Cold winds blow scattered trash through the empty streets. Along with the crunch of two pairs of boots, the air fills with the sounds of crushed bottles and broken glass dispersing in the breeze. The noise carries down the long alleys with a haunting chilliness. The footfalls are aboriginal, as if in dance.

Though the boots Eli and Audrey wear are in good condition, they can still be pierced by a fragmentary scrap of metal or a jagged shard of glass. If such an event were to happen, the probability of dying via infection in that case is beyond high. Speaking of infection, thanks to Audrey’s assistance Eli’s cuts and scrapes have healed quickly, any traces of his violent beating now reduced to minor scars on his face and arms. The fact that he got away without any broken bones is beyond fortunate, but the fact that, health wise, nothing major happened is supremely lucky. Though, I’m not sure you can call getting robbed and assaulted “lucky”, Eli thinks bitterly, his face twisting into a scowl.

The pair weave between the towering buildings. Surrounded by spires of both brick and metal, their hunched forms are small and dark. Currently they’re creeping around the outskirts of Griff’s territory, in an area Audrey remembers to be largely unpatrolled, both by the gang’s members and the Enforcers. Since the old Enforcer station was relocated over the years, this area has become something akin to a dead zone. As long as Griff’s group doesn’t try to start trouble, the Enforcers won’t have any reason to assign any of their resources to this area. Audrey, remembering this bit of information, made a rather logical plan. They were to sneak through this area quickly, reach the neutral zone where their new hideout is, and set up by nighttime. Dead zones, despite their apparent safety, are far from ideal. This is especially the case when unpredictable, idealistic idiots start stirring up trouble.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!”

A voice, like the crack of a whip, snaps through the air and halts them where they stand. Audrey freezes, a look of confusion and fear filling her expression. Her surprise is plain to see. Eli, conversely, seems less shocked, though his fear is far more pronounced. How could he not feel fear? For one thing, this very situation is a repeat of prior events, where he lost his future before it even began. For another, the handgun pointed at him is by far the most threatening thing he’s ever had the misfortune of laying eyes on.

A tall, stoic man in his early forties late thirties, aims his weapon with a form dripping with experience. It’s clear to everyone present that he knows how to use such a firearm, and judging by the calmness of his hands, it’s obvious that he has no problem employing violence should the situation call for it. Seeing as how the two kids in front of him are terrified out of their boots, he lowers his gun the smallest bit, speaking in a soft, yet somehow commanding voice.

“What do you think you’re doing here? Don’t you know Griff’s gathering all the youngsters at home base? Our men have been pretty thorough in letting everyone know, so there better be a good reason as to why you’re not following orders.”

Audrey knits her brows, clearly befuddled. What? Why would Griff do that? Why would he even think anyone would listen to him…?

She thinks back, eventually coming to the conclusion that she has no idea what the man is talking about after a long moment. She’s also sure that Eli is just as confused as she is. If he had known about such things he would have definitely told her, perhaps not out of trust, but definitely out of self preservation. In that case, there’s really no explaining the situation. Where did they get that much power? How haven’t the enforcers taken notice yet?

“You’re not talkin’… I’d appreciate it if you could answer my questions, one of you, now!”

“We, um, we don't live here! My aunt lives in a nearby district, we were just cutting through to get to her!”

The cogs in Audrey’s head spin as she weaves together a tale, trying to leave room for explanation should he question further. As if he’s read her mind, the man frowns, suspicion clear in his eyes. He speaks slowly, his lips carefully forming words. It’s clear that he’s looking for any lie, though the reason for such an intense interrogation eludes them.

“Oh really? So which district?”

“Chei. You know about the big mess there not too long ago? My parents got caught up in the attack and, um, they… didn’t make it…”

Audrey’s mournful sadness nearly drips off of her. It’s clear through her every expression that she hates having to talk about the loss. Behind her, Eli clams up, his face tightening in fear. The thought of Audrey telling so many lies fills him with anxiety. He can only hope that she doesn’t slip up.

“And the boy? What about him?”

“... Same story, different people… it wasn’t just one or two families that got caught up in that mess you know…”

Answering on his behalf, Audrey gives Eli a tale of his own, gradually spinning the man a story of two lost orphans trying to find a new home. When asked about her aunt, Audrey says that she’s less of an aunt, and more of a family friend with the position of aunt. She lives in a nearby district and is surely waiting for them. With every word Audrey draws the man in, giving him more and more information, creating a rather realistic world where two children with similar circumstances have no choice but to band together for the sake of survival.

Eventually, the gun falls to his side, and an expression of understanding crosses his face. Still, the man's eyes remain cold. Eli infers that his actions are less out of trust, and more out of discipline. He watches the conversation from afar, as if uninvolved in the whole ordeal. When looking at how easily Audrey told her lies, he finds himself both impressed and saddened by her experience. The fact that she could so carefully act under pressure, without a single slip up or mistake, fills him with regret at what her life has become.

“Hmmm.. This is quite the complicated situation, you see. Griff wants all children and young men and women of this district to gather in front of him in three days, but I don’t know if that extends to passerbys… This really is unfortunate timing for the two of you.”

Sensing an opportunity, Audrey pries further, her face a mask of innocence and wariness. “Umm… this Griff guy, why does he want so many people there? What does he plan to do…?”

“Ah, that's right. Since you’re not from around here you must not know. You see, Griff is quite sick of the status quo, and so he plans on forming a little “group” to change the way things work around here. Naturally that involves training the young ones.”

Audrey’s eyes shoot open and an expression of unrestrained horror creates fissures through her pretty features. Her heart pounds wildly as she curses the madman known as Griff with every fiber of her being. Unintentionally, her inner thoughts surface in a cry of fear.

“Is he insane?! Is he trying to kill us all?!”

The man furrows his brow as a look of displeasure coats his expression. Audrey, immediately noticing, lowers her head while berating herself internally. The man clenches the handgun tightly, his fingers creaking against the grip. His voice, previously soft, hardens into steel as he stares at the two children intently.

“So you think he’s a fool, huh? Think he doesn’t know what he’s doing? I’ll have you know he’s already subjugated all the lesser groups in this area, swallowed them whole like an unstoppable wave. Hey… wanna know something interesting? Just a little detail, yes, but I’m sure you’ll get a kick out of it…”

As he speaks, the man reaches his free hand into one of his many pockets. There, he draws out a shiny, golden badge. An insignia, a symbol of dignity and authority. His eyes stray to the badge. He lets slip a mocking smile. His words are filled with self-directed ridicule.

“You know, Griff is right about one thing at least… We haven’t been doing our damn jobs. Keep the peace? Protect the innocent? From who? Who exactly is the enemy? We’re taught in the academy to follow orders without question, yet we’ve yet to be told who exactly it is we’re supposed to protect. Insanity! They say idealistic nonsense about protecting the innocent, only to immediately follow up such words with an execution order! No, no no, Griff was right… The system needs to be changed. And from what I -- no, we -- have see, he has the ability to shake up this world…”

Audrey knows things need to change, but how exactly is that supposed to happen? Who needs to be killed to make such a reality possible? From her perspective, the blame can’t be placed on a single individual. In her eyes, there’s no single thing that needs to be removed, but rather society itself that needs to be changed in all its intricate detail. Despite possessing such beliefs, Audrey is certain, without a shadow of doubt, that what Griff is doing is the absolute wrong way of solving this problem.

Out of the corner of her eye, Audrey sees movement. I wonder whose birthday it is, she thinks amusingly. In their hands are knives and crowbars, weapons of violence that Audrey is all too familiar with. Their eyes are locked on the two kids, the hostility apparent in their gazes. What kind of brainwashing is this? How did Griff get so many people to believe in him? Why would they get so upset at a single word of doubt?

She’s seriously regretting her previous outburst, the frustration coursing through her veins like hot magma. As she watches the developing situation, she notices a maddened light begin to form in the ex-officer’s eye. His fingers tremble as he returns his badge back to his pocket. Then, with a cold, predatory gaze, he raises the gun, aiming the barrel directly at Audrey.

“I’ve had enough of you people…! It’s people like you that are the problem! People like you, who can’t see the truth right in front of them! Griff will save us, whether you like it or not!”