Lucifer walked along the road with the remaining nine meals in his arms. He wobbled side to side as he tried to see over the meal packs. He could feel the warmth spreading through his hands. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be this hot by the time his sister got home from work. The only reason he got home early was due to his exhausted muscles. Even now he found it hard to hold the 9 meal packs in his tired arms but he persisted and made his way home.

He put the meal packs in the run down kitchen, the water taps and power didn’t work but they still had a fridge. The fridge didn’t work either but it made it feel more like a home with a fridge full of food. Usually they just had a rice bag in the cupboard, it was quite depressing.

He was still feeling tired so he took a little rest. His eyes went dim and by the time reopened them it was already dark. ‘Huh, what time is it?’

Splash

He heard a sound coming from the kitchen. ‘Holy shit, a thief is in the kitchen stealing my meal packets.’

He ran into the kitchen ready to attack when he saw his sister lighting a fire and boiling the water. Next to her was a cup of rice and she was just about to put it in the pot.

“Aruna, stop!” She turned around to see her brother, still half asleep.

“Lil bro? Why are you home so early, did you get fired?”

He wiped the sleep from his eyes and narrowed his vision. “You don’t have to cook any rice tonight. There is food in the fridge.”

Her eyes went wide as she heard him. She opened the fridge to find 9 neatly stacked black packs in the fridge.

“M..Meal packs!?!” She looked sternly at Lucifer. It was sinister look that could pierce a person’s soul.

“No, no, sis. It’s not what you think. I didn’t steal them, I got them from work. We get a bonus meal ticket every time we earn $5 by exchanging the resources we mine. These ones were gifted to me by a work colleague because I don’t have my I.D yet. I also got sent home early because I overworked myself and passed out.”

It sounded like a tall tale but she noticed there wasn’t a speck of dishonesty in his expression. “Hmph, how did that happen? The only work places that give meal tickets are the super human work forces.”

“Yup, that’s where I’m working. It’s a place called MYHO.”

“M..MYHO! That’s the mine full of super-duper humans. But you’re not even a normal super human? How much does a normal human turn over there? What’s the pay for normal people?”

“Ah, the boss said it’s about 50 cents a day. Roughly $3.50 a week.”

“$3.50!!! We need at least $3.50 more a week for rice.” She was very displeased with what he had just said.

“Hey, don’t worry. I think I can pick my speed up the more I work out. As long as my body grows stronger I will be able to make more. $7? Pfft, I bet $14 a week wouldn’t be too far a stretch.”

She firmly shook her head, “The mines are grueling work, and you just said they sent you home because you passed out? And you think you can make $14 a week. What a joke!”

“I can, I believe in myself and it will help strengthen my muscles. I’m too weak right now, I need to get stronger and the meals are worth more than rice. If I can hustle the old man for more food we should be alright.”

Her eyes revealed surprise, it’s like her little brother was growing up right before her eyes.

“Okay then, I will give you a chance. I will be able to hold us up for the next month, if you can get meal packets then we won’t have to worry. If not you will have to get another job but for now let’s eat. I’ve only tasted meat twice in my life so I’m looking forward to this.”

Every day was a grind, it was physically and mentally exhausting but he persisted endlessly. Like that, he continued to work hard until what felt like a life time, a full month had finally passed.

His first week was the hardest week at work. He passed out another 6 times but every time he woke up he felt like he had made a big leap towards his goal. His second week was just as grueling, he passed out 3 times but he slowly pulled up his progress and at the end he was surprised to learn he made $5. The third week came and he felt like he made a breakthrough, he didn’t pass out once and he made $9 that week.

Lucifer was true to his word, he continued working out and his body continued to grow stronger. By the time the fourth week had ended, his total income was $14 and his pay for the month was $32.35.

His progress shocked even himself. He felt his muscles growing stronger day by the day. This wouldn’t have been possible without the old man’s teachings. He would’ve died from in a cave in long ago if he was left to fend for himself. Not only that but the old man was a real softy and couldn’t say no to Lucif when he saw his stomach rumbling. Thanks to all the energy he received from his meals he was able to develop his muscles beautifully. He was no longer 3 ft 11 he was 4 ft 1. He had grown a few inches in only a few weeks, it wouldn’t be long before he hit puberty and shot up like a tree.

Lucifs appetite continued to grow until he could finish 4 meals quite easily. The other 6 he would bring home for his sister which they would share. Even her appetite grew and she could easily finish off 3 meals for dinner.

It was faint but it’s like the life had returned to their eyes. When he was given his money and brang it home to show his sister her jaw almost dropped and it was impossible to hide the surprise in her eyes.

$32.35 was more than her monthly pay of $28.00, it seems like things were finally looking up for them. Although the work was hard, that look in his sisters eyes gave him the passion to continue.

It was easy to see that his sister had started smiling a lot more lately, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy Lucifer. He was living life, eating good food and laughing with his sister and work colleagues while his mother lay in prison rotting away like a lost sock.

The cold anger that had entered his heart all those days ago still remained. He wasn’t a forgiving person, once someone hurt him he would make them regret it for the rest of their lives however short their lives may be.