Chapter 13 - Betrayal

"Pui! You're just a kid, what right do you have to be doing this!" I tied the man with a thick brown rope along with four of his lackeys who fainted. He sat up, spit on the ground and glared at me hatefully. His face was full of blood and his swollen eyes were black and blue.

After finishing my training with Dave I extended our area of work since this was the streets there were rules to follow and these men from the Blood Wolf Gang a newly established gang had the guts to claim this area as theirs so Dave asked me to go clean it up and show them who's boss. This wasn't new to me though sometimes a new gang would show up prancing around thinking there this and that and want to spread their wings to other's turf most of the time they would get beaten to the pulp by whoever had to deal with the newbies that wanted their respective gang's turf.

I twirled the dagger on my finger and looked at him indifferently while I sat on the wooden box in the dark alley, bandages covered my arms and legs and my dress hitched up revealing even more of my thigh. "Hey, newcomer, it's not my fault ya wandered on another's turf. I own this place and the streets are my kingdom. And ya aim is off jackass! Lemme show ya how it's done, PUI!" I spat at him and the slimy substance landed square on his face. Even though I was only eleven being around Dave and the old man who always spouted obscenities left and right, left an impression on me so I eventually picked it up.

He sat there frozen for a while, I could tell he was still registering what had just happened.

"YOU BITCH! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!!?" The man yelled at me, wriggling in his restraints. I didn't even flinch. His curses and intimidation couldn't stand a chance against teacher's much less my 'demon' father.

"Didn't your mama ever tell you not to curse," I held his chin in between my fingers and looked him in the eyes.

"Fuck you!" He screamed, getting golf balls all over my face

"I would fuck me too," I wiped my face and stood back up from my initial squatting. "Ok, dumbass, let this serve as a warning," I lifted my foot and smashed it back down towards the man's groin and a satisfying scream rang throughout the entire alleyway and echoed. I twisted my foot, again and again, applying more pressure at every twist "AHHHHHH! STOP! STOP!! STOP!!!!! I'm SORRY I PROMISE NOT TO GO ON YOUR TURF AGAIN!!!" The man's screams echoed through the tiny area and felt like it would make my ear bleed.

"Is that so?" I dug my foot in one more time

"YES YES PLEASE SPARE ME!!" The man's tears flowed down his cheeks and snot flew out his nose bubbled up as he tried to suck it back up which failed as he coughed and choked as he begged me.

"Pathetic," I scrunched up my face in disgust looking at his pitiful appearance. "Never let me see your face around here again unless I'll peel off your skin now scram," I lifted my foot off his now possibly destroyed penis, using my dagger I cut his restraints off him and his lackeys and watched as he ran away screaming and crying leaving behind his so-called 'brothers'.

I sighed and raised my head and held my face in my hand. One year had passed and in that time I had become a being that struck fear in even the strongest gangs. I had levelled up from just dumpster diving and now I knew how to pickpocket without a single ounce of suspicion from the victim.

Today was my eleventh birthday and Old Man Barnes had called me over saying he had a surprise for me. Excitement bubbled in me at the thought of him throwing a party for me. In the past year, the old man and teacher taught me how to survive and it was only with him and teacher that I could shed my cold exterior and act my age. They were my refuge during this year and they had always supported me no matter what I did.

I hummed happily as I cut through a bunch of alleys as a shortcut that few people dared to enter. I eventually reached a path in a forest and walked through the small pathway, and after walking for about another five minutes I reached a clearing. This was where the old man and I stayed for the past year, and it was my home.

I looked around, trying to spot the old man, but I couldn't spot him. I laughed, thinking it was all a game he arranged for my birthday. "Hey! Old Man, come out! I know you're hiding! You're not young, what if you pull a joint!" I laughed giddily as I shouted a twirled around and looked under some bushes.

After shouting for so long, I had gotten no response and I couldn't find the Old Man anywhere. I took a deep breath and slumped on the ground, giving up.

Suddenly I had gotten a grim feeling that continued to sear in me. I got goosebumps and my hair stood on the edge. I remained calm, and I closed my eyes listening to my surroundings and listened to the leaves blowing and how the bats squeaked and paid attention to any abnormalities. My eyes snapped open, and I slashed my dagger to my left.

A black shadow jumped back, retreating from me. I relaxed my body and watched him coldly, "Who are you?"

"None of your concern,"

"Is that so? What is your motive?"

"You talk too much,"

"..."

I strengthened my grip on my dagger and lashed forward, slashed his stomach, then struck toward his neck. He dodged both times. Noticing that my attacks weren't working I kicked out to his shin, but as if he expected that he jumped avoiding the powerful kick. While he was still in the air I also jumped gaining altitude and kicked to his side. He seemed surprised, but managed blocked the attack before we both fell back; I did a somersault and regained my footing.

"Impressive," he said, "For a pipsqueak," I furrowed my brows in anger at his words

"You should surrender obediently, I was told not to injure the goods," He laughingly said

I scrunched up my face, "Who sent you?" I asked nervously.

"You should ask who betrayed you." He laughed, raising his head in the air.

"What?"

"That old man sold you Lil girl," My eyes widened at his words and my attack pose faltered.

"You're lying!" I shouted I refused to believe the damn Old Man would pull such a trick.

"I did Lil girl," My eyes widened at that familiar hoarse drunken voice. "I sold ya to Rose House for twenty silver coins," He enunciated the twenty and glared at the cloaked man "But that damn man duped me and only paid 10." He walked out along with teacher who was yawing disinterestedly.

My hands dropped to my sides, "Old Man, tell me it's all a whole enormous joke... Please..... Just say so!!" I called desperately holding onto the last shred of hope this was one big old game he was playing. "Teacher put some sense into the old man!"

"It's not," The old man spread his hands, showing 10 sparkling silver coins. My eyes widened in shock.

"Hey, Barnes, the deal was fifty-fifty, give me five coins," Teacher held his hand out to Barnes, who clicked his tongue and handed him five. I couldn't believe what I was seeing or hearing. Did they really betray me like this! All this time I put in my best effort to assist both the old man and teacher by treating them just like a grandfather and uncle, and this is what I get! Betrayal!

"AHAHAHAHAHA!!!" I laughed crazily "OLD MAN AND DAVE!! I SWEAR TO THE HEAVENS I WON'T TRUST A SINGLE MOTHERFUCKER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!" I took a few deep breaths to control my spiralling thoughts and my voice grew deathly calm "Hey, old man, am I just worth some silver coins that will get burned on rum old man? Go to hell you motherfuckers, I hope you die in a fire" I said chillingly my voice losing all emotion and my sapphire eyes becoming empty dead to all life.

I looked back up at the man clothed in black "I won't resist I'll go with you," He didn't reply and I also didn't stop him when he threw me over his shoulder and carried me away. I just lay limply with my eyes shut, resigning to my fate. I also didn't pay attention when I felt a single tear squeeze out of my eye and run down my cheek slowly. My blind-less trust and naivety got me into this situation from that moment on, my heart froze sealed in a cage; an impenetrable fortress.