The hung high in the sky and the bustling city street was heavily contrasted with the dark

and shifty alley ways.

The distant calls of vendors selling different local quisine run througout the brick paved pathways. In a small corner the silent whimpering of a young boy could be heard.

His melancholic cries were drowned out by the hubub of the city. But in the alleyway his tears

seemed to attract unlikely predators. Alley rats....

Vicious creatures not like your

conventional rodent. They're larger and fewer in number but after years of natural selection the alley rats of this small city have become something to look out for.

The small boy no older than 12 assumed naturally assumed a defensive stance and took out a stick from his torn trousers. He waved it back and forth hoping to intimidate his asssailats enough for them to let him go. Unfortunately luck wasnt on his side.

The alley rats pounced at the boy one at a time circlingn him like sharks. One finally caught the boy

offguard and he was then thrown to the ground after it nibbled a chunk out of his ankle.

The boys blood curdling scream echoed through the alley way causing nearby citizens to look in his direction. Seeing the boys lackluster condition most ignored him while some threw a rock or two to "assist" his plight.

He chuckled inwardly. This was about the limit to this young boys fortune. The rats nibbled on his blonde hair like it was the finest of cheese ripping threads out in an attempt to get to the juicy meat. His golden eyes reflected the suns rays as he stared blankly at the sky.

The rat who bit his ankle continued to knaw at his flesh before aiming for the other. Noticing the rats

attempt to immobilize him the boy gave haughty kick slowing his inevitable demise.

His eye began to shut slowly but a shadow clouded his originally clear vision. Something Falling...

Bang!From the rooftops the corpse of a man in his mid 30s lay stiff with his head cracked open.

He had a medium build 5'10 ish and rusty red hair stained with blood.

He wore relatively well off clothing so he assumed the man must bee one of those rich folk who

became suicidal after drinking too much. Ofcourse this was just a bad joke the gangs and other criminal organizations used as a cover up for their heinous activities.

'We all have our struggles' he thought to himself.

The boys golden eyes flickered. His assailants have fled but he knew that they would be back soon. He looked at the man and sighed.

He crawled over towards him and searched his person for anything useful. In his breast pockets he found 100 ruins. His eyes bulged.

The boy blinked a few times to make sure he was seeing clearly.

This amount could last him the next 6 months if was a miser. He then elately searched the the rest of the mans body and only found a old fashion compass.

In the boys elation he had unknowingly stumbled closer to the mans head. He could see his brain seeping out of his skull and instead of

disgust he felt...hunger. A strange kind of hunger. Not the kind for food but as if it was his soul that yearned for something.

He had already been starving for a few days but for some reason this mans brain looked as if it was a whole meal. A buffet waiting for him. He tried to control himself...but...but it was too late.

His hands scooped up the remains of the mans brain and ate it. The boys golden eyes grew deeper for a split second before dimming.

The boys extacy didnt last long as his eyes rolled back and his body started to convulse unaturally. The area around his wounds began to glow brightly and gold flakes began to peal off of his body.

Suddenly his eyes jittered back into place and both the glowing and flaking stopped. He began to consume the rest of the mans brain. He gazed at the compass and muttered some words. The north arrow spun before landing in a direction.

The boy in a trance like state began to wander in the direction where the compass pointed.