Some other place in the land called the Below, in a rundown warehouse, a bunch of men and women gathered. They stood around fires in their coats, heating themselves in the cold. There were a few fights, some interesting, some boring. But they always cheered for the strongest.
Their debates were broken when an aged man stepped into the fray. His long robes and the staff he held were as old as he. He was escorted by three others; a muscular man in sleeveless, the cold indeed didn't bother him anyway. A woman and a man in a white coat, the woman was an envy to the crowd gathered around, the man was blindfolded
This was the Wolf Gang, the second largest gang in the entirety of the Below. They brought fear to their part of town.
The Below was a vast cluster of towns bunched together. They were hence divided into two separate parts; three for specifics. The Upper Half and the Lower Half. The Upper Half was controlled by the Orca, the Lower Half was controlled by the Wolf Gang. The third part was Zero ground. No one dared to try and take control of that part of the Below. The last gang that tried, well, no one knew where they went.
The name of the old man was Rah Gul. The Alpha of the Wolf Gang. He ruled with an iron hand, with each member made to wear anything white. His members roamed the streets looking for any and every excuse to fight. Naturally, they wanted control over the entire Below, so they just needed one, just one Orca member as an excuse to start it.
The old man disappeared into the warehouse, along with his semi-alpha members; they ruled when he didn't. His muscle, Dominic, his brains, Annabelle and the newcomer, the blind 'White'. They escorted him to a door then he disappeared behind it. Annabelle and Dominic went to the top floor. White left the building.
"Still no scumbag of the Orca. This sucks." Dominic groaned. "Means that they are still afraid."
"They are not afraid," Annabelle said, "Just annoyingly cautious."
"Well they should be. We've got the manpower and firepower."
"They've got that as well." Annabelle looked through the window, watching White leave the base. He never stuck around, but was surprisingly available when needed. His mysterious silence made him all the more suspicious, but Annabelle couldn't be bothered.
"We need more watchdogs in the Lower Half. They probably have spies set up around. Make sure they hang around the border of the zero ground, I have a feeling they are lurking there."
"You think so?"
"Just a hunch."
Dominic grunted, walking down the stairs, leaving Annabelle alone on the first floor, with her thoughts and the sound of her breathing.
In the Upper Half was another gang, The Teeth that bites the Wolf, the Orca. The thorn in the side of the Wolf. The Orca ruled their streets with an Iron fist, much harsher than their rivals. They demanded their citizens pay a tax in exchange of 'protecting' them. If one couldn't, they were sent to the wastelands, to die of frostbite, starvation or whatever was out there that could kill them. If they had children, they took them as payment. Even better if the child was gifted. Most parents who had their children taken never came back. They went somewhere far off, to escape the eyes of the Orca.
So it wasn't new when the cry of a child shouting and screaming his soul out as he was being dragged by a gang Orca member. The boy frantically tried to pry the man's hand off, biting and punching to no avail. It was only to be expected. Half of its meembers were instituted into the gang that way.
The child released a burst of energy, blowing the guy a few meters away. The guy groaned, rolling on his side and cursing out loud. The other Orca members watched, some laughing out loud, others coming towards the child. The child turned to run, only to bump into a figure.
The Orca had a ranking system; the minors, the Pillars and the High. The man was a pillar. The worst of them all. His name was Torn Wyrn, and his smile put fear in the soul of the child. He stumbled to the ground, producing a barrier around him.
"So you can do that as well, huh?" Torn asked, smiling as he bent down. He took a dagger out, poking the barrier.
"Nice. Real nice."
With unimaginable speed, Torn slashed through the barrier, grabbing the boy by the collar. "It's weak, but it'll do." Torn turned to the man who lay down in the snow, still groaning in pain. "How long do you intend to lay there like a turd? Get your ass up!"
The man obliged, standing up with difficulty. The man walked towards the building, tossing the boy to a young woman.
"Take care of the kid, Parya." Torn said. The woman only nodded. Torn entered the building, walking up to the top floor. With a deep sigh, he walked across the hallway until he reached a large door that lay in front of him.
The number of pillars to the public wasn't really known, but they were actually six in total. There was Tigre. She did not remember her own name, so they called her that because of the stripped jacket she wore. She was the most brutal of them all, charging without care and without thinking twice, and her mental state was…questionable. The next one was Jenny and Jenna. The Lightening twins. There was also Ms. Watson…who was not around. And then there was Kah Mal.
At the head of the table was the High, Solomon Hunter. Who he was, where he came from, these questions were yet to be answered by him. Only that his mannerisms and actions showed clearly that he was from the Above. He was dressed in a red suit with a black tie underneath a pure brown winter coat, the finest that Torn had seen. He had black hair, with white hair growing on the sides and his brown eyes shone like diamonds. Torn Wyrn didn't like him, but he knew that he wasn't one that should be messed with.
"Mr. Wyrn," Solomon said, "You're late."
"Yeah, yeah," Torn said, "I was taking care of business."
"Business he says," Kah Mal said, "Yeah, like any of us didn't have any this evening."
"Shut up, Mal." Torn said, "Minors shouldn't speak,"
"He isn't a minor." Jenny said.
"Yeah!" Jenna supported. Gosh, these two always sucked up to him, Torn thought to himself. He hated it that a normal individual who had never been a part of the Orca just showed up and became a Pillar. It was a shame to the pride of the potential Pillars, like Parya. But then again. He was not calling the shots.
"Can we start this thing or what?" Tigre said, banging the table.
"Yes," Solomon said, "we shall." Torn sat down next to the empty seat of Ms. Watson, putting his legs on the table.
"We have to matters to discuss," Solomon said, the first is regarding the issue of the Lower Half and the Zero Ground. Isn't it about time that we decided to extend our influence over there?"
"I AGREE!" Tigre exclaimed, banging her fist, causing the twins to flinch.
"I disagree." Torn said, "Lower Half, fine, but Zero Ground is off limits. Nobody touches that place."
"And why is that?" Solomon asked, "Isn't keeping it standing the only thing that prevents us from absolute control? And besides, it does put a mark on our reputation, doesn't it."
"Mark or no mark, the Zero ground is a neutral zone. No conflict ever happens there. It's protected."
"So is the Lower Half."
"He has a point, Mr. Hunter," Kah Mal said, "Dead center of it is an orphanage. And there is no real threat to us in anyway."
"Interesting." Mr. Hunter said, "But they have slaughtered our men,"
"He has, yes. But they decided to attack an orphanage," Torn said, "They got what they deserved."
"Is anyone else in favor of attacking?"
Tigre raised her hand.
"I agree with Mr. Wyrn." Jenny said, "That place is a cool place and I don't want to bother it."
"I agree with Jenna."
"Okay." Solomon said, "That being said, will we attack the Lower Half?"
"That shouldn't be a question, Solomon," Torn said, "We will attack them."
"We should attack the Zero Ground!" Tigre exclaimed. She tried to bang the table, but she couldn't. An unimaginable force was preventing her from doing so.
"Why can't we just stay in our lane?" Jenny asked. "Can't we coexist?"
"Yeah!" Jenna supported.
"Out of the question." Torn said, "Those guys are obviously planning to do same. When they do…we will never see it coming. They're sly. And ruthless. And by the way, are we going to vote without Ms. Watson."
"That…" Solomon said, "Is our second matter that we have to discuss."
The veins on Torn's head popped up. "Excuse me?"
The force that was keeping Tigre's hand in the air gave up, and Tigre banged the table with a bang, a broad smile on her face.
"Mr. Wyrn, Ms. Watson has, recently, been going in and out of the Zero Ground, for some unknown reasons. Her recent actions are suspicious and we must decide whether she must be kept or executed."
"She is a Pillar of the Orca LONGER THAN YOU HAVE BEEN THE HIGH!!" Torn boomed, standing up. The room became silent. Jenny and Jenna glanced at each other. Kah Mal shifted in his chair.
Tigre broke the silence, with a bang on the table.
"Despite her stand in the Orca, Mr. Wyrn, people do change. And I will not risk an oversight."
"Yeah, whatever," Torn said, leaving the room, banging the door behind him. Jenny and Jenna looked at each other again, confused. Kah Mal pulled at his white hair.
"That is all we have to discuss." Solomon said with a smile, "You may leave."