting the ball back and giving it to Jahnny who hugged it tightly to his chest. The men at the court seemed to lose interest in them, returning to their hushed conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hate this place,\u201d Lila said quietly, and for once, Jahnny didn\u2019t have a comeback. He hated it too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The walk home was quieter than usual. Lila stuck close to Jahnny, nearly tripping on him occasionally, glancing at him every so often as if to make sure he wasn\u2019t going to collapse. His cheek still throbbed, his lip was split, so was his cheek which was now puffed up and purpleing, but he refused to let her see him cry. The night air was cold now, the kind that bit through their thin clothes, and Jahnny shoved his hands deep into his pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The streets weren\u2019t much safer than the park. Figures loitered on stoops or shuffled through alleys, their shadows long and menacing under the dim streetlights. Lila kept her head down, and Jahnny mimicked her, though his fists stayed clenched. He wasn\u2019t sure who he was angrier at\u2014the man who hit him or himself for being too small to do anything about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When they finally reached their apartment building, the door creaked loudly as Lila pushed it open. The stairwell smelled like mildew and expired milk, and the paint was peeling in long strips from the walls. They climbed the stairs to their unit, Lila two steps ahead as Jahnny trudged behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The faint sound of the baby crying filtered through the door before they even opened it. Marie\u2019s voice followed, a tired hush trying to soothe the wails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t slam it,\u201d Lila whispered as she turned the knob gently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inside, the apartment was dimly lit, with the flicker of an old lamp in the corner. Marie sat on the couch, baby Betsy cradled in her arms, her shirt unbuttoned as the infant nursed. Lila hesitated before closing the door softly behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie glanced up, bags the side of softballs under both eyes from the late nights, jumping between the paperwork of her job and dealing with the baby and making sure clothes and food are taken care of for Clara, Lila, and Jahnny. \u201cYou\u2019re late,\u201d she said, her tone sharp but not unkind. \u201cDinner\u2019s almost cold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorry, Mama,\u201d Lila said quickly, shrugging off her jacket and hanging it on the back of a chair. \u201cI got a homerun, though! Jahnny pitched it, and I smacked it right out of the lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie smiled faintly. \u201cGood for you, Lila. Maybe we got ourselves a baseball star in the making.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lila beamed and scooted into the kitchen to grab a plate. Jahnny stayed near the door, still scowling, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJahnny, you gonna eat?\u201d Marie asked, her voice steady but with an edge that meant she didn\u2019t have time for nonsense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not hungry,\u201d he muttered, his eyes on the scuffed floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie frowned, adjusting Betsy in her arms. \u201cWhat\u2019s with the attitude?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo attitude,\u201d Jahnny mumbled, his face burning, the swelling making it hard to fully speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie narrowed her eyes. \u201cI don\u2019t like lies, Jahnny. You better straighten up and tell me what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny shrugged, his anger bubbling over. \u201cNothin\u2019. It\u2019s always nothin\u2019, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words stung Marie, and she shifted Betsy to her other arm, her expression hardening. \u201cAlright, mister, you\u2019re done for tonight. Go to your room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lila stopped mid-bite, her eyes darting between them. \u201cMama\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHush, Lila,\u201d Marie said firmly. \u201cJahnny knows better than to talk to me like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo. To. Your. Room,\u201d Marie repeated, her voice a low warning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s jaw clenched, and he stomped toward the small bedroom he shared with Lila and their older sister, Clara, though Clara was rarely home these days. The door slammed behind him, and he flopped onto the worn mattress on the floor, staring up at the cracked, smoke stained ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the kitchen, Lila toyed with her fork, her earlier excitement about the game gone. \u201cMama, it\u2019s not his fault.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie sighed and leaned back against the couch, Betsy now fast asleep in her arms. \u201cI know, Lila,\u201d she said softly, her voice losing its earlier sharpness. \u201cBut we ain\u2019t got the food to waste on a kid who\u2019s gonna backtalk me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut he\u2019s not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLila,\u201d Marie interrupted, her tone weary. \u201cI don\u2019t need excuses. I just need peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny lay in the dark, listening to the faint sounds of the apartment amid their softer conversation, knowing he was always the last to get things if they didn’t have enough\u2014Betsy\u2019s soft coos, the scrape of Lila\u2019s fork on her plate, the creak of Marie\u2019s footsteps. His stomach growled, but he ignored it, his anger keeping the hunger at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDahm pahk,\u201d he mumbled, his words thick and garbled. \u201cDahm shtoopid pahk an\u2019 dahm shtoopid people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the anger didn\u2019t help for long. Soon, it faded into something heavier, a weight that settled deep in his chest. He curled up on the mattress, pulling the thin blanket over his head, and tried to shut out the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tomorrow would be the same, he knew. Brassvale didn\u2019t care about kids like him, and neither did the people in it. All he had was his family\u2014his mom, his sisters, and, when he was feeling generous, even Garth. But even they couldn\u2019t stop the streets from creeping into their lives, no matter how hard they tried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And Jahnny hated that more than anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The schoolyard of Stout Elementary wasn\u2019t much more than a concrete wasteland fenced in by chain-link and lined with a sparse scattering of weeds breaking through the cracks. The playground sat in the far corner, its rusted swing set creaking ominously in the brisk morning wind. A patch of uneven dirt served as the kickball field, its bases worn down to bare patches of earth. Nearby, a tattered basketball net hung from a tilted metal pole, the rim bent out of shape like a crooked tooth. On the far side of the yard, separated by a wide alley, loomed the imposing facade of Stout Middle School, a brick fortress with barred windows and peeling graffiti that read \u201cBlenc Rules.\u201d It cast a long shadow, both literally and metaphorically, over the younger kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny hopped off the school bus and adjusted the straps on his oversized backpack, which hung awkwardly low on his small frame. His sneakers, scuffed and splitting at the seams, crunched over the gravel as he scanned the yard for his friends. Being alone here was a mistake, even for someone like Jahnny who knew how to keep his head down. It had been more than a week since the scene at the park and his face, while still bruised and scabbed, had lowered in swelling surprisingly well, though Jahnny had always been a quick healer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell was easy to spot, a small burst of energy against the worn backdrop of Brassvale Elementary. He leaned against the faded brick wall, his hoodie pulled up like a shield against the cold. A scuffed rubber ball bounced rhythmically off the cracked pavement, its dull thud filling the otherwise empty space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny jogged toward him, the sight of his friend\u2019s familiar grin a small flicker of warmth in an otherwise gray morning. Behind Tyrell, the brick wall was smeared with faint graffiti\u2014shapes and letters that looked like they had been erased but never truly disappeared, much like the marks the city left on everyone who lived there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s good, Jahnny?\u201d Tyrell greeted, catching the ball one last time and stuffing it into his hoodie pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot much,\u201d Jahnny replied, a small grin tugging at his lips. He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep them warm against the morning chill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny sat nearby on the steps leading to the school entrance, hunched over his trusty notebook. His tongue poked out in concentration as he carefully outlined the cape of his latest superhero sketch. Danny was always drawing\u2014sketches of monsters, superheroes, or elaborate maps of imaginary worlds he dreamed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, Danny,\u201d Jahnny called as he approached. \u201cWhat\u2019re you working on now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny looked up, his glasses slipping down his nose. He smiled sheepishly before holding up the notebook. \u201cIt\u2019s a new hero. His name\u2019s Time Stopper. He can freeze time, rewind it, or slow it down when he\u2019s fighting bad guys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell snorted, tossing his ball into the air. \u201cTime Stopper? Sounds like a knockoff cereal. \u2018Now with 50% more time-stopping marshmallows!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny scowled, hugging his notebook to his chest. \u201cIt\u2019s still a work in progress!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny chuckled, leaning against the wall. \u201cHow about \u2018Clock Shock\u2019? Or \u2018Tick Tock Hero\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell clapped his hands dramatically. \u201cTick Tock Hero! He fights crime in sixty-second bursts and gives motivational speeches between battles!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even Danny cracked a smile. \u201cOkay, okay, I get it. You guys are the real heroes of imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDamn straight,\u201d Tyrell said, grinning. The banter carried them all the way to the school doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I think it’s cool,” Jahnny said earnestly after peeking at the sketch. The hero’s cape was billowing dramatically in an imaginary wind, and lightning bolts framed the figure like an electric aura, or at least that’s what it was supposed to show. “But maybe you could give him a weapon or something. Like, if time\u2019s frozen, he could move super fast and land a hundred punches before anyone blinks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cYeah! That\u2019d be awesome. I could give him, like, a time gauntlet or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOr call him Quick Clock,\u201d Tyrell teased, snickering. \u201cYou know, because he\u2019s quick and clock-y.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny glared at him, though his lips twitched as if he were trying not to laugh. \u201cYou\u2019re impossible, Ty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The warning bell rang, echoing off the cracked concrete walls of the yard. Kids hurried toward the doors in a swarm of brightly colored jackets and mismatched backpacks. Jahnny stuck close to Tyrell and Danny as they shuffled toward the entrance, passing by the older middle schoolers who loitered on the alley between the two schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The middle schoolers didn\u2019t pay much attention to the younger kids unless they needed a quick errand or someone to push. Jahnny glanced nervously at a group of boys from Stout Middle who were leaning against the fence, passing around a cigarette. Their uniforms were the same as the elementary school\u2019s\u2014navy blue polos and khakis\u2014but they wore theirs like armor, untucked and rumpled, with an air of casual rebellion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYo, that\u2019s gonna be us one day,\u201d Tyrell said, nodding toward the middle schoolers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSmoking and skipping class?\u201d Danny asked, wrinkling his nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNah,\u201d Tyrell replied, smirking. \u201cBut, you know, older. Cooler. Maybe we\u2019ll have a gang or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stayed quiet, his eyes lingering on the group. One of the boys, taller than the rest, had a jagged scar running across his cheek. He held the cigarette like it was a trophy and laughed loudly at something one of his friends said. The image stuck with Jahnny\u2014not fear, exactly, but an uncomfortable curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s it like in middle school, you think?\u201d Jahnny finally asked as they reached the steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cProbably harder,\u201d Tyrell said. \u201cBut we\u2019ll still run this place when we get there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSpeak for yourself,\u201d Danny said, stuffing his notebook into his backpack. \u201cI just hope they\u2019ve got better lunch food.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell snorted. \u201cMan, you\u2019re such a nerd.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The boys joined the rush of students filing into the building, their voices blending into the noisy hallway. For now, middle school and its challenges were just a looming shadow. But Jahnny couldn\u2019t help but feel like it was watching, waiting for them to catch up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny slid into his seat near the back of the classroom, scuffed desk wobbling slightly as he set his tattered notebook down. The room was a patchwork of faded, torn posters, outdated maps, and a wall of windows letting in dim light that didn\u2019t quite reach the corners. Mrs. Hartford, their teacher, stood at the chalkboard scribbling today\u2019s math lesson in her unmistakable chicken scratch. Her voice was steady but tired, the kind of tone that said she\u2019d been doing this job for far too long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny was seated two rows over, already doodling in his notebook. Tyrell, who could never sit still for more than five minutes, was leaning back in his chair, tilting it at a precarious angle. He tossed a balled-up scrap of paper at Jahnny, who caught it with one hand and smirked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny uncrumpled the note. It was a crude stick-figure drawing of Mrs. Hartford with her hair sticking out like a cactus, yelling at a stick version of Tyrell. Beneath it, Tyrell had scrawled: >5$ says I geit her to bloh up by lunch<\/strong><<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stifled a laugh, shaking his head. ><\/em>ull geit detenshun<\/em><\/strong> agan<\/em><\/strong><<\/em> he scrawled back and tossed it onto Tyrell\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mrs. Hartford turned just in time to catch the exchange. \u201cMr. Jahnny,\u201d she said sharply, the class going quiet. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to pass notes, perhaps you\u2019d like to share with the rest of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny froze, his cheeks burning. He hated being called out. \u201cSorry, Mrs. Hartford,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell, still leaning in his chair, grinned but didn\u2019t say a word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The morning passed slowly, with Mrs. Hartford going over fractions while Jahnny did his best to keep up. Numbers swam on the page, never quite settling into place. He\u2019d always struggled with math, and today was no different. His pencil scratched hesitantly across the paper as he tried to figure out how to divide 48 by 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other students weren\u2019t much better. A few kids whispered to each other, heads low over their desks. A boy in the front row had fallen asleep, his head resting on his folded arms. Jahnny felt a pang of envy; at least he didn\u2019t have to try and make sense of the numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell was up to something again. Jahnny could see him out of the corner of his eye, leaning over to talk to Marcus, a big kid who sat a few rows up. Marcus was one of the troublemakers, always cracking jokes and causing disruptions. Tyrell whispered something to him, sneaking him something quickly before hurrying back to his desk, leaving Marcus sniggering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny braced himself. Whatever Tyrell was planning, it wasn\u2019t going to end well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, class,\u201d Mrs. Hartford announced, taking Jahnny’s attention as the math lesson came to an end. \u201cTake out your social studies books and turn to page forty-two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a collective groan from the class as students rustled through their desks. Jahnny reached into his bag and pulled out his battered textbook, its cover barely holding on with duct tape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJahnny,\u201d Tyrell hissed from behind him. Jahnny turned slightly, and Tyrell nodded toward Marcus. Jahnny followed the motion and saw Marcus holding something small and dark in his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is that?\u201d Jahnny whispered back but Tyrell just grinned in reponse, waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Mrs. Hartford began reading from the textbook, Marcus suddenly stood and cleared his throat dramatically. The class turned to look at him, and Mrs. Hartford frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, Marcus? Is there a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot at all, ma\u2019am,\u201d Marcus said with mock politeness. Then, quick as a flash, he lobbed the object toward her desk where it landed with a wet splat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ~<\/em>CROAAOAK~<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A large spikey soaked toad stared at Harford with a honest curiousity as to it’s location and how it could have possibily got there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The room erupted into chaos, laughter and shrieks colliding like the din of a broken carnival. Some kids scrambled onto their desks, pointing and howling as the toad leapt across the floor, its fat body gleaming in the fluorescent light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mrs. Hartford yelped, stumbling back as if the tiny creature were some great beast sent to devour her. Her hand clutched her chest, her face pale beneath the layers of makeup she wore to cover the years of wear from classrooms like this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It simply let out another croak in response<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny sat frozen at his desk, the absurdity of the scene unfolding like a cracked mirror of his own world. The amphibian\u2019s desperate leaps seemed almost too familiar, a small thing struggling to escape a much bigger cage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho did this?\u201d she shouted, her face red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marcus sat down, feigning innocence. \u201cNot me, ma\u2019am, I was just wanting to know if I could use the bathroom, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mrs. Hartford\u2019s eyes swept the room before landing on Jahnny, who was still sitting quietly at his desk. \u201cJahnny!\u201d she snapped. \u201cWas this your doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat? No!\u201d Jahnny protested, his heart sinking. He looked at Tyrell, but his friend avoided his gaze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDetention,\u201d Mrs. Hartford said firmly. \u201cI don\u2019t tolerate this kind of behavior in my classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny slumped in his chair, furious but knowing there was no point arguing. He felt the eyes of the class on him, some amused, others pitying. He clenched his fists under the desk, willing himself not to cry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rest of the morning dragged on. Jahnny didn\u2019t even bother taking notes during social studies. What was the point? He\u2019d already been branded as the troublemaker, even if he hadn\u2019t done anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the bell finally rang, he grabbed his bag and trudged toward the door, being one of the first ones out. Tyrell caught up to him, looking sheepish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYo, sorry, man,\u201d Tyrell said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think she\u2019d pin it on you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhatever,\u201d Jahnny muttered, not looking at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny joined them, his notebook tucked under his arm. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNothing,\u201d Jahnny said quickly. \u201cLet\u2019s just go eat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three boys walked toward the cafeteria together, their usual banter muted. Jahnny\u2019s fists stayed clenched in his pockets, anger simmering just beneath the surface. Despite the smells of the food, and the growl of his stomach, his appetite was gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bell rang, releasing a flood of students into the streets of Blenc like a broken dam. Jahnny, Tyrell, and Danny walked side by side, backpacks slung low and dragging slightly as they navigated the cracked sidewalks. The late afternoon sun was weak, casting long shadows of chain-link fences and boarded-up buildings. It was the same route they always took, cutting through a stretch of worn-out houses and overgrown lots to avoid the busier main roads. School had let out but it was still on their minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know Mrs. Hartford\u2019s probably writing you up for that frog thing,\u201d Danny said, still clutching his notebook like a lifeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny rolled his eyes. \u201cWhat else is new? She\u2019s always blaming me for something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMan, it\u2019s \u2019cause she knows you don\u2019t got backup,\u201d Tyrell said, spinning a rock down the sidewalk with the tip of his shoe. \u201cShe\u2019d never try that with Marcus. His mom would come up there screamin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny sighed. \u201cYeah, well, my mom\u2019s got enough to deal with. She\u2019s not about to come marching into school over some dumb frog.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They turned the corner onto Vine Street, where a broken swing set tilted awkwardly in the front yard of an abandoned house. A pair of stray dogs rummaged through a trash pile nearby, growling at each other over scraps. The boys walked in silence for a moment, their footsteps crunching on bits of gravel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cY\u2019all ever notice how middle school kids think they\u2019re hot stuff?\u201d Danny said suddenly, breaking the quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Tyrell replied. \u201cBut they ain\u2019t. Just bigger losers than us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny smirked. \u201cThose middle school guys ain\u2019t cool. They just act tough \u2018cause they\u2019re bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStill, they don\u2019t get in trouble for frogs,\u201d Tyrell added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group chuckled, but their light mood didn\u2019t last. As they cut through a small lot with rusted-out cars and weeds, tall as Jahnny, a group of older kids leaned against the fence at the far end. Jahnny recognized a few of them\u2014troublemakers from school who loved making other kids\u2019 lives miserable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYo, ain\u2019t that da white boy whose sister a hoe?\u201d one of them called out, grinning maliciously. It was the one on the nice red bike, Darren, an eighth-grader with a reputation for bullying anyone who looked at him the wrong way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny froze. The insult hit hard, not just because it was aimed at Clara, but because he couldn\u2019t do anything about it. Clara\u2019s choices weren\u2019t his to defend, but they cast a shadow he couldn\u2019t escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell and Danny shifted uneasily, avoiding eye contact with the older kids. Jahnny, however, squared his shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSay that again,\u201d Jahnny said, his voice low and steady.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Darren gave a quick couple of peddles, nearing the group, saying just as he stopped his bike and looked down at them. His height nearly twice Jahnny’s. \u201cYou heard me, little man. Heard she\u2019s got a boyfriend twice her age. What, your family too broke for dudes her own grade? Gotta whore her out?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s fists balled up, his cheeks flushing red. He knew he was outmatched, but his pride wouldn\u2019t let him walk away. \u201cShut your mouth,\u201d he said through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Darren laughed, the sound cold and cruel. \u201cTell you h’wat, let me know how much she is and uhh, me and da boys might swing by later, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without thinking, Jahnny swung at Darren. His fist connected with the older boy\u2019s chest, but it was like punching a car. Darren, who rarely actually played, was apart of his school’s football team, and therefore barely flinched before shoving Jahnny to the ground, still balancing on his bike with no effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn second thought, we’re pretty enough.” Darren said with a smirk as he looked back to his friends who were watching and laughing. “We’ll probably get a group coupon, might not even have to pay.” Darren sneered as Jahnny got back to his feet only to find himself being shoved into Danny by Darren, sending both to the ground as he let out a small giggle<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Actually, y’know, might not even visit her. I mean, you’re of the same blood,” Darren whispered with a minor pause, “I’m sure you’re open for business.” A sly grin grew across his face, revealing his yellow teeth as Jahnny stared back in horror, watching Darren place the kickstand down on his bike and crack his knuckles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Fuck you.” Jahnny hissed, frantically crawling backwards as Darren raced towards him, grabbing his shirt and pulling him up quickly before shoving him back down into the dirt with his foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I mean, that was the joke I was making.” He snapped with a sadistic laugh before spitting on Jahnny, finally causing him to tear up. “Aw, look! You’re crying like the baby you are.” Darren snickered, pressing his foot down harder into his stomach, forcing him to cough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “P-please,” Jahnny pleaded quietly, only for Darren to slam him into the dirt, knocking the wind out of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “You want more? Say you’re a fag!” Darren yelled, a grin creeping across his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Fuck you-“<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’m not going to ask again.” Darren said, pressing his foot harder, cutting Jahnny off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny closed his eyes, trying to ignore the laughter from Darren’s friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Say it, say you’re a fag. I’ll let you go if you say it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Stop it!” Danny screamed out as Jahnny and Darren looked up to see him olding a bottle in his hand, aiming it at Darren.”Stop it before I get angry!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Darren paused, his foot still pressing into Jahnny’s stomach, his cruel grin shifting into a sneer of disbelief. \u201cOh, really? You gonna hit me with that, Bottle Boy?\u201d He laughed, motioning toward his friends. \u201cThis kid thinks he\u2019s a superhero or somethin\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell, who had been silently edging closer to the group, took the chance to step beside Danny, his fists clenched. \u201cHe\u2019s not playin\u2019, Darren. Back off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The laughter from Darren\u2019s friends faltered slightly as they exchanged glances. Darren, however, didn\u2019t seem phased. He stepped off Jahnny, who coughed and rolled onto his side, clutching his stomach. Darren strolled casually toward Danny, his hands raised mockingly in surrender. \u201cAlright, alright, tough guy. Let\u2019s see what you got.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny\u2019s hand trembled as he gripped the bottle tighter, his knuckles white. He didn\u2019t back down, his small frame standing firm. \u201cLeave him alone,\u201d Danny repeated, his voice louder this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Darren stopped a foot away, his eyes narrowing. \u201cOr what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. The bottle trembled in Danny\u2019s hand, his wide eyes darting between Darren and Jahnny. But then Tyrell stepped in, his voice cutting through the tension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t need a bottle,\u201d Tyrell said, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. \u201cWe can take you right now if we have to. And don\u2019t think the rest of your crownies are gonna stop us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Darren\u2019s laughter echoed through the lot, harsh and grating as his friends doubled over, slapping their knees and gasping for air. \u201cOh, man,\u201d Darren wheezed, wiping at his eyes. \u201cYou two are killin\u2019 me. What\u2019s next? Gonna challenge me to a dance-off?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny\u2019s grip on the bottle tightened, his knuckles white. He looked to Tyrell, who nodded once, silent encouragement gleaming in his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo ahead, try me!\u201d Darren taunted, spreading his arms wide. \u201cLet\u2019s see what you got, Bottle Boy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without hesitation, Danny squeezed the trigger on the bottle. A sharp hiss cut through the air as a stream of pepper spray hit Darren square in the face. His laughter turned into an agonized roar as he stumbled backward, clawing at his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWHOAUAH!!! Wh-What the hell?!\u201d Darren bellowed, his voice cracking as he dropped to his knees. His friends froze, their laughter replaced with stunned silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRun!\u201d Tyrell shouted, grabbing Jahnny under one arm while Danny, bottle still in hand, grabbed the other. Together, they hoisted him to his feet and bolted, weaving between the rusted cars and tall weeds. But not before Danny took a quick moment to run back and kick Darren in the balls sending the bully to the ground in tormenting pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Behind them, Darren\u2019s screams echoed through the lot. \u201cYou\u2019re dead! You hear me? Dead!\u201d His words were cut off by choking coughs as the pepper spray did its work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three boys didn\u2019t stop, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they raced down the alley. Tyrell led the way, zigzagging through the maze of Blenc\u2019s backstreets. The sound of Darren\u2019s threats faded into the distance, replaced by the pounding of their own hearts and the slap of their shoes on the pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When they finally stopped, it was in a narrow alley tucked between two crumbling apartment buildings. Jahnny leaned against the wall, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Tyrell bent over, hands on his knees, while Danny clutched the pepper spray like it was a lifeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2014\u201d Jahnny gasped, coughing through his words. \u201cYou sprayed him. Where\u2019d you even get that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny shrugged, his face pale but determined. \u201cMy mom keeps it in her purse. I\u2026 borrowed it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell let out a breathless laugh, shaking his head. \u201cBorrowed it? Man, you just took out Darren Freakin\u2019 Grady with your mom\u2019s pepper spray. You\u2019re a legend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny gave a shaky smile, the adrenaline still coursing through him. \u201cI didn\u2019t know if it\u2019d work. I just\u2026 I didn\u2019t want him to hurt Jahnny anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny managed a weak grin, wiping at the dirt on his face. \u201cYou saved me. Both of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell straightened, clapping Jahnny on the shoulder. \u201cYeah, well, don\u2019t make a habit of it, alright? I\u2019m not tryna go toe-to-toe with Darren and his goons every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny finally pocketed the pepper spray, his hand still trembling. \u201cWhat if he comes after us? What if he tells someone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny shook his head, his voice steadier now. \u201cHe won\u2019t. He\u2019s too embarrassed. He\u2019ll say he tripped or something. Guys like him don\u2019t admit when they\u2019ve been beaten.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a moment, the three stood in silence, the gravity of what had just happened settling over them. Then Tyrell broke the tension with a wide grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStill,\u201d he said, nudging Danny. \u201cYou better give your mom her pepper spray back before she notices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny chuckled, the sound light and genuine, and for the first time all day, the weight of Blenc felt a little easier to carry. As the boys started back toward their neighborhood, they stuck close together, their steps lighter, their laughter echoing down the alley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rest of the walk home was quieter than usual. Tyrell and Danny kept their distance, sensing Jahnny\u2019s foul mood, but they didn\u2019t abandon him. As they approached Jahnny\u2019s apartment building, Danny tried to lighten the mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know,\u201d he said, \u201cwhen I get older, I\u2019m gonna be rich. Like, own-my-own-video-game-store rich.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah?\u201d Tyrell said. \u201cYou gonna let us play for free?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHell nah! But maybe I\u2019ll give you a discount.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny smirked despite himself. \u201cA discount? Gee, thanks, Danny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tension eased slightly as they joked about their future dreams, making fun of each other\u2019s plans. By the time they reached Jahnny\u2019s building, some of the weight from earlier had lifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSee you tomorrow,\u201d Danny said as they parted ways. Tyrell gave Jahnny a small fist bump followed by a quick handshake and another fistbump before following Danny down the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny watched them leave before heading inside. The familiar smell of cabbage and baby powder greeted him, along with the sound of Betsy\u2019s soft coos, the only sound that really seemed to ease him. A sound that pulled him to Baby Betsy’s crib, where he peered down at her, her tiny fists clapping together as she giggled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, Bets,\u201d Jahnny said, lifting up and wiggling a stuffed rabbit\u2019s ears, a toy he grabbed on her way to her. \u201cWhat\u2019s Mr. Flop gonna do today? Save the world or steal all the cookies?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCoo\u2019ees!\u201d Betsy squealed, her chubby arms reaching for the toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny laughed, leaning forward to bop her nose with the rabbit. \u201cYou\u2019ve got cookie priorities, huh? Alright, Mr. Flop\u2019s stealing cookies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He made exaggerated sneaking noises as he tiptoed the rabbit across the room\u2019s edge. Betsy shrieked with delight, her laughter bubbling up like music in the dingy apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie glanced over from the kitchen, a tired smile tugging at her lips. \u201cYou\u2019re good with her,\u201d she said softly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny shrugged, but inside, he felt a warmth he couldn\u2019t quite explain. For a moment, the world outside them didn\u2019t matter. It was just him, Betsy, and a rabbit on a cookie heist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stirred as a low, gravelly whisper pulled him from his sleep. \u201cJahnny, c\u2019mon, boy. Get up. We got stuff to do.\u201d The voice was his father\u2019s\u2014familiar, rough, and carrying a weight that always made Jahnny snap awake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He blinked in the dim light, his eyes adjusting to the faint glow of a streetlamp filtering through the gaps in the threadbare curtains. His father crouched beside him, his face half-shadowed but still grinning that lopsided grin he wore when he was up to something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy? What time is it?\u201d Jahnny asked, his voice thick with sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEarly,\u201d Garth replied, his words a quiet rasp. He glanced over his shoulder toward the hallway, then back to his son. \u201cWe got a big day ahead, my boy. Don\u2019t wanna waste it lying around like the rest of \u2019em.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny rubbed his eyes, glancing at the door. He knew \u201cthe rest of \u2019em\u201d meant his mom and sisters. They were probably still asleep in the other room, oblivious to the whispers. Lila usually wore earmuffs to sleep to try and dampen the occasional fights, so he wasn\u2019t too worried of her waking up. He sat up, the thin blanket slipping off his shoulders. \u201cWhat about school?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth snorted softly, shaking his head. \u201cSchool? You kiddin\u2019 me? You think they teach anything worth a damn in that place? Nah, you stick with me, and I\u2019ll show you what life\u2019s really about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words sounded important, like a promise. Jahnny\u2019s chest puffed up a little, his father\u2019s grin infectious. He swung his legs over the side of his makeshift mattress, his bare feet touching the cold floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere, throw this on.\u201d Garth handed him a worn hoodie that smelled faintly of sweat and cigarettes. Jahnny tugged it over his head as his father tousled his hair, leaving it sticking out in messy tufts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s my boy,\u201d Garth said with a chuckle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They crept down the narrow hallway, the floorboards creaking faintly beneath their weight. The house was quiet save for the occasional murmur of baby Betsy in her crib and the soft sighs of Marie\u2019s restless sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth paused as he and Jahnny saw Clara spaced out on the couch, slowly nodding in and out of some type of state of consciousness, a sight common when her boyfriend got his check. Garth turned to his son, leaning close to whisper, \u201cYou know why I wake you up and not them, don\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny shrugged, unsure if he should answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth crouched, his grin fading into something more serious. \u201cBecause you\u2019re different, Jahnny. You\u2019re not like them. Your sisters? They\u2019re just like your ma\u2014useless, whining, and waiting for someone else to fix their problems. They\u2019ll end up like Clara, running off with some deadbeat who\u2019ll knock \u2019em up and leave \u2019em. But you\u2014\u201d He placed a hand on Jahnny\u2019s shoulder, squeezing just enough to make the boy sit up straighter. \u201cYou\u2019ve got potential. You\u2019re smart, sharper than all of \u2019em put together. Stick with me, and I\u2019ll show you how to use it. You\u2019re my right-hand man, Jahnny. You and me, we\u2019re a team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words made Jahnny\u2019s chest swell with pride. He nodded, though he wasn\u2019t entirely sure what \u201cpotential\u201d meant. He just knew his father believed in him, and that felt like enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, quiet now,\u201d Garth said, rising to his feet. \u201cDon\u2019t wanna wake the hags.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny bit back a laugh as they tiptoed to the front door. Garth turned the handle slowly, easing it open to keep the hinges from squealing. The cool morning air hit them as they stepped outside, the door clicking softly shut behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The streets of Blenc were nearly empty, bathed in the pale orange glow of streetlights. The only sounds were the distant hum of cars and the faint rustling of wind through the crumbling alleys. Garth lit a cigarette, the tip flaring briefly as he took a drag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere we goin\u2019?\u201d Jahnny asked, shoving his hands into his hoodie pockets to ward off the chill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ll see.\u201d Garth\u2019s grin returned, mischievous and wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny fell into step beside him, his small legs working to keep up with his father\u2019s confident stride. The world felt bigger and quieter in the early morning, and Jahnny couldn\u2019t help but feel like he was part of something important\u2014something only he and his dad understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sun was beginning to rise as Jahnny and Garth made their way deeper into the labyrinth of Blenc\u2019s back alleys. The air grew thicker with the smell of damp concrete, exhaust, and trash, and Jahnny could hear the faint hum of activity\u2014voices murmuring, the occasional rattle of a shopping cart, and distant bursts of laughter that sounded more menacing than joyful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth led the way, his head on a swivel as he scanned the narrow streets. Every so often, he\u2019d stop and glance over his shoulder, his hand reaching back to pull Jahnny closer. \u201cStick near me, alright? This ain\u2019t no playground.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny nodded, his small hand gripping the hem of Garth\u2019s jacket. The boy\u2019s wide eyes took in everything\u2014the graffiti that crawled up the walls like vines, the broken glass that glinted in the weak sunlight, the figures huddled in shadows smoking or counting crumpled bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere are we goin\u2019?\u201d Jahnny asked after a while, his voice hushed, as if afraid to break the eerie stillness of the alley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust makin\u2019 some stops,\u201d Garth said without looking back. \u201cGotta check in with some friends, see what\u2019s what.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They turned a corner and entered a wider alley, where a group of men was gathered around a makeshift table. The table was little more than a wooden door propped up on cinder blocks, and on it lay a disorganized mess of cards, bottle caps, and cigarette butts. The men\u2014rough-looking, with faces that seemed carved from stone\u2014glanced up as Garth approached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGarth, you slimy bastard,\u201d one of them drawled, a round man with a scruffy beard and a perpetual sneer. \u201cDidn\u2019t think you\u2019d have the stones to show up here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRelax, Rico,\u201d Garth said, flashing his signature grin. \u201cI ain\u2019t here to cause trouble. Just thought I\u2019d drop in, see how the game\u2019s goin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rico\u2019s eyes flicked down to Jahnny, his sneer deepening. \u201cAnd who\u2019s this? Bringin\u2019 the kid around now? What kinda mess you draggin\u2019 him into?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFamily business,\u201d Garth said smoothly, resting a hand on Jahnny\u2019s shoulder. \u201cBoy\u2019s gotta learn the ropes someday, right? Ain\u2019t no harm in watchin\u2019 his old man work. Plus, the kid\u2019s a good luck charm, aren\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny puffed out his chest a little, trying to look tougher than he felt under Rico\u2019s piercing gaze, nodding, unsure what was expected of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the other men, a short guy with a shaved head and noticeably large legs, chuckled. \u201cKid looks like he\u2019d blow over in a stiff wind. You sure he\u2019s cut out for this, Garth?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t let the size fool ya,\u201d Garth said, ruffling Jahnny\u2019s hair. \u201cHe\u2019s sharper than he looks. Got a good head on his shoulders, this one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The men exchanged skeptical looks, but Garth didn\u2019t wait for their approval. He stepped up to the table, pulling a crumpled wad of bills from his pocket. \u201cAlright, who\u2019s dealin\u2019? Let\u2019s see if I can\u2019t turn this into somethin\u2019 worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the game began, Jahnny stood off to the side, his eyes darting between the men and the cards. He didn\u2019t understand much of what was happening, but he could tell by the way his father leaned forward, his grin growing wider, that things were going well\u2014for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the good mood didn\u2019t last long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDamn it, Garth,\u201d Rico hissed as Garth raked in another small pile of bills. \u201cYou\u2019re always too damn lucky. What\u2019s your secret, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo secret,\u201d Garth said with a smirk. \u201cJust a little skill and a lotta charm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other men muttered amongst themselves, their suspicion growing thicker in the air. Jahnny shifted uncomfortably, his instincts telling him this wasn\u2019t going to end well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As if on cue, a new figure stepped into the alley. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his face partially hidden under the brim of a battered hat. His voice was a low rumble as he spoke. \u201cGarth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tone alone made everyone at the table go silent. Garth looked up, his grin faltering for the first time that morning. \u201cWell, if it ain\u2019t Big Ray. Long time no see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big Ray didn\u2019t return the pleasantry. His eyes, cold and calculating, flicked to Jahnny before settling back on Garth. \u201cYou know why I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow hold on,\u201d Garth began, raising his hands in mock surrender. \u201cI\u2019ve been meanin\u2019 to get you that money. Just had a few setbacks, is all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSetbacks don\u2019t pay debts, Garth,\u201d Big Ray said evenly. \u201cAnd you\u2019re outta time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s stomach twisted as he watched the exchange. The playful charm his father had shown all morning was gone, replaced by a nervous energy that didn\u2019t suit him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLook,\u201d Garth said, forcing a grin. \u201cI\u2019m workin\u2019 on it. Got a plan, a real good one. Just need a little more time, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big Ray stepped closer, the menace in his presence palpable. \u201cYou\u2019ve been sayin\u2019 that for months. Your plans ain\u2019t worth shit if they don\u2019t pay up. And you know what happens to people who cross me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s heart pounded as he instinctively stepped closer to his father. Garth placed a protective arm in front of him, his grin slipping into a defiant smirk. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t hurt a guy in front of his kid, now would ya, Ray? That\u2019s bad for business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big Ray\u2019s lips twitched into something that wasn\u2019t quite a smile. \u201cYou\u2019re lucky I got other things to handle today. But this ain\u2019t over, Garth. Not by a long shot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the alley in tense silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rico let out a low whistle. \u201cDamn, Garth. You really know how to pick your enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth shrugged, trying to regain his composure. \u201cIt\u2019s all part of the game, Rico. Now, where were we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Jahnny couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that the morning had just taken a dangerous turn. He stayed close to his father, the image of Big Ray\u2019s cold glare burned into his mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After leaving the alley, Garth led Jahnny into the busier parts of Brassvale, the streets alive with a mix of early risers and those who hadn\u2019t made it home from the night before. Jahnny\u2019s small feet hurried to keep up with his father, who moved with purpose, his gait confident despite the tension from their last stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The smell of food carts and car exhaust filled the air as they weaved through the bustling streets. Garth glanced down at his son, his grin back in place. \u201cAlright, kid. Time to make some real moves. You remember what I taught you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny nodded, even though he wasn\u2019t entirely sure what his father meant. Garth had taught him plenty\u2014most of it subtle tricks to earn sympathy or to spot someone with an easy mark\u2019s face. \u201cYeah, I remember.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood. Just stick by me and keep that innocent look goin\u2019. We\u2019re gonna hit a few spots, make enough cash to take care of a few things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat things?\u201d Jahnny asked, his brow furrowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStuff you don\u2019t need to worry about,\u201d Garth said, ruffling the boy\u2019s hair. \u201cJust do what I say, alright?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first stop was a small church on the edge of the district. It wasn\u2019t Sunday, but the doors were open, and a handful of people were inside, setting up for a community breakfast. Garth put on his best humble act, pulling Jahnny closer as they stepped through the doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inside, a few older women were arranging folding chairs while a man in a frayed suit stacked paper plates. The smell of pancakes and coffee filled the air, and Jahnny\u2019s stomach growled audibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood morning,\u201d Garth said, his voice soft and laden with faux humility. \u201cSorry to bother y\u2019all, but we\u2019re in a bit of a bind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man in the suit looked up, his face creasing with concern. \u201cWhat can we do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth sighed heavily, placing a hand on Jahnny\u2019s shoulder. \u201cMy boy and I\u2026 we\u2019ve fallen on some hard times. Lost our place last week, and we\u2019re just trying to get back on our feet. Anything you can spare\u2014food, maybe a little cash\u2014it\u2019d mean the world to us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny felt a pang of guilt as the women looked at him with pity, their kind eyes scanning his thin frame and ragged clothes. He glanced down at his shoes, which were worn but not as bad as the story Garth was spinning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, bless your heart,\u201d one of the women said, hurrying over with a Styrofoam plate of pancakes. \u201cHere, sweetie. You look like you could use a good meal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, ma\u2019am,\u201d Garth said, his eyes glinting with satisfaction as he took the plate. \u201cYou\u2019re too kind. God bless ya.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man in the suit reached into his pocket, pulling out a few crumpled bills. \u201cIt ain\u2019t much, but I hope it helps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth accepted the money with a grateful nod, slipping it into his jacket pocket. \u201cEvery little bit helps, sir. Thank you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They lingered just long enough for Garth to scoop up a few more handouts before leaving the church. As they walked away, Jahnny looked up at his father. \u201cWhy\u2019d you lie to them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth chuckled, breaking off a piece of pancake and handing it to his son. \u201cIt ain\u2019t a lie, kid. We\u2019re just stretchin\u2019 the truth a little. Times are tough, and you do what you gotta do to survive. Don\u2019t overthink it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny chewed on the pancake, his mind swirling with questions he didn\u2019t dare voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their next stop was a pawn shop tucked between a liquor store and a laundromat. The windows were covered in bars, and a flickering neon sign buzzed above the door. Garth held Jahnny\u2019s hand tightly as they entered, the bell above the door jingling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Behind the counter stood a man with thick glasses and a cheap cigar dangling from his lips. He barely looked up as Garth approached, pulling a small bundle from his jacket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d the man asked, his voice gravelly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGot a few watches and wallets,\u201d Garth said, placing the items on the counter. \u201cReal nice stuff. Figured you might be interested.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man picked up one of the watches, examining it under a magnifying glass. \u201cWhere\u2019d you get this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFound it,\u201d Garth said smoothly. \u201cCleaned out a storage unit a few weeks back. You know how it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man snorted but didn\u2019t press further. He set the watch down and picked up a leather wallet, flipping through it quickly. \u201cI\u2019ll give you fifty for the lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFifty? C\u2019mon, Chuck, you can do better than that,\u201d Garth said, leaning on the counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTake it or leave it,\u201d Chuck said, already turning to walk away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFine,\u201d Garth muttered, snatching up the bills that Chuck tossed onto the counter. He stuffed the money into his pocket and gestured for Jahnny to follow him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As they stepped back into the sunlight, Jahnny hesitated. \u201cThose wallets weren\u2019t yours, were they?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth crouched down, his expression softening. \u201cListen, kid. You gotta understand somethin\u2019. The world ain\u2019t fair, especially to people like us. You gotta take what you can get, or someone else will take it from you first. You\u2019ll see that someday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny’s eyes caught on the faint outline of a chalk drawing on the sidewalk\u2014a pink and yellow bunny, its cheerful lines blurred and running in streaks from the morning\u2019s dew. The color clung stubbornly to the cracks in the concrete, refusing to be washed away completely. Jahnny stared at it, his mind snagging on the thought that something so bright could still fade so easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny trailed behind his father as they left the pawn shop, the clink of money in Garth\u2019s pocket feeling heavier than the bills themselves. The air outside smelled of the usual oil and exhaust, the distant hum of traffic blending into the city\u2019s constant noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He kicked at a loose pebble, watching it skip across the cracked pavement. Garth walked ahead, his stride confident, but Jahnny couldn\u2019t shake the memory of how his father had smiled at the shopkeeper\u2014a grin too wide, too fake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy\u2019d you lie about the wallets?\u201d Jahnny blurted, his voice sharper than he intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth glanced back with an expression of annoyance as he gave a heavy sigh. \u201cIt\u2019s not lying,\u201d he said, his tone casual. \u201cIt\u2019s business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut they weren\u2019t yours,\u201d Jahnny pressed, a knot forming in his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth stopped, crouching down so they were eye level. \u201cLook, kid,\u201d he said, his voice softening. \u201cBlenc\u2019s not a place where people play fair. You think that guy in there gives a damn about us? He\u2019d screw me over in a heartbeat if he thought he could. Everyone here\u2019s just tryin\u2019 to stay afloat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny bit his lip, his eyes darting to the dingy pawn shop window. He didn\u2019t like it\u2014didn\u2019t like the lying, the stealing, the way his dad always seemed to be one step ahead of trouble but never ahead of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But then he thought about Betsy\u2019s cries, about the empty fridge at home and the rent jar with its pathetic collection of coins. His father\u2019s words rang in his ears. Everyone\u2019s just tryin\u2019 to stay afloat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rest of the morning passed in a blur of similar stops\u2014churches, shelters, and even a diner where Garth talked the waitress into giving them free coffee. By the time the sun was high overhead, they had amassed a modest haul of cash and food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth grinned as he counted the bills in his pocket, clearly pleased with himself. \u201cNot bad for a morning\u2019s work, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t respond. His mind was too busy grappling with the weight of what he\u2019d seen and heard. For the first time, he wondered if his father\u2019s version of survival was the only way\u2014or just the way Garth had chosen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny shuffled along beside his father, the uneven sidewalk forcing him to watch his step. Garth\u2019s long strides kept them moving at a brisk pace, his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere\u2019re we going, Dad?\u201d Jahnny asked, his breath puffing in the cold morning air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth glanced down at him, his grin flashing for a moment before fading. \u201cJust a little job, champ. Nothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat kind of job?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe kind that pays,\u201d Garth said, his tone sharp enough to end the conversation. But when Jahnny\u2019s frown deepened, he sighed and crouched down to meet his son\u2019s eyes. \u201cLook, it\u2019s a simple thing. There\u2019s this clinic that needs help with\u2026 tests. They\u2019re paying good money, and it\u2019s easy work. You just gotta follow their instructions for a bit. Eat some vitamins, answer some questions. That\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s brows knit together. \u201cWhy me? Why not you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2019Cause they\u2019re lookin\u2019 for smart kids like you,\u201d Garth said, ruffling his hair. \u201cYou\u2019re the perfect age for this kinda thing. They\u2019re gonna love you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t respond. Something about the way his dad said \u201cperfect age\u201d didn\u2019t sit right. But Garth was already standing, brushing off his knees and gesturing for Jahnny to keep walking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Massachatta Research Institute looked more like an office building than anything else, its clean glass doors a stark contrast to the dingy streets outside. Garth pulled Jahnny inside, the warmth of the lobby wrapping around them like a blanket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A young woman sat behind the front desk, her polished smile bright but tired. She glanced up as they approached, her eyes flicking between Garth and Jahnny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood morning,\u201d she said, her tone practiced. \u201cHow can I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re here for the clinical trial,\u201d Garth said smoothly, resting his hand on Jahnny\u2019s shoulder. \u201cThis here\u2019s my boy. Name\u2019s Jahnny Harper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The receptionist\u2019s smile faltered. She glanced at her clipboard, then back at Jahnny. \u201cThis trial is for children ten and older. Is he\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s ten,\u201d Garth said quickly, flashing his most charming grin. \u201cJust turned last month. Can\u2019t you tell? Big for his age.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny blinked, his lips parting in confusion. He wasn\u2019t ten\u2014he was seven. But Garth\u2019s hand squeezed his shoulder, a silent warning to keep quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight,\u201d the receptionist said, her tone skeptical. She flipped through her papers, her brows furrowing slightly. \u201cI\u2019ll need you to fill out some forms before we proceed. They include questions about medical history, any current medications, things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo problem,\u201d Garth said, grabbing the clipboard and pen she handed him. He nudged Jahnny toward one of the lobby chairs. \u201cSit tight, buddy. I\u2019ll handle this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Jahnny sat down, his legs swinging nervously, he watched his dad scribble on the forms. The way Garth\u2019s pen darted across the page, barely pausing to read, made his stomach twist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The low hum of fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Garth and Jahnny stepped into the clean, sterile lobby of the Massachatta Research Institute. The contrast between the polished floors and the rough streets they\u2019d walked that morning was jarring. Everything inside gleamed unnaturally, from the oversized potted plants to the receptionist\u2019s desk, which looked like it belonged in a sci-fi movie. Garth walked with the confidence of someone who had convinced himself he belonged, his arm draped protectively over Jahnny\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny glanced around nervously, his small frame almost swallowed up by his oversized hoodie. The sight of people in lab coats and surgical masks made his stomach churn. He tightened his grip on his dad\u2019s hand, though Garth\u2019s grip on him was firm and unrelenting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfternoon,\u201d Garth said smoothly as they approached the desk. His voice had that too-friendly tone he used when he wanted something. \u201cWe\u2019re here for the clinical trials. Name\u2019s Garth Harper, and this here\u2019s my boy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The receptionist, a young woman with a professional smile that didn\u2019t quite reach her eyes, glanced down at Jahnny. \u201cFor the pediatric trials?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s the one,\u201d Garth said, nodding. \u201cMy boy\u2019s eager to help out, ain\u2019t ya, buddy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t respond. He kept his head down, studying the polished floor as if the speckles in the tile would offer some kind of escape route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The receptionist\u2019s eyes narrowed slightly. \u201cWe typically require participants to be at least ten years old.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s ten,\u201d Garth said quickly. \u201cJust turned last month. Can\u2019t you tell? Big for his age.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s heart skipped. He wasn\u2019t anywhere near ten, and anyone with half a brain could see that. But the receptionist didn\u2019t argue. She sighed and began typing into her computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright,\u201d she said, her tone clipped. \u201cI\u2019ll need you to fill out some paperwork to confirm his eligibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course, of course,\u201d Garth said, grinning. He nudged Jahnny toward one of the chairs. \u201cSit tight, champ. Let your old man handle this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny sat down, his legs swinging over the edge of the chair as he watched his father. Garth leaned casually against the counter, answering the woman\u2019s questions with practiced ease. Every answer was a lie\u2014Jahnny\u2019s age, his medical history, even the part where Garth claimed he was a single father struggling to make ends meet. Garth painted himself as a picture of noble sacrifice, doing whatever it took to provide for his boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The receptionist handed Garth a clipboard with several pages of fine print. Garth skimmed them quickly, barely reading the words before scribbling his signature at the bottom of each page. He handed the clipboard back with a flourish, flashing his toothy grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll set?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The receptionist hesitated. \u201cJust a moment. I\u2019ll have a nurse escort you to the testing area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As she made a call, Garth turned to Jahnny, his grin softening into something almost fatherly. \u201cSee, kid? Easy. We\u2019ll be in and out, and I\u2019ll take you for some ice cream after.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny nodded, though his unease didn\u2019t fade. He didn\u2019t like lying, even if his dad acted like it was no big deal. But he didn\u2019t want to disappoint him either. Garth was the only one who ever treated him like he mattered, like he was special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A tall man in scrubs appeared a few minutes later, his face unreadable behind a surgical mask. \u201cFollow me,\u201d he said, gesturing for them to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth led the way, keeping his hand firmly on Jahnny\u2019s shoulder as they followed the nurse down a long, sterile hallway. The further they went, the colder the air seemed to get. Jahnny glanced at the doors they passed, each one marked with a room number and a warning sign about biohazards or restricted access. He thought he heard faint voices behind some of them, or the occasional beep of a machine, but the hall itself was eerily quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They stopped at a door marked \u201cRoom 4.\u201d The nurse opened it and stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. Inside was a small exam room, no larger than a walk-in closet. A single exam table sat in the middle, flanked by a rolling stool and a counter cluttered with medical supplies. Jahnny\u2019s eyes were drawn to the vials and syringes neatly arranged on a metal tray. He swallowed hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTake a seat,\u201d the nurse said, his tone flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny hesitated, but Garth gave him a little push. \u201cGo on, kiddo. It\u2019s just like the doctor\u2019s office.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reluctantly, Jahnny climbed onto the exam table. The paper crinkled loudly under him as he shifted uncomfortably. The nurse wheeled over a stool and began taking Jahnny\u2019s vitals. He checked his pulse, blood pressure, and temperature with quick efficiency, scribbling notes on a clipboard as he worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nurse handed Jahnny a small plastic cup filled with pills, their glossy colors unnatural under the sterile fluorescence of the exam room. \u201cYou\u2019ll need to take one of these every morning and evening. They\u2019re part of the trial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stared at the pills, his small fingers gripping the edge of the exam table. They looked like candy, but their shimmering colors reminded him of oil slicks on puddles\u2014bright on the surface but hiding something dangerous underneath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth snatched the cup before Jahnny could take it, holding it up to the light like it might reveal a secret. \u201cWhat are these, exactly?\u201d he asked, his tone almost casual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExperimental supplements,\u201d the nurse replied, adjusting his mask. \u201cDesigned to enhance cognitive function in children. Perfectly safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth nodded, clearly satisfied with the vague explanation. He handed the cup to Jahnny, who took it hesitantly, his stomach turning from the uncertainty, he could feel the nurse\u2019s eyes on him, clinical and indifferent. , but his farther leaned towards him with a smile and wink, saying “C’mon, champ. Down the hatch.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tossing one of the pills into his mouth, wincing as its bitter taste spread across his tongue, Jahnny felt as through he wasn’t just swallowing a piece of medicine, but a piece of himself he couldn’t get back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nurse set the clipboard aside and picked up a syringe. \u201cWe\u2019ll also need to administer a small injection. It\u2019s part of the protocol.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny froze. \u201cA shot?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s nothing, buddy,\u201d Garth said, ruffling his hair. \u201cJust a little pinch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s hands gripped the edge of the table as the nurse swabbed his arm with alcohol. The sharp prick of the needle made him flinch, but he didn\u2019t cry out. Garth beamed at him like he\u2019d just won a medal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSee? Tough as nails,\u201d Garth said. \u201cThat\u2019s my boy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nurse pressed a cotton ball to Jahnny\u2019s arm and taped it in place. He handed Garth an envelope, its edges bulging slightly. \u201cYour compensation for today\u2019s visit. We\u2019ll see you next week for the follow-up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth tucked the envelope into his jacket with a satisfied grin. \u201cThanks, doc. You\u2019ve been a real help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nurse didn\u2019t respond. He was already sanitizing the equipment as Garth and Jahnny left the room. His arm throbbed where the needle had been, and his mouth still tasted faintly of the pills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He trudged silently beside his father, his small feet scuffing against the pavement. The unease in his chest felt like a weight pressing down on him, growing heavier with every step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back in the lobby, Garth couldn\u2019t resist a peek into the envelope. The sight of crisp bills made his grin stretch wider. \u201cNot bad for a day\u2019s work, huh?\u201d he said, clapping Jahnny on the back. \u201cLet\u2019s grab some grub and head home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny nodded, but his mind lingered on the pills and the shot. He didn\u2019t know what they were really for, and he wasn\u2019t sure he wanted to. But he didn\u2019t say anything. He never did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The cold air hit Jahnny like a slap as they stepped outside the clinic. He pulled his hoodie tighter around him, his arm still sore from the injection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth walked beside him, his hand resting on the bulging envelope in his jacket pocket. \u201cYou did good in there, champ,\u201d he said. \u201cReal good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t answer right away. He kicked at a piece of trash on the sidewalk, his mind racing. \u201cWhy\u2019d you tell them I was ten?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth slowed, his grin faltering for a fraction of a second. \u201cBecause that\u2019s how this works,\u201d he said finally. \u201cThey\u2019ve got rules, and sometimes you gotta bend \u2019em a little to get by. No harm done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny frowned. \u201cBut what if I get sick? Or something bad happens?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNothing bad\u2019s gonna happen,\u201d Garth said, his tone growing sharp. \u201cYou heard what they said\u2014those pills are gonna make you smarter, better. This is a good thing, Jahnny. Trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny nodded, but the knot in his chest didn\u2019t loosen. For the rest of the walk home, he stayed quiet, clutching the pill bottle in his pocket like it might hold all the answers he didn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bell above the door jingled as Garth pushed it open, ushering Jahnny into the small, greasy diner. The place smelled like fried bacon and syrup, the air thick with the mingled scents of coffee and overcooked hash browns. Red vinyl booths lined the walls, their cushions patched in places with duct tape. A row of stools faced the counter, where a lone cook flipped pancakes with a cigarette dangling from his lips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPick a spot, kiddo,\u201d Garth said, gesturing to the mostly empty diner. He rubbed his hands together, his mood buoyed by the envelope of cash tucked into his jacket pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny chose a booth near the window, sliding into the seat and pressing his face to the cold glass. Outside, the city was a blur of cracked pavement and grimy storefronts. A woman in a tattered coat shuffled past, dragging a shopping cart filled with cans and plastic bags. Jahnny turned away, his stomach growling loudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth slid into the booth across from him, his grin wide and infectious. \u201cAlright, champ,\u201d he said, holding up the laminated menu like it was a treasure map. \u201cPick your prize. Today, we\u2019re living the high life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny perked up, grabbing the menu eagerly. His usual meals consisted of whatever leftovers were at home\u2014or nothing at all. The thought of ordering something fresh and hot made his mouth water. He scanned the options, his eyes darting between pancakes and burgers, torn between breakfast and lunch. his eyes lit up mistivously as he pointed to the pictures of towering pancakes and greasy burgers. \u201cCan I get both?\u201d he asked, half-joking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth laughed, a real, booming laugh that seemed out of place in Blenc. \u201cYou know what? Sure. You\u2019re a growing boy, right? Eat like a king.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the waitress came over, her hair teased high and her lipstick faded around the edges, Garth flashed her his toothy grin. \u201cTwo coffees to start, darlin\u2019, oh and…\u201d Garth leaned in conspiratorially. “We\u2019ll take the works for this little guy. Pancakes, extra whipped cream, and a bacon cheeseburger on the side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s mouth fell open. \u201cYou\u2019re joking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo I look like I\u2019m joking?\u201d Garth asked, his tone mock-serious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny beamed as the waitress scribbled down their order. “You got it, sugar” she spoke through the reflection of a 40 year old smoker. For the first time in weeks, his stomach growled with anticipation instead of worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth didn\u2019t even glance at the menu, waving at the waitress to leave already. \u201cCheeseburger, extra bacon. Fries on the side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The waitress scribbled their order and sauntered off. Garth leaned back, drumming his fingers on the table. Jahnny sat quietly, his eyes wandering around the diner. A couple of truckers sat at the counter, laughing loudly over their coffee. A man in a frayed suit hunched over a newspaper, stirring his tea with mechanical precision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks, Dad,\u201d Jahnny said, looking back at Garth. \u201cFor letting me skip school today. This was kinda fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, well, you\u2019re my boy,\u201d Garth replied. \u201cGotta show you the ropes, right? One day you\u2019ll understand what it means to do whatever it takes to get by.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny nodded, unsure of what to say. He didn\u2019t really understand, but he liked the attention his dad was giving him. For once, he wasn\u2019t yelling or calling anyone names. It felt\u2026 normal. Almost nice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The waitress returned with their coffee, sliding the chipped mugs across the table. Steam curled lazily into the air, but the dark liquid inside seemed as bitter as the morning. Jahnny grabbed the sugar packets, tearing three open and pouring their contents into his father\u2019s cup with exaggerated care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The grains swirled in the coffee like tiny storms, refusing to dissolve easily. \u201cSweet tooth, huh?\u201d Garth muttered, watching the movement. He took a sip, wincing at the saccharine overload but saying nothing. \u201cGuess you\u2019re lucky you\u2019re a good kid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny smiled faintly, though the words felt hollow. His eyes flicked to the diner\u2019s cracked window, where frost crawled along the edges like veins. Outside, a woman in a torn coat shuffled past, her breath visible in the wintry air. Jahnny wondered if she had sugar for her coffee\u2014if she even had coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their food arrived not long after, the plates steaming and fragrant. Jahnny dug in immediately, cutting into his pancakes and watching the chocolate chips melt into the syrupy pool on his plate. Each bite was rich and sugary, the kind of meal he could only dream about at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny glanced up from his plate, watching as Garth took another drag from his cigarette. The smoke curled lazily above their table, catching the dim light from the flickering overhead bulb. Garth\u2019s eyes were fixed on his phone, his thumb scrolling through a series of messages Jahnny couldn\u2019t see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a moment, his father looked\u2026 distant. Not in the loud, angry way he sometimes got when he\u2019d been drinking, but in a quieter, sadder way. Like he was searching for something he knew he wouldn\u2019t find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDad?\u201d Jahnny said hesitantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth\u2019s head snapped up, his expression softening when he saw Jahnny\u2019s face. \u201cWhat\u2019s up, champ?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2019Course I am,\u201d Garth said, forcing a grin that didn\u2019t quite reach his eyes. He flicked his cigarette into the ashtray and leaned back in his seat. \u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t I be?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t answer. Instead, he looked down at his half-finished pancakes, his fork idly poking at a melting chocolate chip. He thought about the way Garth had yelled at Marie last night, the way he always seemed to be running from something\u2014money he owed, people he\u2019d pissed off, problems he couldn\u2019t fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe he wasn\u2019t really running, Jahnny thought. Maybe he was just stuck. Stuck in a place where the only way to survive was to keep moving, keep hustling, keep lying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny picked up his fork and took another bite, letting the sweetness of the syrup drown out the bitter taste in his mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth tore into his burger, barely pausing to chew, his expression now changing to one of pure bliss. He was already halfway through when his phone buzzed along the table. Picking it up and glancing at the screen, and his cheerful expression darkened. He muttered something under his breath, shoving the phone back into his jacket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny paused mid-bite, syrup dripping from his fork. \u201cEverything okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, fine,\u201d Garth said sharply. He pushed his plate aside, suddenly disinterested in his food. \u201cJust\u2026 business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny nodded, trying not to let the shift in mood dampen his appetite. He finished his pancakes quietly, sneaking glances at his dad. Garth was staring out the window now, his jaw clenched, tapping his fingers on the table in an uneven rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Jahnny finally set his fork down, his plate licked clean, Garth snapped back to attention. He smiled again, but it didn\u2019t reach his eyes. \u201cAlright, buddy. You all set?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Jahnny wiped his hands on a napkin. \u201cThat was really good. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t mention it,\u201d Garth said, waving the waitress over for the check. He paid in cash, leaving extra for a tip before standing up and stretching. \u201cC\u2019mon, let\u2019s head out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As they walked back into the cold air of Blenc\u2019s streets, Jahnny looked up at his dad, the warmth of the meal still sitting in his stomach. For a brief moment, he felt like maybe things weren\u2019t so bad. Maybe his dad wasn\u2019t so bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Garth was already ahead of him, lighting a cigarette and muttering under his breath as he checked his phone again. Jahnny jogged to catch up, the sound of his father\u2019s words drowned out by the city\u2019s noise. The moment, fleeting as it was, had passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hallway of the apartment building was dimly lit, a single flickering bulb casting jittery shadows on the stained walls. Garth led the way, his heavy boots scuffing against the chipped linoleum as Jahnny trailed close behind, clutching his jacket tightly around him. The bottle of pills was nestled deep in his pocket, the cool plastic pressing against his thigh. He could still hear the echo of the nurse\u2019s stern voice in his head, rattling off instructions about dosage and side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBe quiet,\u201d Garth hissed as he reached the apartment door, fishing for the key in his pocket. The door creaked softly as he pushed it open, and they slipped inside like shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The air inside was thick with the faint smell of reheated beans and damp laundry. The familiar sounds of the neighborhood drifted in through a broken window in the living room\u2014distant sirens, a car revving, someone shouting down the block. Jahnny followed his father into the kitchen, careful to keep his footsteps light, but his stomach dropped when he saw her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie was sitting at the small wooden table, arms crossed, her face set in a stony expression. The single bulb above her cast harsh shadows on her tired features, making her look older than she was. She didn\u2019t say anything at first, just watched them with narrowed eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell?\u201d she finally said, her voice low but sharp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth froze for half a beat, then forced a grin. \u201cMarie, sweetheart, didn\u2019t expect you to still be up.\u201d He slipped off his jacket, draping it over the back of a chair like he hadn\u2019t just walked in after dark with their seven-year-old son, whom he took without telling her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere were you?\u201d Marie\u2019s tone was clipped, her eyes shifting to Jahnny, who was doing his best to stay out of the line of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust out makin\u2019 moves, you know how it is,\u201d Garth replied with a casual shrug. \u201cGotta keep the cash flowin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie\u2019s lips pressed into a thin line. \u201cWhat moves? What\u2019s so important you\u2019ve got Jahnny out at this hour?\u201d Her gaze flicked to the boy, her expression softening briefly before hardening again when she returned her focus to Garth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth waved a dismissive hand, chuckling lightly. \u201cRelax, it wasn\u2019t nothin\u2019 dangerous. Just showin\u2019 the boy the ropes, teachin\u2019 him some life lessons. It\u2019s good for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stood silently, his fingers gripping the edge of his pocket where the pill bottle rested. He felt Marie\u2019s gaze land on him again, scrutinizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat kind of life lessons?\u201d she asked coldly. \u201cBecause it smells like a bar in here, Garth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, give me a break,\u201d Garth snapped, his grin faltering. \u201cI\u2019m out here bustin\u2019 my ass for this family while you sit around lookin\u2019 for things to nag about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie shot to her feet, her chair scraping against the floor. \u201cDon\u2019t you dare,\u201d she hissed, her voice trembling with anger. \u201cDon\u2019t you dare pretend like you\u2019re doing this for us. You\u2019re dragging our son into your mess!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMess?\u201d Garth shot back, his tone rising. \u201cYou wanna call puttin\u2019 food on the table a mess?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s voice slipped out before he could stop it. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a bar. We went to this clinic place\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The room fell into a tense silence. Jahnny immediately regretted speaking. Garth\u2019s head snapped around to glare at him, but it was too late. Marie\u2019s eyes widened as she took a step closer, her gaze darting between the two of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA clinic?\u201d she repeated, her voice shaking. \u201cWhat clinic?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt ain\u2019t what you think,\u201d Garth said quickly, raising his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat clinic?\u201d Marie demanded, her voice louder now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s just some trial thing,\u201d Jahnny mumbled, looking down at his shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie\u2019s expression darkened as she turned on Garth. \u201cYou signed him up for clinical trials? Are you out of your damn mind?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth rolled his eyes, snatching his jacket off the chair. \u201cIt\u2019s not a big deal. Just a few pills. They pay good money for this kinda thing. Hell, it\u2019s probably vitamins or somethin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie\u2019s hands trembled as she reached for the jacket. Garth moved to block her, but she was faster, yanking it away and pulling out a crumpled packet of papers stuffed into the inner pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her eyes scanned the first page, her face growing paler with each line. \u201cExperimental drug trials?\u201d she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. \u201cGarth, he\u2019s seven! Seven!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, and he\u2019s a tough kid,\u201d Garth snapped. \u201cIt\u2019s not like they\u2019re cuttin\u2019 him open or anything. You\u2019re blowin\u2019 this way outta proportion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie\u2019s hands clenched around the papers. \u201cYou are unbelievable. You\u2019re gambling with our son\u2019s health, Garth. For what? A quick buck?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo keep this damn family afloat!\u201d Garth roared, slamming his fist on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny flinched, his small frame trembling as he stood rooted to the spot. Marie didn\u2019t back down, stepping closer to Garth, her fury palpable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, you\u2019re doing this to feed your own addictions,\u201d she spat. \u201cDon\u2019t you dare pretend you\u2019re some kind of savior. You\u2019re a selfish bastard, and you know it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth\u2019s face twisted, his hands balling into fists at his sides. \u201cYeah? Well, if I\u2019m so selfish, maybe you should figure out how to pay the rent next month without me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny wished he could disappear. The tension in the room was suffocating, and he felt like a pawn caught in a battle he didn\u2019t understand. His small hand instinctively reached for the pill bottle again, gripping it tightly as if it might anchor him in the storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marie\u2019s voice cracked with emotion. \u201cYou don\u2019t get to do this. Not to him. Not to any<\/em> of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s done now,\u201d Garth snapped, grabbing the papers from her hands. \u201cAnd guess what? He\u2019s fine. Ain\u2019t nothin\u2019 wrong with him, so maybe you should back the hell off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the faint hum of the refrigerator. Marie looked at Jahnny, her eyes filled with worry, then back at Garth with disgust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re not a father,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cYou\u2019re a goddamn leech.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth glared at her, then turned on his heel. \u201cCome on, Jahnny. We\u2019re leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny hesitated, looking back at his mother. Her face softened as she reached out a hand to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStay, Jahnny,\u201d she pleaded. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to go with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Garth\u2019s voice cut through the moment like a blade. \u201cGet your coat, kid. Now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny swallowed hard, his small legs carrying him toward the door as he followed his father out into the cold night air that hit him like a slap, biting through his thin coat as he followed his father down the decaying steps of their apartment building. Garth moved fast, his long strides fueled by anger, muttering a string of curses under his breath. Jahnny had to jog to keep up, his small feet slapping against the pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat woman,\u201d Garth snarled, his voice low but venomous. \u201cThinks she can talk to me like that? After everything I\u2019ve done for her, for this family? Ungrateful bitch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny kept his head down, the pill bottle in his pocket feeling heavier with every step. He wasn\u2019t sure what he was supposed to say, so he said nothing, his breath puffing in little clouds in front of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLeech?\u201d Garth spat, his voice rising. \u201cShe called me a damn leech? I\u2019m the one out here bustin\u2019 my ass to keep a roof over their heads!\u201d He stopped abruptly, turning to look at Jahnny with wild eyes. \u201cAin\u2019t I, kid? You saw me tonight, right? Workin\u2019 hard, doin\u2019 what it takes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny nodded quickly, not wanting to set him off. \u201cYeah, Dad,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDamn right,\u201d Garth muttered, his jaw clenched. \u201cUngrateful. The whole lot of \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They walked in silence for a while, the city around them eerily quiet. Most of the streetlights in their neighborhood were busted, leaving only the glow of a distant liquor store sign to light their way. The cold crept into Jahnny\u2019s fingers, numbing them even though he shoved his hands deep into his pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019re we gonna do, Dad?\u201d he asked hesitantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth stopped walking and let out a long, angry breath. He looked up and down the street, as if searching for an answer in the cracked pavement or boarded-up windows. \u201cHell if I know,\u201d he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. \u201cShe\u2019ll lock me out, I know she will. Can\u2019t go back in there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny shuffled his feet, his gaze drifting back toward their building. The dim outline of their apartment window was visible from where they stood, a warm rectangle of light cutting through the darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth followed his son\u2019s gaze, his expression hardening. \u201cYou know what? Fuck this,\u201d Garth hissed, his voice tight with rage. His chest heaved as if he were choking on the weight of his own failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny watched, frozen, as his father stooped down and picked up a jagged piece of brick from the crumbling curb. Garth turned it over in his hand, the rough edges catching the faint light from the liquor store sign down the street. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, as if the rock itself were mocking him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDad,\u201d Jahnny said nervously, his small voice trembling. \u201cWhat are you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The brick flew before Jahnny could finish, its trajectory cutting through the cold night air. It shattered the kitchen window with a thunderous crash, scattering shards of glass onto the pavement below. Jahnny flinched as the fragments sparkled in the streetlight, sharp and fleeting, like broken stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From above, the dim light of their apartment spilled out through the jagged hole, casting fractured shadows on the pavement. It reminded Jahnny of a wound that wouldn\u2019t heal. \u201cWhat the hell is wrong with you, Garth?!” Marie’s voice erupted, sharp and furious. “Are you insane!?” she said as she peaked from the new-made hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth just stood there, breathing hard, his fists clenched at his sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGet out of here!\u201d Marie\u2019s voice rang out again, louder, more frantic this time. \u201cYou\u2019re not coming back in, you hear me? You\u2019re not welcome here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A baby\u2019s wail cut through the night, piercing and desperate. Jahnny winced, recognizing Betsy\u2019s cry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, great,\u201d Marie shouted, her voice muffled but still furious. \u201cYou woke the baby, you son of a bitch!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth\u2019s face twisted into a sneer. \u201cYeah, well, maybe you shoulda kept your mouth shut!\u201d he yelled back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The window above them slid open, and Marie leaned out, her face red with anger. \u201cYou think you\u2019re a big man, huh? Throwing rocks like a goddamn child? You\u2019re pathetic, Garth. Pathetic!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth took a step closer, his voice rising. \u201cPathetic? I\u2019m the only one keeping this family afloat! You\u2019re the one sittin\u2019 on your ass all day, complaining about everything I do!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny shrank back, trying to make himself invisible as the argument escalated. Marie\u2019s face twisted in rage, and she threw something down\u2014a plastic bowl, which clattered harmlessly on the pavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t you dare blame me for your mess!\u201d she screamed. \u201cYou\u2019re the one who gambled away everything we had. You\u2019re the one who\u2019s ruined this family!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Betsy\u2019s cries grew louder, a frantic backdrop to the shouting match. Jahnny\u2019s stomach churned as he glanced up at the broken window. He wanted to yell at them to stop, to do something to make it all go away, but he was frozen in place, his small frame trembling in the cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCome on, kid,\u201d Garth growled suddenly, grabbing Jahnny\u2019s arm. \u201cWe\u2019re done here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stumbled as Garth dragged him down the street, away from the apartment building and the sound of his mother\u2019s yelling. He looked back once, catching a glimpse of Marie leaning out of the window, her face still contorted with anger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The night swallowed them up, the shadows growing darker as they left the warmth of the apartment\u2019s light behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A short while later, Garth had broken them into one of the many abandoned homes along the outskirts of their block. And as Jahnny lay awake on the stiff mattress they\u2019d borrowed for the night from one of the other homeless, staring at the water-stained ceiling above him. The faint sound of sirens echoed in the distance, a constant reminder of the world outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beside him, Garth snored softly, his face slack and peaceful in the dim light. It was strange, seeing him like this\u2014so calm, so human. Jahnny turned his head, studying the faint lines on his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He thought about the rock, the way Garth had hurled it with such force, such anger. It wasn\u2019t just at Marie, Jahnny realized. It was at everything\u2014at the city, at the bills they couldn\u2019t pay, at the way life seemed to close in on them a little more every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But who could he blame for that? The city didn\u2019t care. The gangs didn\u2019t care. Even Marie, as strong as she was, couldn\u2019t fight the weight of it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe the rock wasn\u2019t about breaking a window, Jahnny thought. Maybe it was about breaking something else\u2014something bigger, something that had been crushing Garth for as long as Jahnny could remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy can\u2019t you just stop?\u201d Jahnny whispered, his voice too soft for Garth to hear. But even as he asked, he knew the answer. His father didn\u2019t know how to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The morning light trickled through the broken slats of the boarded-up windows, casting fractured patterns on the dusty floor. Jahnny woke to the sound of heavy footsteps, still groggy from the restless night on the cold, hard ground. His father\u2019s arm had been draped over him, heavy and protective, but now that weight was ripped away in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The commotion was startling. Jahnny scrambled upright, blinking in confusion. His father, Garth, was yanked to his feet by two massive men. They were built like walls, their faces hard and devoid of mercy. One had a scar slashing down his cheek, the other wore a gold chain so thick it seemed like armor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWha\u2014what the hell?\u201d Garth spluttered, struggling against their iron grip. \u201cGet your hands off me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But his protests were ignored. Jahnny\u2019s heart pounded in his chest as he shrank back against the wall, his small frame trembling. Then, a voice cut through the tension, calm but cold enough to chill the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, well, look who we have here,\u201d the man drawled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big Ray emerged from the shadows like a figure carved out of Blenc itself\u2014hulking, unyielding, and devoid of mercy. His neatly trimmed beard and tailored coat seemed almost absurd in their precision, contrasting sharply with the decay that clung to everything else in the room. Yet they only added to his menace, as if he were both predator and king of this crumbling jungle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray\u2019s eyes gleamed, not just with cruelty, but with the weight of someone who had outlasted countless others in this unforgiving city. His presence filled the room like Blenc\u2019s smog\u2014thick, choking, and impossible to escape. He didn\u2019t just belong to Blenc; he was Blenc, every crack in the pavement and every boarded-up window given human form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRay,\u201d Garth stammered, his bravado crumbling. \u201cListen, man, I was gonna\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou were gonna what, Garth?\u201d Ray interrupted, his voice smooth as silk. He stepped closer, his polished shoes clicking against the concrete floor. \u201cGonna finally pay me what you owe? Because that\u2019d be a first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just need more time,\u201d Garth pleaded, his voice cracking. \u201cI\u2019ve got a plan\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before he could finish, the scar-faced man landed a punch to Garth\u2019s stomach, doubling him over. Jahnny cried out, instinctively lurching forward, but froze when Ray turned his gaze on him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStay put, kid,\u201d Ray said, his tone a warning and a promise. Jahnny sank back to the ground, his small hands gripping the edges of his tattered coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been owing me for months, Garth,\u201d Ray said, his voice a low rumble that carried the weight of inevitability. He paced deliberately, his polished shoes clicking on the cracked concrete, each step a reminder of how Blenc rewarded only those who crushed others underfoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMonths of excuses,\u201d he continued, his tone almost bored, as if he were reciting a script he\u2019d memorized long ago. \u201cMonths of bullshit. You know, Garth, I\u2019ve been patient. Haven\u2019t I?\u201d He gestured to the two men flanking him, their expressions as cold and impassive as tombstones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cY-yeah,\u201d Garth wheezed, clutching his stomach, his voice barely audible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut patience doesn\u2019t pay my bills,\u201d Ray said, his eyes narrowing. \u201cAnd it sure as hell doesn\u2019t keep my boys fed.\u201d He glanced at his men, who cracked their knuckles in perfect synchronization, like machinery built to enforce Blenc\u2019s brutal order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray leaned down, meeting Garth\u2019s eyes. \u201cYou\u2019re not just a debtor, Garth. You\u2019re part of the cycle. Blenc eats people like you as partial snacks\u2014and I\u2019m just the one holding the fork.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, no, no, please!\u201d Garth begged as the beating began. The punches came heavy and relentless, each one echoing through the empty building. Jahnny could only watch, his eyes wide with terror, as his father was reduced to a whimpering heap on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStop!\u201d Jahnny\u2019s voice cracked as he finally found the courage to speak. \u201cPlease, stop! You\u2019re hurting him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray turned to look at Jahnny, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face. \u201cHurting him, huh? Kid, your old man\u2019s been hurting himself for years. This is just catching up to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d Garth croaked, spitting blood onto the floor. \u201cDon\u2019t touch the boy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray crouched down to Jahnny\u2019s level, his large frame towering even as he lowered himself. \u201cI ain\u2019t gonna hurt you, kid,\u201d he said, his voice almost gentle. \u201cYou\u2019re worth too much to me for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny recoiled, pressing himself tighter against the wall. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray leaned closer, his breath warm and sour, his breath a mix of mint and whiskey. \u201cA kid like you? Small, scrappy, kinda cute when you\u2019re not cryin\u2019? You\u2019re a goldmine. People\u2019ll pay a lot for a kid like you to run errands, do odd jobs\u2026 whatever they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d Jahnny whispered, shaking his head. \u201cNo, I\u2019m not gonna\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou don\u2019t get a choice, boy,\u201d Ray said, his voice hardening. \u201cYour daddy here owes me, and you\u2019re how I\u2019m gonna collect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLeave him alone,\u201d Garth rasped from the floor, struggling to sit up. \u201cI\u2019ll get you the money, Ray. I swear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been swearing that for months,\u201d Ray shot back, standing to his full height. \u201cAnd I\u2019m done believing you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray\u2019s sharp nod was like a judge\u2019s gavel, sealing the sentence. His men grabbed Jahnny, lifting him as easily as if he weighed nothing at all. The boy kicked and squirmed, his small cries swallowed by the oppressive silence of the alley, but the men\u2019s grip was unyielding\u2014like Blenc\u2019s grip on everyone who thought they could escape it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet him go!\u201d Garth shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. He clawed at the floor, trying to pull himself up, but another kick to his ribs sent him spawling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray turned back once, his expression unreadable. \u201cGarth,\u201d he said, almost gently, \u201cyou\u2019ve always been a part of Blenc, just like me. But the difference is, I don\u2019t pretend to be anything else. That\u2019s why I win. And that\u2019s why you lose.\u201d With a clap, Ray dropped a hundred dollar bill on the ground. “You’ve got forty-eight hours to pay up. After that, the boy starts earning your keep.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s chest heaved as he was shoved outside, the cold bite of the morning burned the tear streaks that continued to run. He twisted in their grip, his wide eyes locking onto his father\u2019s battered form through the broken doorway. \u201cDad! Don\u2019t let them take me! Dad!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Garth didn\u2019t respond. Unable to move, he laid there, beaten and broken, slumped against the wall, only watching as Ray and his men hauled Jahnny down the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In that moment, the illusion shattered. The protective, larger-than-life figure Jahnny had always seen in his father crumbled to nothing. All he could hear was the pounding of his own heart, the scrape of his shoes against the pavement, and Ray\u2019s chilling laughter echoing in his ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStop squirming, kid,\u201d Scar-Face growled, his voice low and menacing. \u201cYou\u2019re only making it worse for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s lip quivered, but he refused to cry out again. He didn\u2019t want to give them the satisfaction. His eyes darted around the deserted street, searching for anyone who might help, but the early morning kept most people inside. The few that were out\u2014a woman hurrying to her car, an old man sweeping his stoop\u2014turned their gazes away. Nobody wanted to get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray followed behind them, his hands tucked casually into his coat pockets. He strolled as if they were taking a morning walk, his polished shoes tapping against the pavement. \u201cYou\u2019re a lucky kid,\u201d he said, his voice carrying over the sound of Jahnny\u2019s shuffling feet. \u201cMost folks your age don\u2019t get to learn how the world really works until they\u2019re much older.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny turned his head, glaring at Ray through tear-filled eyes. \u201cYou\u2019re a bad man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray laughed, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down Jahnny\u2019s spine. \u201cBad? Maybe. But your old man? He\u2019s the one who brought you into this mess. Don\u2019t blame me for cleaning it up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s fists clenched at his sides. His father\u2019s bloodied face flashed in his mind, but so did the anger in his mother\u2019s voice last night. He wasn\u2019t sure who to be mad at anymore. It all felt like a terrible dream he couldn\u2019t wake up from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They turned a corner into a narrow alley, the dim light barely reaching the cracked walls and overflowing dumpsters. Scar-Face shoved Jahnny forward, forcing him to stumble to his knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere\u2019s fine,\u201d Ray said, stopping in a narrow alley where the walls seemed to close in on all sides. The distant glow of a streetlamp barely touched his face as he crouched in front of Jahnny. His presence filled the space, a living embodiment of Blenc\u2019s inescapable rot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cListen up, kid,\u201d he said, his voice low but commanding. \u201cI don\u2019t wanna hurt you. You\u2019re valuable\u2014alive, kickin\u2019, and doing whatever you’re told. But Blenc don\u2019t give anyone a free ride. It takes what it wants, and I\u2019m just here to make sure it gets paid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray gestured to the crumbling walls around them, streaked with graffiti and grime. \u201cYou see this place? This alley? It\u2019s not just bricks and trash. It\u2019s Blenc. It\u2019s everything your daddy\u2019s running from. Everything you\u2019re running toward. And you? You\u2019re part of it now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny glared up at him, his chest heaving. \u201cI hate you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray chuckled again, shaking his head. \u201cThat\u2019s fine. You\u2019ll get over it. What you need to know is this: your old man\u2019s a loser. Always has been, always will be. He\u2019s got nothing left to give me but you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re lying,\u201d Jahnny spat, the fire in his voice surprising even himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray smirked. \u201cAm I? You think he\u2019s gonna come up with my money in the next two days? He can\u2019t even keep the lights on in that dump you call home. If he cared about you, he wouldn\u2019t have put you in this position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t answer. He stared at the ground, his small hands clutching the fabric of his pants. Deep down, he knew Ray wasn\u2019t lying. But he didn\u2019t want to believe it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere\u2019s how this is gonna work,\u201d Ray said, his voice smooth as oil. He straightened, towering over Jahnny like one of Blenc\u2019s looming smokestacks\u2014tall, dark, and choking the life out of everything below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re gonna stay with me for a while,\u201d Ray continued, adjusting the thick gold chain around his neck. It caught the faint light, glinting like a predator\u2019s teeth. \u201cDo some odd jobs, run some errands. Nothing too hard for a smart kid like you. And if your dad pays up? You go home. If not\u2026\u201d He paused, letting the silence stretch until it felt like a noose tightening around Jahnny\u2019s tiny frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The boy\u2019s breath hitched, his eyes fixed on the chain, he could feel his hands becoming clamy. It swung slightly with Ray\u2019s movements, its weight seeming to grow heavier with every word. Jahnny clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The smell of garbage and diesel filled the air, but it wasn\u2019t enough to drown out the sickening weight of Ray\u2019s offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou can\u2019t do this,\u201d Jahnny said, his voice trembling. \u201cIt\u2019s not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFair?\u201d Ray said, a sharp laugh escaping his lips. He crouched down to Jahnny\u2019s level, his gold chain swinging like a pendulum. \u201cKid, fair doesn\u2019t exist here. Blenc doesn\u2019t do fair. Blenc does survival. Fair\u2019s just a word people use when they\u2019re too weak to take what they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He stood again, towering over Jahnny, his shadow swallowing the boy whole. \u201cBlenc\u2019s a machine, and you\u2019re just another gear. Turn the way you\u2019re supposed to, or you\u2019ll get ground to dust. That\u2019s how this city works. That\u2019s how it\u2019s always worked.\u201d With a sudden frown appearing across his face, as if he smelled something awful, he gestured towards his men to take the boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s heart sank as Scar-Face and Gold-Chain grabbed him again, lifting him off the ground. He thrashed and kicked, his cries echoing off the walls of the alley, but their strength was unyielding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The van waited just around the corner, its black paint swallowing the dim light like a void. The back doors swung open with a metallic groan, revealing an interior that felt more like a trap than a vehicle. Empty bottles and crumpled wrappers littered the floor, their sour smells mixing with the faint scent of rust and oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny hesitated, his thin figure framed against the dark rectangle of the van\u2019s opening. It yawned before him like a hungry beast, ready to swallow him whole before suddenly he found himself being thrown inside like a sack of potatoes, his body hitting the cold metal floor with a thud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The doors slammed shut behind him, plunging him into darkness. He scrambled to sit up, his small hands feeling for an escape, but the sound of the locks clicking into place dashed his hopes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the engine roared to life, Jahnny hugged his knees to his chest, his breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. His mind raced with thoughts of his family, of his home, of the little bottle of pills still tucked in his pocket. His whole world had been turned upside down in a matter of hours, and he had no idea how to fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the front seat, Ray lit a cigar, the glow of the embers briefly illuminating his face. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, kid,\u201d he called back, his voice smooth and heavy, like tar seeping into cracks. \u201cYou\u2019ll get used to it. Everyone does.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words hung in the air like the smog outside, thick and suffocating. Ray didn\u2019t look back as he spoke, his broad shoulders framed by the dim light filtering into the van. \u201cBlenc\u2019s got a way of breaking people in\u2014kids like you, men like your dad, it don\u2019t matter. You\u2019ll learn real quick there\u2019s only one way to survive here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t answer, his small frame trembling as the van rumbled to life. The stench of old cigarettes and grease filled his nose, and the hum of the engine vibrated through him like the music that played at church the one time his mom took him and his sisters. His fingers curled into fists in his lap, Ray\u2019s laughter followed him, low and cruel, wrapping around him like the city itself, a reminder that escape wasn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou think I\u2019ll just do what you say,\u201d Jahnny muttered, his voice barely audible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scar-Face laughed from the front seat. \u201cWhat\u2019s that, boy? Speak up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s throat tightened, but he forced the words out. \u201cI\u2019m not scared of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The laughter stopped. Scar-Face turned in his seat, his sharp eyes locking onto Jahnny. \u201cYou\u2019re not scared?\u201d he repeated, his tone icy. \u201cThat\u2019s cute. But you will be. Blenc\u2019s got a way of teaching little punks like you some respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t answer. His heart pounded, but he held Scar-Face\u2019s gaze, his fists clenched tighter. Deep down, he knew he was scared\u2014terrified, even. But he wasn\u2019t going to let them see it. Not now. Not ever. Never again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some hours had passed since the van stopped and Jahnny was thrown into a skywalk way in the tower that Ray’s men seemed to use as their primary base of operations. His knowledge of the location didn’t much matter, even if he somehow got the cops involved, Jahnny knew from his father’s drunken rants that Ray held several higher police offers under his pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His only company within this walkway was the distant hums of traffic and the occasional drip of water from a rusted pipe. He had already looked for escapes, there was none, none that didn’t involve taking a fall from several stories, anyways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny sat on the cold ground, his knees pulled to his chest, and his back against the wall of planters that lined the edge of the walkway, based on the appearence, someone had tried to make a small green-house out of the walkway, using it’s girdle of glass and formerlly clear-plastic for more than to modern aesthetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But all the plants that had once been in here was dead, now. Laying across the floor and withered at their roots, encompassing him in death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His arm throbbed where one of Ray’s men had shoved him, but he barely felt it now. Instead his mind was focused on the graffitti across the glass before him. The sun shining through it, producing a dampened stain glassed effect of colors over him. Most of it was angry scrawls\u2014gang tags, curses, names no one cared about. No one knew about. But one drawing caught his eye: a crude sketch of a bird, its wings outstretched as if it were trying to take flight. Beyond it’s symbalcy, was the impressive feat that it wasn’t painted from the inside, but instead the outside, where there was no surface for one to stand or even balance from while making the piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the back of his mind, Jahnny could hear the whistles of the bird as his fingers brushed the pill bottle in his pocket. He thought about his father\u2019s promises, his mother\u2019s anger, and Ray\u2019s cruel laughter. Everyone was fighting to survive, but no one was winning. Not his dad. Not his mom. Not him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The thought made his chest ache, but he didn\u2019t cry. Instead, he stared at the bird, focused, its wings smeared and broken. \u201cYou\u2019re not gonna fly, are you?\u201d he whispered. His voice was steady, but the bitterness in it surprised him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He pushed himself to his feet, his jaw tightening. \u201cFine. If no one\u2019s gonna help, I\u2019ll figure it out myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then voices. From outside the door he was thrown in from, they were returning, likely for him as there wasn’t anything of note in the exposed walkway. He readied himself, widening his feet, just like he had seen the boxers do in the movies. He raised his hands, and that’s when he heard the laugh. It wasn’t just his men, but Big Ray himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s fingers ached as he scrubbed the grease-streaked floor of Ray\u2019s hideout, a dimly lit garage that smelled of motor oil, cigarettes, and stale beer. The concrete was ice cold beneath his knees, the thin fabric of his jeans doing little to protect him from the chill. His stomach growled fiercely, reminding him that he\u2019d only had a half-eaten sandwich since yesterday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The chain around his ankle clinked with every movement, its length barely enough to let him reach the sink in the corner. He had tried pulling at it the first night, desperate to get free, but the rusted metal was stronger than it looked, and his raw, bruised hands had paid the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYo, kid!\u201d a voice barked from the other side of the garage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny flinched, his head snapping up to see Scar-Face lounging in a rickety chair by the door. The man was flipping through a deck of cards, his scarred lip curling into a sneer. \u201cYou missed a spot,\u201d he said, pointing at a dark streak of grease near the tires of an old truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny gritted his teeth but didn\u2019t say anything. He couldn\u2019t afford to talk back\u2014not after yesterday, when Ray had given him a harsh lesson about \u201crespect.\u201d The memory of the slap still burned on his cheek, and the humiliation of being reduced to tears in front of the gangsters stung even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He shuffled over to the spot Scar-Face had pointed out, dragging the chain with him. His small hands worked the sponge over the grime, the water in the bucket turning black as it soaked up the filth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFaster,\u201d Scar-Face said, his voice dripping with mockery. \u201cYou think we got all day for this shit?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s jaw tightened, but he forced himself to keep scrubbing. The humiliation of being barked at like a dog was overwhelming, but he didn\u2019t dare stop. He couldn\u2019t risk making Ray angry again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The garage door rumbled open, letting in a blast of cold air that made Jahnny shiver. Ray strolled in, his long coat billowing behind him. He looked as if he\u2019d just stepped out of a business meeting, his sharp suit and polished shoes a stark contrast to the dingy surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMorning, gentlemen,\u201d Ray said, his voice smooth and commanding. He glanced down at Jahnny, who quickly lowered his gaze to the floor. \u201cAnd how\u2019s my little helper doing today?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s slow,\u201d Scar-Face replied, tossing the cards onto the table. \u201cLazy, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray chuckled, pulling a cigar from his pocket. \u201cHe\u2019ll learn.\u201d He crouched down, his cold eyes locking onto Jahnny\u2019s. \u201cWon\u2019t you, kid?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny nodded quickly, his heart pounding in his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood.\u201d Ray patted his cheek in a way that was almost kind, but the gesture made Jahnny\u2019s skin crawl. \u201cKeep at it, and maybe I\u2019ll let you have some real food tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The promise of food was enough to keep Jahnny\u2019s hands moving, even as tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. He bit down on his lip, refusing to let them fall. Crying wouldn\u2019t change anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray straightened up, turning his attention to Scar-Face. \u201cAny word from Garth?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot a peep,\u201d Scar-Face replied, lighting a cigarette. \u201cI told you, boss, the guy\u2019s a deadbeat. Ain\u2019t no way he\u2019s coming up with your money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray exhaled a plume of smoke, his expression thoughtful. \u201cMaybe. But I\u2019ve seen desperate men pull off miracles before. Let\u2019s give him one more day. If he doesn\u2019t show\u2026\u201d He glanced down at Jahnny, a cruel smile curling his lips. \u201cWell, I\u2019m sure we can find other ways to make him useful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s stomach turned at the implication, but he kept his head down, scrubbing furiously as if he could erase himself from the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, boss,\u201d another voice called out. Gold-Chain appeared in the doorway, holding a paper bag. \u201cGot breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray raised an eyebrow. \u201cFor me, I assume?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gold-Chain shrugged. \u201cThought maybe the kid could use a bite. Looks like he\u2019s gonna keel over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray glanced at Jahnny, who dared to look up, hope flickering in his wide eyes. After a moment, Ray nodded. \u201cFine. Give him half.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gold-Chain walked over, setting the bag on the floor in front of Jahnny. He pulled out a slightly squished egg sandwich, tearing it in two and handing the smaller piece to the boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny muttered a quiet \u201cthank you\u201d before devouring the sandwich in a few bites. It wasn\u2019t much, but the taste of warm food was enough to give him a glimmer of strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t get used to it, kid,\u201d Gold-Chain said, ruffling Jahnny\u2019s hair in a way that was almost affectionate. \u201cYou\u2019re still on thin ice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny swallowed hard, nodding as he returned to his scrubbing. His stomach still ached with hunger, but at least it wasn\u2019t empty anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hours dragged on, filled with the sound of clinking chains and muttered orders. By the time the sun began to set, Jahnny\u2019s hands were raw and blistered, his knees aching from kneeling on the hard floor. But he didn\u2019t complain. He couldn\u2019t afford to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As night fell, Ray and his crew gathered around a table, counting stacks of cash and planning their next moves. Jahnny was left to huddle in the corner, the chain around his ankle a constant reminder of his captivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He stared at the dim bulb hanging from the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts of escape. But every time he thought he had a plan, he\u2019d glance at the men and lose his nerve. They were too big, too strong, and too ruthless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For now, all he could do was wait and hope that someone\u2014anyone\u2014would come to save him. But deep down, he wasn\u2019t sure anyone would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny sat on the edge of an old wooden crate, his knees pulled up to his chest, the chain around his ankle biting into his skin. The garage had grown quieter as the hours ticked by, but the weight of the silence pressed on him like a storm about to break. Ray stood across the room, leaning casually against the hood of an old car, a cigarette dangling between his fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only sound was the faint crackle of the cigarette paper as Ray inhaled, letting the smoke curl lazily out of his mouth. His cold, calculating gaze was locked onto Jahnny, making the boy feel like a mouse caught in the claws of a predator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cY\u2019know,\u201d Ray began, his voice calm, almost friendly, \u201cyour old man\u2019s got about\u2026 fifteen minutes left.\u201d He tapped the face of his silver watch, its gleaming surface catching the dim light. \u201cFifteen minutes to walk through that door with my money, or\u2026\u201d He trailed off, letting the silence hang heavy in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny swallowed hard, his throat dry and aching. \u201cHe\u2019s\u2026 he\u2019s coming,\u201d he whispered, more to himself than to Ray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray smirked, shaking his head. \u201cKid, you got a lot to learn about the world. Rule number one?\u201d He raised a finger, his voice dropping an octave. \u201cAin\u2019t no heroes. Not in real life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words hit Jahnny like a punch to the gut. He wanted to argue, to scream that his dad would come through, that his family wouldn\u2019t abandon him. But deep down, a seed of doubt had already taken root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray pushed off the car, tossing the cigarette butt to the ground and crushing it under his polished shoe. He crossed the room with slow, deliberate steps, each one echoing in the stillness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere\u2019s the thing, kid.\u201d He crouched down to Jahnny\u2019s level, his sharp features cast in shadow. \u201cYour daddy? He\u2019s a loser. Always has been, always will be. And you?\u201d He grabbed Jahnny\u2019s chin, forcing the boy to look him in the eye. \u201cYou\u2019re just collateral.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny yanked his head away, his small fists clenching at his sides. \u201cHe\u2019ll come,\u201d he said again, his voice trembling but defiant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray chuckled, standing back up. \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d He glanced at his watch again, making a show of counting down the seconds. \u201cTen minutes. Nine. Eight\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The countdown felt like it stretched on forever, each number a weight pressing harder on Jahnny\u2019s chest. He stared at the door, willing it to burst open, for his father to come storming in like some kind of savior. But the door remained closed, the garage silent except for the sound of Ray\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThree. Two. One.\u201d Ray clapped his hands together, the sound reverberating through the space. \u201cTime\u2019s up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s heart sank. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He wouldn\u2019t give Ray the satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, can\u2019t say I\u2019m surprised,\u201d Ray said, turning to Scar-Face, who was lounging nearby with a toothpick in his mouth. \u201cMake a note, boys. Garth\u2019s officially a no-show.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scar-Face snickered, pulling a notepad from his pocket. \u201cBig shocker there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray turned back to Jahnny, his smile sharp as a knife. \u201cBut hey, don\u2019t worry. Your dad might be useless, but you?\u201d He gestured dramatically, like a showman unveiling his masterpiece. \u201cYou\u2019re worth something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s stomach twisted. \u201cWhat\u2026 what do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray\u2019s smile widened. \u201cYou got yourself a booking, kid. Top dollar. Local bigwig wanted some time with a fresh face, and you? You fit the bill perfectly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s blood ran cold. He didn\u2019t fully understand what Ray was saying, but the way the man\u2019s words dripped with malice made his skin crawl. \u201cNo\u2026 no, you can\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, but I can,\u201d Ray said, his tone mocking. \u201cAnd the best part? By the time the night\u2019s over, your daddy\u2019s debt will be halfway paid. Ain\u2019t that something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny shook his head, panic rising in his chest. \u201cPlease, don\u2019t\u2026 I\u2019ll be good. I\u2019ll do whatever you want, just\u2014just don\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray raised a hand, silencing him. \u201cRelax, kid. It\u2019s business, nothing personal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scar-Face appeared with a bucket of water and a threadbare towel, tossing them at Jahnny\u2019s feet. \u201cClean yourself up,\u201d he said with a smirk. \u201cBoss wants you looking presentable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny hesitated, his hands trembling as he reached for the bucket. The water was ice cold, sending shivers through his body as he scrubbed at his face and arms. He tried to wash away the grime, but no matter how hard he scrubbed, he couldn\u2019t shake the feeling of dirt clinging to his skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood enough,\u201d Scar-Face said, yanking the towel away before Jahnny could fully dry himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ray snapped his fingers, and two of his men stepped forward, unlocking the chain from Jahnny\u2019s ankle. For a brief moment, hope flickered in his chest\u2014maybe he could run, maybe he could escape\u2014but the men grabbed him firmly by the arms, their grips like iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They led him out of the garage and toward the black van parked outside. The cool night air bit at his damp skin, but it was nothing compared to the fear coursing through him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As they shoved him into the van\u2019s backseat, Ray leaned in, his face inches from Jahnny\u2019s. \u201cRemember, kid,\u201d he said, his voice low and venomous. \u201cAin\u2019t no heroes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The door slammed shut, and the van\u2019s engine roared to life. Jahnny curled up on the seat, his heart pounding in his ears. He didn\u2019t know where they were taking him, but one thing was certain\u2014he was completely alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The van rumbled down the uneven road, the headlights slicing through the dark. Jahnny sat stiffly in the backseat, his small frame trembling as he clutched the edge of the tattered bench. The two men in the front seats chatted casually, their voices blending with the hum of the tires on the cracked asphalt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s mind raced. Every bump in the road jostled him, his fear mounting with every mile that passed. He stared at the dim outlines of the buildings they sped by, the city growing more desolate, more industrial. He wasn\u2019t sure where they were taking him, but his instincts screamed it wasn\u2019t anywhere good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The faint smell of gasoline filled the van, mingling with the musty scent of old upholstery. Jahnny closed his eyes and tried to focus on his breathing, willing himself not to cry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A sharp jerk threw him sideways, his head smacking into the cold metal wall of the van. \u201cWatch it, idiot!\u201d the man in the passenger seat barked, glaring at the driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShut up,\u201d the driver snapped. \u201cThese damn potholes are everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suddenly, there was a deafening sound of squealing tires and a blaring horn. The driver yanked the wheel hard, sending the van careening to the left. Jahnny\u2019s body slammed into the bench, his heart pounding in terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat the hell is that!?\u201d the passenger shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before Jahnny could make sense of what was happening, the world turned upside down. The van lurched violently, flipping over with a sickening crunch of metal. Jahnny screamed as he was thrown into the air, his small body tumbling like a ragdoll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The van rolled once, twice, three times before coming to a screeching halt on its side. Shards of glass sparkled like stars in the dim interior, and the acrid smell of smoke and burning rubber filled Jahnny\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pain exploded through his body as he lay crumpled against the side of the van. His head throbbed, and blood trickled down his forehead, sticky and warm. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the faint wail of sirens, but they seemed miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The driver groaned, his body half-hanging out of the shattered windshield. The passenger was slumped against the dashboard, unconscious or worse. Jahnny tried to move, but his limbs felt like lead, every muscle screaming in protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as darkness began to creep into the edges of his vision, he heard a strange sound\u2014almost like a whistle, high-pitched and jaunty. The van\u2019s side door creaked loudly, the metal groaning as it was ripped open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy god!?\u201d a voice exclaimed, high and cartoonish, like a character from one of the Saturday morning shows Jahnny used to watch. \u201cIs that a child!?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the haze of pain, Jahnny forced his eyes open. Standing in the doorway was a man\u2014or at least, something resembling a man. His silhouette was tall and lanky, his limbs almost comically elongated. The faint glow of the streetlights illuminated his face, stretched into a wide grin that didn\u2019t quite reach his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGoodness me,\u201d the man said, crouching down to peer inside. His head tilted at an unnatural angle, his movements fluid and unsettling. \u201cWhat kind of sick game is this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny tried to speak, but his throat felt like sandpaper, his voice refusing to come out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man leaned closer, his face now inches from Jahnny\u2019s. \u201cDon\u2019t you worry, little one,\u201d he said, his tone oddly soothing despite the chaos around them. \u201cYou\u2019re coming with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s vision blurred, the world fading in and out. He felt the man\u2019s long, cold fingers gently lift him from the wreckage, cradling him like a broken doll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the man carried him away from the ruined van, Jahnny\u2019s mind clung to his last thought before unconsciousness overtook him: Was this another nightmare\u2014or his savior?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stirred, the edges of consciousness creeping in like a cold draft under a door. His entire body felt heavy, leaden, and his arms ached in a way that told him something wasn\u2019t right. His eyes fluttered open, blurry shapes swimming in the dim light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing he noticed was the chains. His arms were stretched above his head, his wrists locked in metal cuffs dangling from thick, rusted links. The sharp, chemical tang of antiseptic filled his nostrils, mingling with the scent of burnt metal and old wood. He tried to move, but the chains groaned ominously, holding firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello?!\u201d His voice cracked, weak and hoarse. Panic surged through him as he twisted, his body protesting with sharp jolts of pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, for heaven\u2019s sake, stop squirming,\u201d a voice drawled from somewhere behind him. It was high-pitched, slippery, and strangely playful, like someone halfway through a drunken joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny craned his neck, his heart hammering as his vision focused on the source of the voice. A man stood across the room, leaning casually against a table littered with strange instruments. He was tall and boney, his skin pale and his eyes hidden behind a pair of red-tinted aviator sunglasses. A cigarette dangled from his lips, the ash dangerously long, teetering on the edge of falling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re awake, huh? That\u2019s something,\u201d the man said, pushing off the table with a lazy grace. He walked toward Jahnny, his gait uneven, as though the floor shifted beneath him. Under the leathery apron that hung from his neck down to his knees was a thin tattooed chest and a pair of pants three sizes two big held up by suspenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cW-where am I?\u201d Jahnny stammered, his throat dry and his voice trembling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man grinned, showing teeth slightly too white to feel natural. \u201cWhere are you?\u201d he echoed, his tone theatrical, as though he were hosting a game show. \u201cWell, my little friend, you\u2019re somewhere between alive and dead, between hell and the waiting room of the ER.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He gestured grandly at the space around them. Jahnny\u2019s eyes darted to the rest of the room, taking in the odd setup. It was a warehouse, clearly abandoned, with crumbling walls and exposed beams. But someone\u2014no, this man\u2014had turned it into a bizarre makeshift lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Strange machines hummed quietly in the corners, their blinking lights casting eerie dancing shadows. Tables were piled high with tangled wires, broken monitors, and jars filled with unidentifiable substances. The walls were lined with chipped, crumbled posters of half-naked women and vintage cars, as though someone had tried to decorate a morgue like a teenager\u2019s bedroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cW-why am I here?\u201d Jahnny managed to choke out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, as though pondering an existential question. \u201cWell, you\u2019re here because I found you. Or rather, you found me. Well, not directly\u2014your mangled little body was basically dumped at my feet by fate. You see, I\u2019m the lucky guy who decided to save your sorry ass.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s heart sank as the words sank in. \u201cSave me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man nodded, taking a long drag from his cigarette before flicking the ash onto the exposed mud floor. \u201cOh, yes. You were in pieces,<\/em> kid. Pieces. Bones shattered like a ceramic piggy bank at a frat party. Blood leaking out of you like cheap whiskey through a busted flask.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He moved closer, peering at Jahnny over the rim of his glasses. His eyes, small and darting, carried a gleam of blood shot manic energy. \u201cHonestly, I was impressed you were even breathing when I found you. But that\u2019s where I come in, my boy. I\u2019ve got the skills, the tools, the magic touch<\/em> to patch you up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny swallowed hard. \u201cWhat did you do to me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man leaned in, his grin widening as he reached up and tapped Jahnny\u2019s arm lightly with his finger. \u201cOh, not much. Just stitched you back together with some borrowed tech. Let\u2019s call it\u2026 experimental medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy am I chained up?\u201d Jahnny asked, his voice barely a whisper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man rolled his eyes dramatically. \u201cOh, please. You think I\u2019m stupid? You\u2019ve got that look. The scrappy little fighter. The runner.<\/em> Last thing I need is you bolting out of here before I\u2019m done with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s stomach churned. \u201cDone with me? What do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRelax, kid,\u201d the man said, waving a dismissive hand. \u201cI\u2019m not some weirdo. Well, not in that<\/em> way. I just need to make sure you\u2019re stable before I cut you loose. You\u2019re a bit of a science project now, and I like my projects to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny struggled against the chains again, but his strength was gone. The man tilted his head, watching him with a mixture of amusement and pity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ll get used to it,\u201d he said, stepping back toward his table. \u201cPain, fear, confusion\u2014it\u2019s all part of growing up. But hey, you\u2019re alive, kid. That\u2019s better than most. Huh!?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the man fiddled with a strange device on the table, Jahnny\u2019s gaze drifted to a nearby reflective surface. His breath caught in his throat as he caught sight of himself for the first time. His arms were bandaged from wrist to shoulder, and patches of his skin were discolored and raw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did what I could,\u201d the man said without looking up. \u201cBut there\u2019s only so much a body can handle. You\u2019re alive, though. That\u2019s what counts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s vision blurred as tears welled up. He wanted to scream, to fight, but he was too weak, too broken. The man\u2019s voice cut through his despair, sharp and unwavering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWelcome to the new you, kid. You\u2019re gonna hate it here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny blinked awake, his mind sluggish but swirling with unease. He couldn\u2019t move\u2014his body felt like it had turned to stone. His breath hitched as he realized he was no longer hanging from chains but strapped to a cold, flat surface. His wrists and ankles were secured with tight leather straps, and a faint hum filled the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh, you\u2019re back with us!\u201d came the now-familiar voice. The man\u2019s peculiar cadence filled the room, chipper and detached, as if this were just another Tuesday for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny tried to speak, but his mouth barely moved, his tongue heavy and uncooperative. The only sound he managed was a soft, garbled whimper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, yeah, I know,\u201d He said, leaning into view. His red-tinted glasses reflected the flickering overhead lights, and his grin was as crooked as ever. \u201cYou\u2019re feeling all numb and fuzzy. That\u2019s the good stuff, kid. Paralytics mixed with just enough of my special cocktail to keep you awake but oh-so-very still. Quite the ride, huh?!\u201d The man said contorting his face into a wicken cartoonish smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He held up a syringe filled with an iridescent liquid, twirling it between his fingers like a baton. \u201cI call this little beauty \u2018Sandman\u2019s Whisper.\u2019 It\u2019s not FDA-approved, but then again, neither am I.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s eyes darted frantically around the room. He couldn\u2019t turn his head, but he caught glimpses of metallic instruments glinting in the dim light, strange machines with tubes and blinking lights, and jars filled with odd, glowing substances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRelax, relax,\u201d The stranger cooed, placing a hand on Jahnny\u2019s forehead. \u201cYou\u2019re in the capable hands of yours truly,<\/em> James Philip-Charles Wolfegang the Third.\u201d He paused, theatrically pointing a finger at the ceiling. \u201cThat\u2019s Doctor James Philip-Charles Wolfegang the Third, in case you\u2019re wondering. And yes, I gave myself the title. Credentials <\/strong>are for cowards!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny wanted to scream, but his throat was a silent prison. His eyes widened as he heard the unmistakable sound of metal scraping against metal\u2014a scalpel, perhaps, or something worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t look so worried. James has it all under control,\u201d the man said, slipping effortlessly into the third person as he arranged his tools. \u201cJames has been through worse scrapes than this. Let me tell you a little story, hmm? It\u2019ll take your mind off\u2026 well, whatever it is you\u2019re imagining right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He chuckled, the sound low and conspiratorial. \u201cSo, there I was, working for ZerdinTech. Big, fancy corporation. Cutting-edge stuff. Genetic engineering, nanotech, neural implants\u2014you name it, we did it. But James? James had a vision.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s ears picked up a faint, wet sound\u2014something being placed on a tray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSee, James doesn\u2019t just stop at boring things like fixing broken bones or curing diseases. Oh no. James goes deeper. Souls,<\/em> kid. That\u2019s what I was working on. The stuff that makes us us.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His voice took on a dreamy quality, as though he were recounting a fond memory. \u201cYou ever think about what happens when you die? Where your little spark of life goes? Well, James thought about it a lot. Thought, \u2018Hey, what if we could harness<\/em> that? Bottle it, tweak it, maybe even stick IT <\/strong>in someone else?\u2019 Imagine the possibilities!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a sharp hiss of air, and Jahnny\u2019s body jolted slightly. He felt a faint tugging sensation in his abdomen, though he couldn\u2019t see what was happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTurns out,\u201d James continued, unfazed, \u201ccorporate overlords don\u2019t like it when you start tinkering with the afterlife. Something about \u2018ethical boundaries\u2019 and \u2018violating human dignity.\u2019 Pfft. Small-minded fools.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s heart pounded in his chest, the only part of him that seemed to move freely. He listened in mounting horror as James\u2019s words spilled out in a torrent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, James gets the boot. Kicked out, blacklisted, called a \u2018danger to humanity.\u2019 Can you believe it? Me?<\/em>\u201d He barked a laugh, slamming his fist lightly on the table. \u201cBut you know what? Screw \u2019em. James doesn\u2019t need their shiny labs and endless funding. James makes do with what he\u2019s got!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a clink of glass, and James\u2019s voice softened, almost tender. \u201cAnd then\u2026 there\u2019s you, kid. My latest little experiment. A real diamond in the rough. You were broken, busted, bleeding out. But James? James saw potential. You\u2019re my canvas,<\/em> Jahnny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s mind reeled as the words sank in. He could feel his body being shifted slightly, something cold and sharp brushing against his skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, don\u2019t get me wrong,\u201d James said, his tone light but tinged with a hint of menace. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just<\/em> about saving your life. No, no, no. This is about pushing boundaries, breaking barriers. You\u2019re going to be special,<\/em> kid. Better, stronger, maybe even\u2026 indestructible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a sudden snap of metal, and Jahnny flinched as best he could. James let out a satisfied hum, his cigarette dangling precariously from his lips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlmost done here. Just a few more tweaks, and you\u2019ll be good as new. Well, better<\/em> than new, really. James doesn\u2019t do things halfway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple, his terror mounting as the reality of his situation became clearer with every word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere we go,\u201d James said finally, stepping back with a flourish. \u201cAnother masterpiece by the great Doctor James. You\u2019ll thank me later, kid. Or maybe not. Either way, you\u2019re alive. For now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hum of the machines around them grew louder, and Jahnny\u2019s vision began to blur again as the drugs coursing through his veins pulled him back into unconsciousness. The last thing he heard was James muttering to himself, his voice equal parts giddy and ominous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, let\u2019s see what you\u2019re really made of\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s world dissolved into a haze of fractured moments. Time became meaningless, a blur of dim lights and muffled sounds that felt both endless and fleeting. He faded in and out of consciousness, each return to awareness a cruel reminder of his fragile state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, he felt nothing at all, his body a distant memory as the drugs coursing through his veins dulled every sensation. Other times, the pain hit like a tidal wave, sharp and unrelenting, consuming him whole. His skin burned, his bones ached, and his very soul seemed to scream in protest. In those moments, he begged silently for the darkness to take him, for oblivion to sweep him away from this waking nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n James\u2019s voice punctuated the void, his words strange and nonsensical, like a mad poet reciting riddles. \u201cProgress is pain, kid,\u201d he\u2019d say, or \u201cYou\u2019ll thank me later, I promise\u2014if you survive, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny had no sense of how long he endured this torment. Days? Weeks? Maybe longer. Each time he surfaced, the world around him was slightly different\u2014a new machine humming, a different jar of glowing liquid on the table, James muttering to himself like a man possessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And through it all, Jahnny could only drift, a broken child caught in a current he couldn\u2019t escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dim light filtered through Jahnny\u2019s eyelids, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, he stirred with clarity. A jolt of pain shot through his limbs as he shifted, but it was a sharp, tangible pain\u2014a reminder that he could feel again. Slowly, he opened his eyes, his vision adjusting to the surroundings. The chains were gone. The sterile machines and cold steel table had vanished. He was lying on a threadbare mattress in the corner of the room, surrounded by scattered papers and tools, as if James had simply wandered off mid-project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny sat up, wincing as his muscles screamed in protest. He inspected his arms and legs, now crisscrossed with scars and bruises, but intact. He flexed his fingers, relief flooding through him as they obeyed. For a moment, he just sat there, his breathing shallow and quick, his heart pounding like a drumbeat. He was alive\u2014and alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A quick scan of the room revealed no sign of James. The familiar hum of machines was absent, replaced by an eerie stillness. His gaze fell on the door, slightly ajar, and his instincts screamed at him to move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Barefoot and cautious, Jahnny crept to the door. His steps were quiet, but the rough wooden floor groaned under his weight. Beyond the door was a hallway, dimly lit and lined with peeling wallpaper. The air smelled of mildew and something metallic\u2014blood, perhaps. He hesitated, his mind a whirlwind of fear and determination. Then, with a deep breath, he bolted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hallway stretched longer than it should have, and Jahnny\u2019s bare feet slapped against the mud as he sprinted. He passed rooms filled with strange contraptions, shelves stacked with jars of unidentifiable substances, and walls adorned with incomprehensible scribbles. It all blurred together as he focused on the end of the corridor, where faint daylight seeped through a crack in the barn doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He shoved the doors open with all his might, and the blinding sunlight made him stumble. His eyes adjusted to reveal something unexpected\u2014a sprawling garden of blood-red roses, their thorny vines twisting like serpents. The ground beneath him was soft and uneven, a mix of soil and overgrown roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny took a step, his foot sinking into the loose earth. Then he noticed the thorns. They glistened with a cruel sharpness, catching the sunlight like shards of glass. His next step sent a vine curling around his ankle, its barbs slicing into his skin. He let out a cry, falling forward into the roses, their razor-like thorns tearing at his arms and legs. He thrashed against the vines, but the more he struggled, the deeper they seemed to grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, well, well,\u201d came a familiar voice, sing-song and smug. \u201cI had a hunch you\u2019d try to make a run for it. And here you are, right on cue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny twisted his head to see James standing at the edge of the garden, a cigarette balanced between his lips and his red-tinted aviators glinting in the sunlight. He looked both amused and exasperated, like a parent catching their child stealing cookies before dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you have any idea how much work went into you?!\u201d James gestured grandly, his hands sweeping toward Jahnny like he was presenting a work of art. \u201cI mean, I understand. Really, I do. But running off? Into my Red Vineyard<\/em> of all places? Tsk, tsk, tsk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny growled, struggling to free himself from the thorny vines. His arms were slick with blood, the crimson liquid pooling at his fingertips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, those roses,\u201d James said, smirking. \u201cThey\u2019ve got a personality, don\u2019t they? Like a good wine, full-bodied and sharp. I call this little patch my Red Vineyard. Fitting, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t answer. He glared at James, defiance burning in his eyes despite his exhaustion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n James crouched, balancing on the balls of his feet as he stared at Jahnny through his tinted glasses. \u201cI\u2019m not mad, you know. Disappointed, sure, but not mad. I knew you\u2019d do this. You\u2019ve got that fire, that bite. A scrappy little underdog. That\u2019s why I picked you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPicked me?\u201d Jahnny spat, his voice trembling. \u201cYou stole me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n James shrugged, unbothered by the accusation. \u201cDetails, kid. Details. The point is, you\u2019re special. And special things need special care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He stood, his lanky frame towering over Jahnny. \u201cBut if you\u2019re determined to leave, I won\u2019t stop you.\u201d He gestured at the roses with a sweeping hand. \u201cGo ahead. Fight your way out. Let\u2019s see how far you get.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny froze, his mind racing. Was this another test? A trap? Or was James genuinely letting him go? He looked down at the vines still coiled around his legs, their thorns biting into his flesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n James sighed dramatically. \u201cFine, fine. I\u2019ll give you a hand.\u201d He snapped his fingers, and the vines began to retract, slowly unwinding from Jahnny\u2019s limbs. \u201cThere. Better?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny scrambled to his feet, his legs shaky but functional. He stared at James, his heart pounding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, kid,\u201d James said, his tone almost fatherly. \u201cYou\u2019ve got a choice. Run, fight, do whatever you think you need to. But remember this\u2014you owe me. And one day, you\u2019ll pay that debt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t wait for another word. He turned and bolted, his feet pounding against the dirt path as he fled the barn, the roses, and the man who had turned his life into a waking nightmare. Behind him, James\u2019s laughter echoed through the air, chilling and triumphant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His legs burning with every desperate step. His breath came in heavy and winded, each inhalation filled with the metallic tang of blood and sweat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But then, something changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A deafening roar tore through the air, followed by the rhythmic thumping of helicopter blades. Jahnny stumbled, his legs trembling under him as the sound grew closer. The earth beneath him vibrated, and before he could make sense of what was happening, the ground erupted in chaos. Boots pounded against the dirt, figures clad in dark tactical gear rushing past him in a blur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn the ground! Secure the area!\u201d voices barked, sharp and authoritative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s legs gave out, and he collapsed into the dirt. Dust filled his lungs as he tried to crawl forward, his fingers clawing at the ground. He could hear James in the distance, his tone shifting from casual arrogance to something unhinged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, you think you can box me in? You think you\u2019re clever?!\u201d James\u2019s voice rang out, high-pitched and manic. \u201cCome on, then! Let\u2019s see if you\u2019ve got the guts!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gunfire erupted, shattering the tense air. Jahnny froze, his body pressed against the dirt as the cacophony unfolded around him. He didn\u2019t dare look back, but the screams and explosions painted a vivid picture in his mind. James\u2019s voice rose above it all, a chaotic symphony of rage and defiance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou want me? You\u2019ll have to tear me apart piece by piece!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another explosion rattled the ground, and Jahnny flinched. His vision blurred with tears, his instincts screaming at him to run. But his body was done. He lay there, helpless, as the noise swirled into a distorted mess of chaos and terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stumbled through the quiet field, his legs wobbling with every step. Each movement was a struggle, his body begging him to lie back down and give in to the pain. But the sight of Brassvale\u2019s skyline\u2014faint but undeniable in the distance\u2014drove him forward. Home. He had to get home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The field gave way to a cracked and uneven dirt road, lined by overgrown grass and weeds. The occasional rusted-out car or broken fence post punctuated the landscape, remnants of life long abandoned. Jahnny\u2019s feet dragged, his toes stubbing against jagged rocks, sending fresh waves of pain shooting up his legs. His stomach growled loudly, a sharp reminder of how long it had been since he\u2019d eaten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As he neared the outskirts of the city, the faint hum of life began to stir around him\u2014distant car horns, the murmur of voices, the metallic clang of machinery. It was comforting in its familiarity, but it also felt impossibly far away, as though he were watching the world through a foggy window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first real sign of civilization came in the form of a small market on the edge of a rundown neighborhood. Stalls were set up haphazardly, selling everything from fresh produce to cheap electronics. The air smelled of grilled meat and exhaust fumes, making Jahnny\u2019s stomach clench with longing. He scanned the market, his eyes locking onto a cart loaded with apples, oranges, and bananas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The vendor, a middle-aged man with a graying beard and a stained apron, was engrossed in conversation with a customer. Jahnny\u2019s mouth watered as he edged closer to the cart, his heartbeat quickening. He glanced around nervously. No one was watching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He reached out, his fingers brushing against the smooth surface of an apple\u2014and suddenly, it was in his hand. Not just in his hand; it had jumped into his grasp, as if pulled by a magnet. Jahnny stared at it, wide-eyed, his breath catching in his throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat the\u2026?\u201d he whispered, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed. But the vendor and his customer were still chatting, oblivious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He didn\u2019t waste another second. Stuffing the apple into his pocket, Jahnny turned and hurried away, his heart pounding. As he put distance between himself and the market, he pulled out the apple and took a large bite. The sweetness exploded in his mouth, a temporary balm for his exhaustion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the question lingered in his mind: What just happened?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Further down the road, Jahnny found himself in a quiet alley behind an old apartment complex. Laundry lines crisscrossed above him, clothes swaying gently in the breeze. His tattered, blood-stained shirt hung on his frame like a ghost, barely clinging to his thin body. He needed something clean. Something dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His eyes landed on a white T-shirt, oversized but clean, hanging near the edge of one line. He hesitated for a moment, guilt prickling at him, but desperation won out. He reached up, plucking the shirt from the line. It felt light, almost weightless in his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As he pulled it over his head, the fabric seemed to lift on its own, resisting him. The hem floated upward, as if caught in an invisible breeze. Jahnny grabbed at it, tugging it back down, his movements frantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStay down,\u201d he muttered, wrestling the shirt into place. Finally, it settled, though it felt oddly loose, as if it might float away again at any moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Jahnny continued deeper into the city. The streets grew busier, filled with people hurrying home or heading out for the night. Jahnny stuck to the shadows, his small frame easily blending into the background. His bare feet ached with every step, the pavement rough and unforgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Near a dumpster behind a closed convenience store, he spotted a pair of sneakers. They were old and worn, the laces frayed, but they were better than nothing. Jahnny crouched down, reaching for them\u2014and stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The shoes moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At first, it was subtle, a barely noticeable shift. But then they slid closer to him, as though pulled by an unseen force. Jahnny\u2019s hand froze, his heart racing. He looked around, half expecting to see someone with a string, playing a prank. But the alley was empty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tentatively, he grabbed the shoes and slipped them onto his feet. They fit well enough, though the soles were thin and offered little protection. As he tightened the laces, small pebbles near his feet began to roll toward him. A larger rock wobbled, then tipped over, drawn to him like iron to a magnet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny scrambled back, his breath hitching. \u201cWhat the hell is going on?\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the time night fell, Jahnny was back on the main streets of Brassvale, weaving through the crowds. The city was alive with neon signs and the hum of activity, but Jahnny felt disconnected from it all, like a ghost wandering among the living. His body ached with exhaustion, his mind racing with questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The strange occurrences\u2014food flying into his hand, the shirt floating, the rocks gravitating toward him\u2014played over and over in his head. He couldn\u2019t make sense of it. Was he imagining things? Was it some aftereffect of James\u2019s experiments?<\/p>\n\n\n\n A streetlight flickered above him, casting his shadow in strange, distorted shapes. Jahnny glanced up, his eyes narrowing. The light seemed to pulse faintly, its glow almost reaching out toward him. He stepped back, and the sensation faded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shaking his head, Jahnny pressed on. The streets grew quieter as he moved closer to his neighborhood, the familiar sights and sounds tugging at something deep inside him. Home. He was almost home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stood at the base of the narrow staircase, staring up at the battered apartment complex. The flickering light above the entrance buzzed weakly, casting erratic shadows on the cracked concrete walls. His breath caught in his throat as he gazed at the familiar sight. After everything, he was finally home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The broken kitchen window, its jagged edges like teeth against the evening sky, brought a wave of memories rushing back. He remembered his father\u2019s furious face, the shattering glass, and his mother\u2019s voice screaming through the night. Now, the silence that hung in the air was almost suffocating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With trembling hands, Jahnny adjusted the baggy shirt on his thin frame and stepped forward. Each footfall on the creaky stairs echoed like a drumbeat, growing louder in his ears. The smells of the building\u2014stale cooking grease, mildew, and a faint whiff of cigarettes\u2014hit him with an intensity that made his chest tighten. He had once loathed those smells, but now, they felt like the most comforting thing in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He reached the door to their apartment. The chipped paint and loose hinges hadn\u2019t changed. He placed a hand on the doorknob, the metal cool against his palm. Taking a deep breath, he turned it, and the door creaked open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The air inside was still, stagnant, and heavy with the weight of neglect. Dust clung to every surface, illuminated by the pale moonlight streaming through the broken window. The kitchen table was cluttered with empty bottles, crumpled newspapers, and an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts. It was as though time had frozen since the night he left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stepped inside, his feet brushing against a crumpled soda can that rolled lazily across the floor. The sound was unnaturally loud in the quiet. His heart raced as he moved further in, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMom?\u201d His voice was barely above a whisper. \u201cLila? Clara? Betsy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing. Only the faint hum of the refrigerator answered him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turning the corner into the living room, Jahnny froze. His breath hitched in his throat, and his vision blurred as his mind struggled to process what he was seeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garth lay sprawled on the couch, his head tilted back, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Blood stained his shirt and pooled on the worn fabric beneath him, soaking into the cushions. A deep gash ran across his throat, jagged and merciless. The metallic scent of blood filled Jahnny\u2019s nostrils, making his stomach churn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo\u2026\u201d Jahnny whispered, his knees buckling. He stumbled forward, barely catching himself on the edge of the coffee table. \u201cNo, no, no\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His father\u2019s lifeless face stared back at him, a haunting contrast to the loud, fiery man he had known. Jahnny\u2019s chest tightened, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. His body shook violently as he backed away, his legs giving out beneath him. He collapsed onto the floor, curling into himself as the room spun around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Minutes passed\u2014maybe hours. Time felt meaningless. Jahnny\u2019s mind raced, replaying every argument, every fight, every drunken tirade. His father was gone. Dead. But that wasn\u2019t what scared him the most. What scared him was the silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where was his mother? Where were his sisters?<\/p>\n\n\n\n He forced himself to his feet, his legs trembling beneath him. Slowly, he moved toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms. Each step felt like wading through quicksand, his body weighed down by dread. The hallway stretched endlessly before him, the doors at the end looming like dark sentinels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny pushed open the first door. His and Lila\u2019s room. Empty. The bed was unmade, her clothes scattered across the floor. A stuffed bear sat in the corner, its button eyes staring at him accusingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slowly wading his way to the second door, his sister\u2019s former room, now acting as a office for his parents, the few times they actually used it as it had also become a type of nursery, Jahnny\u2019s hands shook as he reached for the doorknob. His heart thundered in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears. He hesitated, his mind screaming at him not to open it. But he had to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The door creaked open, revealing a scene of chaos. The crib was overturned, the blankets stained with something dark and sticky. Betsy\u2019s small mobile dangled uselessly from the ceiling, its gentle melody replaced by a suffocating silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stumbled back, his body trembling uncontrollably. Tears streamed down his face, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His home\u2014his family\u2014was gone. Destroyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then, something inside him snapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The room seemed to shift, the air growing heavy and thick. Objects around him began to tremble, vibrating with an unseen force. Jahnny barely noticed as the broken mobile lifted off the ground, spinning wildly in the air before slamming against the wall. The crib followed, crashing into the ceiling with a deafening crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The floor beneath him shuddered, cracks spiderwebbing out from where he stood. Jahnny\u2019s vision blurred, his tears mingling with a strange, electric light that seemed to radiate from his very being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The apartment building groaned as if alive, the walls trembling with the force of Jahnny\u2019s anguish. Glass shattered, wood splintered, and the very foundation seemed to quake. The power surged within him, uncontrollable and raw, fueled by a rage and despair he couldn\u2019t contain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then, with one final, explosive burst, the building began to collapse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The world around him crumbled, the ceiling caving in as the walls buckled. Jahnny stood in the center of it all, his small frame silhouetted against the chaos. And as the rubble closed in around him, darkness took over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the first time in days, Jahnny felt nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the chaos consumed the room, a low, gravelly voice cut through the cacophony, sharp and disbelieving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ll be damned. Is that\u2026 the kid?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny spun toward the sound, his heart pounding against his ribs. In the corner of the crumbling living room stood Scar-Face, one of Big Ray\u2019s enforcers, one of the men he became very familiar with in his time with Ray. His hulking frame leaned against the fractured doorway, his face a grim canvas of twisted flesh and scars. His eyes burned with a mix of disbelief and recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat the hell\u2019s goin\u2019 on in here?\u201d Scar-Face muttered, stepping forward, his boots crunching over shattered glass and splintered wood. \u201cAin\u2019t no way you made it out alive, kid. I saw that crash, you were done for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny froze, his body trembling. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as the lingering power hummed beneath his skin, begging for release. He didn\u2019t respond\u2014he couldn\u2019t. His breath came in shallow gasps, his mind teetering on the edge of fury and fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scar-Face tilted his head, a cruel smirk curling his lips. \u201cYou\u2019re lookin\u2019 different. What happened? You finally grow some balls out there, or is this some kinda ghost story?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s eyes locked onto Scar-Face\u2019s, his young face hardening. The memory of the van, the chains, the agony\u2014all of it came rushing back in a wave of rage. The power surged again, objects around him vibrating violently as the air thickened with tension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnswer me, kid,\u201d Scar-Face growled, his tone shifting to something darker, more dangerous. \u201cWhat the hell are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s voice, raw and trembling with both fear and anger, finally broke free. \u201cI\u2019m\u2026 not\u2026 a ghost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scar-Face chuckled, the sound low and menacing. \u201cNo? Then what are you gonna do, huh? Little punk like you? You think you scare me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as the words left his mouth, the room seemed to pulse. The remaining furniture flew backward, slamming against the walls as if an invisible force had shoved them aside. The floor beneath them cracked and groaned, and Scar-Face\u2019s smug grin faltered for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat the\u2014\u201d Scar-Face started, but he didn\u2019t finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s small frame stood firm amidst the destruction, his eyes blazing with an unnatural light. \u201cYou should\u2019ve left me alone,\u201d he said, his voice eerily calm for a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before Scar-Face could react, the floor beneath him buckled, a surge of gravity slamming him down with bone-crushing force. He cried out, his voice a mixture of pain and terror, as the power enveloped him, holding him down like an unrelenting hand. His knees were completely shattered during the initial weight of the force, causing him to let out a whiny scream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stepped closer, his face shadowed by the flickering light of the collapsing apartment. \u201cYou called me weak,\u201d he said, his tone cold. \u201cWhat do you think now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scar-Face struggled, his body pinned against the ground, but the power held him firm. His wide eyes locked onto Jahnny\u2019s, filled with a primal fear that he\u2019d never felt before. \u201cKid, listen\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou listen,\u201d Jahnny interrupted, his voice rising. \u201cYou\u2019re not the one in control anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The weight of the moment bore down on Jahnny as he stood over Scar-Face, his small frame trembling but unyielding. The power coursing through him was no longer just an abstract feeling\u2014it was tangible, raw, and terrifying. Scar-Face, pinned to the floor by an invisible force, gasped and squirmed, his once-confident sneer replaced by sheer terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKid! I didn\u2019t mean it!\u201d Scar-Face wheezed, his face turning red as the gravity pressed down harder. \u201cI was just jokin\u2019, alright?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t respond. His breathing was ragged, his fists clenched tight, the weight of every cruel word, every moment of pain, and every ounce of fear surging forward in this one act of retribution. Scar-Face\u2019s pleas became muffled as the sound of creaking wood and shifting debris filled the room. Jahnny\u2019s focus was absolute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, like a beacon piercing through the storm, a sound shattered his concentration: a faint, high-pitched cry. A baby\u2019s cry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s head snapped toward the source. His grip on the power wavered, and Scar-Face gasped for breath, the crushing force lifting just enough for him to cough and sputter. Jahnny barely noticed as he stumbled toward his parent\u2019s bedroom, his heart pounding in his ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The door was ajar, swinging slightly in the draft of the ruined apartment. Inside, the dim light revealed a scene that turned Jahnny\u2019s blood cold. His mother, Marie, lay sprawled on the bed, her clothing in disarray, her chest rising and falling faintly with unconscious breaths. In the corner of the room, huddled together like frightened animals, were Lila and Betsy, their wide eyes reflecting sheer terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s stomach churned. The air felt thick, suffocating, as if the room itself bore the weight of unspeakable horrors. He didn\u2019t want to understand what had happened here\u2014he couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMom\u2026?\u201d Jahnny whispered, his voice cracking. He took a hesitant step forward, his bare feet brushing against the cold, grimy floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The baby\u2019s cry grew louder, more insistent. Betsy, wrapped in a soiled blanket, shifted in Lila\u2019s arms, her tiny face red with distress. Lila looked up at Jahnny, her lips trembling. She tried to speak, but no words came out, just a soft, choked sob.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before Jahnny could take another step, heavy boots thudded against the hallway floor outside the apartment. His head snapped toward the noise, his senses sharp with newfound awareness. The door to the apartment burst open, and men in tactical gear poured in, their weapons raised. The room filled with the cold light of flashlights and the metallic clicks of safeties being disengaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTarget acquired,\u201d one of them said, his voice muffled by a helmet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny froze, his mind reeling. The leader of the group stepped forward, his stance casual yet commanding. He was an older man, with sharp, calculating eyes and a slight smirk that didn\u2019t reach them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou must be the kid,\u201d the man said, his tone almost amused. \u201cThe one James Wolfegang left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny blinked, his body still trembling from the power coursing through him. \u201cJames\u2026\u201d he murmured, his voice distant, like he wasn\u2019t fully present. The name sounded like a distant echo in his fractured mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The leader raised an eyebrow. \u201cSo, you do know him. That makes this easier. Now tell me, what exactly did he do to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s lips moved, almost on their own. His voice was hollow, disassociated. \u201cDoctor James Philip-Charles Wolfegang the Third.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The leader paused, his smirk fading. \u201cWell, I\u2019ll be damned,\u201d he muttered. He straightened up and gave a curt nod to his men. \u201cShoot him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s eyes widened, but before he could react, the room erupted in gunfire. The first bullets hit him square in the chest, the impact sending him flying backward. Pain exploded through his body as more rounds struck, the force of each shot slamming him against the far wall. He crumpled to the floor, blood seeping from his wounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The world blurred around him. He could hear Lila scream, her voice piercing through the haze. The baby\u2019s cries rose to a fever pitch, but Jahnny couldn\u2019t move. His body felt heavy, his limbs unresponsive. His vision began to fade, the edges of his sight darkening as the chaos swirled around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The gunfire ceased, leaving a ringing silence in its wake. Jahnny lay on the floor, his body a mangled heap, vision flickering between blurred shapes and complete darkness. He gasped weakly, his chest heaving as he fought to hold onto consciousness. Every nerve in his body screamed in agony, but his mind clung to the faint, fractured pieces of awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the haze, he saw the leader holster his weapon. The man turned toward Scar-Face, who was still gasping for air on the floor where Jahnny had left him pinned moments earlier. With a cold efficiency, the leader drew his sidearm, aiming it at Scar-Face without hesitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLoose ends,\u201d the leader muttered, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. He pulled the trigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sharp cracks of gunfire echoed in the small apartment. Scar-Face\u2019s body jerked once, then slumped lifelessly to the floor. Blood pooled beneath him, the metallic tang of it mingling with the stifling stench of gunpowder. Jahnny\u2019s stomach twisted and growled, his mind screaming for him to move, to do something\u2014but his body refused to obey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The leader turned to his men, his sharp gaze cutting through the dim chaos. \u201cBag the women. We\u2019ll interrogate them at base. If they\u2019ve had contact with Wolfegang, we need to know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo!\u201d Jahnny\u2019s voice was a hoarse rasp, barely audible, but his heart thundered against his ribcage. He wanted to scream, to lunge, to tear them apart, but all he could do was lie there, helpless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The heavy boots of the mercenaries stomped toward the bedroom. Jahnny\u2019s barely-open eyes caught glimpses of Lila clutching Betsy tightly, her tear-streaked face twisted in terror. Marie remained limp on the bed, unmoving as one of the men lifted her carelessly over his shoulder. The cries of Baby Betsy cut through Jahnny like shards of glass, the sound growing louder as a soldier roughly pulled her from Lila\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo!\u201d Jahnny tried again, his voice breaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His memory flashed to a time of him and his sister hanging from the fireescape just earlier that year. Lila swung her legs over the edge of the fire escape, her sneakers brushing the rusted metal. \u201cYou ever think about getting out of here?\u201d she asked, her voice soft enough to be carried away by the breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny leaned back against the wall, his arms wrapped around his knees. \u201cAll the time,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI\u2019d go somewhere with no smog. Maybe somewhere with mountains. Big ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMountains?\u201d Lila asked, raising an eyebrow. \u201cWhat\u2019re you gonna do on a mountain? Build a castle?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d Jahnny said, grinning. \u201cOr I\u2019ll have a big farm with animals and stuff. And a dog. A real dog\u2014not like those skinny ones in the alley.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lila laughed, tilting her head to look at the stars. \u201cI\u2019d have a bakery,\u201d she said. \u201cLike one of those ones in the movies. With cakes in the window and those little signs that say what they cost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019d eat all the cakes,\u201d Jahnny teased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly the good ones,\u201d Lila shot back, nudging him with her shoulder. For a moment, the smog and shadows of Blenc felt far away, replaced by mountains, bakeries, and a future that might just be worth wishing for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny sat on the edge of the fire escape, his legs dangling over the side. Lila was beside him, her arms wrapped around her knees. The city stretched out below them, its lights flickering like tired stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you think Dad\u2019s a bad person?\u201d Jahnny asked suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lila didn\u2019t answer right away. She stared out at the horizon, her brow furrowed. \u201cI think\u2026 I think Dad\u2019s lost,\u201d she said finally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLost?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah,\u201d she said, pulling her jacket tighter around her. \u201cLike\u2026 he doesn\u2019t know where he\u2019s going. Or how to get back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny thought about that, his hands gripping the rusted railing. \u201cI think he\u2019s just\u2026 scared,\u201d he said. \u201cLike he\u2019s trying to fight something, but it\u2019s too big. Like he knows he\u2019s gonna lose, but he\u2019s fighting anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lila looked at him, her expression softening. \u201cMaybe,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it\u2019s not an excuse to hurt people. Or to hurt us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny didn\u2019t reply. Deep down, he knew she was right. But he couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that if Garth ever stopped fighting, even for a second, Blenc would swallow him whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n His vision darkened further, the edges of the room dissolving into nothingness. Every sound seemed distant and distorted, as though he were slipping beneath an icy surface. But even as his body gave out, something deep inside him stirred\u2014a primal, raw force that refused to let go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Betsy\u2019s cry pierced the void, sharp and heart-wrenching. The sound ignited something within Jahnny, a spark that erupted into a roaring inferno. His chest heaved as he let out a guttural, blood-curdling scream that seemed to come from somewhere far deeper than his throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The apartment trembled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cry rose in pitch and intensity, shaking the walls, rattling the furniture, and shattering what few intact windows remained. The mercenaries froze, exchanging panicked glances as the very floor beneath their feet quaked violently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat the hell\u2014?\u201d one of them shouted, his voice barely audible over the deafening rumble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The building groaned, its ancient framework buckling under the onslaught. Chunks of plaster and drywall rained down, the ceiling cracking apart in jagged lines. The leader turned, his expression hard but tinged with unease. \u201cFall back! Fall ba\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His command was drowned out by the roar of collapsing beams. The entire apartment complex seemed to convulse, as if some unseen force had gripped it and was tearing it apart from the inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s scream continued, his body wracked with uncontrollable energy. He couldn\u2019t see anymore\u2014his world was nothing but blackness\u2014but he could feel everything. The vibrations, the collapse, the panicked shouts, and the agonized cries of those around him. All of it surged through him, an unstoppable wave of destruction fueled by raw emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then, silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The night air was thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burning wood and plaster. The remains of the apartment complex stood as a jagged, smoldering ruin, a twisted monument to the chaos that had consumed it. Emergency sirens wailed in the distance, mingling with the faint cries of survivors and the barking orders of responders attempting to secure the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Near the edge of the destruction, a lone mercenary stood amidst the wreckage, his black tactical gear smeared with soot and grime. He leaned against a crumbling wall, holding a crackling radio to his ear. His face was obscured by a mask, but his voice carried a mixture of frustration and weary professionalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMission report,\u201d he began, his tone clipped as he spoke into the radio. \u201cThe apartment complex is completely destroyed. We lost a lot of good men, but the target\u2014Jahnathan Stokes\u2014survived. We\u2019ve got him restrained and en route to Facility 47 as we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The voice on the other end was inaudible, but the mercenary gave a brief nod, acknowledging the instructions. He glanced back toward the wreckage, his eyes narrowing at the sight of smoke curling into the night sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, sir,\u201d he continued. \u201cThe kid\u2019s a damn enigma. Took multiple rounds and walked away from that collapse like it was nothing. He was unconscious when we retrieved him, but\u2026 I don\u2019t think that\u2019ll last long. You were right\u2014he\u2019s a lot more dangerous than we expected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The radio buzzed with static as the unseen voice responded. The mercenary adjusted his stance, his tone shifting slightly, betraying a hint of unease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Wolfegang?\u201d he asked, the name tinged with both disdain and grudging respect. \u201cYeah\u2026 we got him too. Barely. Son of a bitch was half-dead when we pulled him from that barn, but he\u2019s stable now. According to the medics, he\u2019ll be able to fully regenerate once they get him to a proper lab. Not sure how I feel about that, but\u2026 your call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He paused, tilting his head as he listened intently. After a moment, he nodded again, though his jaw clenched beneath the mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood, sir. We\u2019ll move forward as planned. The kid\u2019s our priority now. If Wolfegang has any more tricks up his sleeve, we\u2019ll be ready for him. Stokes won\u2019t get far either\u2014not this time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mercenary lowered the radio, allowing the device to dangle from his chest harness. He took a deep breath, the reality of the scene settling heavily on his shoulders. The glow of the fire reflected in his dark visor as he turned toward the distant sound of helicopter blades cutting through the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDamn kid,\u201d he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with something that almost sounded like pity. \u201cYou don\u2019t even know what you are, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that, he stepped away from the ruins, disappearing into the shadows as the chaos of the night carried on, leaving the smoldering remains of Jahnny Stokes\u2019 childhood behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Prologue: Brassvale Nights The city was Brassvale, but nobody called it that. Everyone around here called it Blenc. Some said it was short for \u201cblend,\u201d because it blended broken dreams with broken people. Others swore it was a bastardization of an old factory name long since boarded up. Whatever the truth, the name stuck like … Continue reading “Garth’s Actions – Final Draft”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=770"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":794,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/770\/revisions\/794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\n\n\n\nChapter 2: Another Day at School<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nChapter 3: Morning Errands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nChapter 4: Clincal Trials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nChapter 5: Out in the Cold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nChapter 6: Time to Pay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 7: No Heroes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nChapter 8: The New You, Kid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nChapter 9: Red Vineyard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nChapter 10: No Matter Where You Go, There You Are<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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