An empty bottle throwed away by drunked middle aged man, the bottle hits the window of my house it cracked but luckily the window doesn't. I don't feel angry for that, because its commonly happened here at my hometown, Biarva (the name had no meaning), a town that i'm not supposed to be here. I was living here since my childhood, but still, this town feels strange to me, like i was the only one who different among them. But actually im not alone here, there is still few people who shares same thought as i, easiest example is my mom and my little brother.
Today i planned to go out for my dialy walks before working, but suddenly i stopped in front of my mother rooms. My mother cried again i can hear her sobbing voices from the door, when mom gonna cry she lower her voices so nobody could hear it. Little brother stares at me, he looks sad with tears coming out from his eyes, i can't help with that so i opened the door and went inside.
"Mom...can we help?" I said with low tone, its almost everyday i do this when my mom cried. Even if i know that i can't help at least i asked.
"No, Zwielko, no need to help mom." Mom answered, she pretends to be okay but she can't hide it from me, and my little brother. Anyway, that's my name, Zwielko, an name given by my mother.
"Do you want some tea? Or anything?" I asked, then gently places my hands on mom.
"Up to you, Zwielko." Seems mom can't think clearly, due to mental burden she carried.
I turned my face to Fehn, my little brother, he understands what i mean. He rush to kitchen to boil the waters, while i stay with mom, tries to calm her down as i can. Just a few rubs and an hug, my mother slowly turns well, her tears slowly stopped.
Fehn retured from the kitchen, with cup of tea at his hand. I take the cup, then gently served it to mother. After a sips, my mother lays down on her half-rotten wooden bed with only one pillows, this is the only sleeping facilities we have. We had another one in my bedroom but it went broken two months ago, so i got no choice but to sleep on thin mat. Our lives starts getting worse since i stepped on my thirteenth birthday, the times when my mother becomes older, so that she couldn't afford to work anymore.
Its common views on my town where married women go to work, while their husband spent time by being lazy all day, or simply called unemployment. Not just that, they also do sinful deeds, the most common are gambling, drunking, consuming drugs and the rarely but happen is cheating the wife who worked for money for them to another woman.
Its predictable that my dad also does, he tricked my mom to marry her, he said that he was amazed with my mom beauty, yeah he said. My father tricked that he owned an private company, that could afford her life. When my mom followed him to live here, at Bairva, she was shocked by first time seeing an place like this, and that time she realized that she has been tricked. My mother planned to get away from this town and leaving my father, but its too late for her, unfortunately my father had taking over all her money. My father used almost all of his own wife money to gambling, everytime when my mom got its monthly paid, he always use it to gambling and gambling.
Until finally our financial dropped, we broke, and lack of food to eat. Instead of being sorry to his wife and children, he blamed us of causing poverty. My mother's friend suggest her to get divorced, but she was threatened by father's friend, if she dare to run they will bring her to death. Therefore mother relented, she decide to stay while growing me and my little brother, Fehn. Witnesses this hard times, i dreamed that one day i could freed my mother and my little brother from this suffering, that's my promise to myself.
Done with calming down mom, i put on my shoes and get to outside. In front of my house, on terrace, i can see my father and his friends gambling while drunking from whiskeys, laughing together like it was no problems on their life. I walked around the park of my town for relaxation, although there was no relax i got, its always been like this every single day, yeah every single day.
I spent an hour at the park, sitting on long bench while pondering why it all happened? why i born just to feel like this? what should i do to fix it? That questions always haunted my mind, sometimes i lose my focus by all those questions that i even don't know the answer.
In middle of my silence the group of drunked teen approached me.
"Damn, those gangs are coming again." I muttered.
Those three guys are members to local gang called "Champion" (I got no idea how to name them), i don't know how they got that name but yeah whatever, but i would called them as bandits.
One of them has an baseball bat with few nails attached, then his friend at right starts to persuade me, forcing to hands my money. Of course I won't give my money that easy, if they want a fight i will give them an meaningful fight. These bad guys needs an lessons but i should be careful with their leader, the guy who holds an nailed baseball bat.
"Hey losers! Give your money if you wish to live!" one of them shouted while the rests are laughing, he act strange due to drunking.
"What if i say no?" I answered, then stands up from the long bench.
"Whoa! whoa! You brave enough, ha!?" he seems angry.
"Hahaha! Hit him boss!"
"Yeah come on!" his friends encouraged.
"Then i don't stand an choice, take this!!" He quickly swung his baseball bat, damn, it almost hit me but luckily i evaded by jumping to the left.
Unfortunately one of them grabbed my clothes, i tried to move but that guy dropped me to ground. Their leader laughed, playing with his weapon and approaches me who in helpless. I shake my body, tried to resists as i can, luckily their power wasn't that strong due to drunking. Once again i evaded the attacks, just a few moments before it touches me.
"I admitted your move was great, but i won't surrender!" the gang leader charges to me, one of his friend runs to catch me. I deliberately grab both his hands, he was laughed when he got me but he not understand my tactics. I spinned that guy, at same time their boss was about to hit me, i spins the guy with my power. My timing was perfect, how lucky am i, an nailed baseball bat hits the guy i hold, that means he attacked his own friend.
He screamed loudly as he couldn't stand the pain, his boss tries to sorry, but once again the drunking effects takes an role on this circumstances. I've lived on this town for whole of my life, and i have learned how alcohol works on its drinkers, so i able to understand how to face with drunken people. That is the reason why im not drinking from alcohol, i don't want to end up like my father and most people in my town.
Two bandits fighting each other, it was funny seeing enemies ended up with fighting their own allies. While they are quarreling, i decided to take an advantage of the situation for escaping. I'm slowly backed away, trying not to attract their attentions because it can be dangerous if they realised that im about to flee. Slow but nice i made it to stay away from them, almost there to escape.
Previously, i was thinking that i won't made it easy, and it truly happened. The last bandits who's confused before has realised me, unable to calm his dude, then he decided to get me. Suddenly i got into panic, it pulls me to move my limb even quicker, that guy starts to chase me and yells.
"Its the chance to escape, so i won't lose it!" I muttered, then i ran quickly leaving the park without looking back.
I decided to pick an narrow alley between the apartements, running and taking an random way every time i want to turned, i planned to confuse them. After a few of turning left and right randomly, I was relieved that i made it to escape, im so grateful for that. Feeling no more threats i lean to brick wall to calm myself, i stares at sky, slowly trying to control my breath which goes really fast. This time were different, i think, last time i confronted with bandits they made an scratch and bruises to me, but today i survived with no wounds they didn't even managed to hit me at all.
I feel good now its time to leave, one score for my survival skills. The next destination is Dzenyc Workshop, my workplaces, but before heading there im going to visit Biedron, and Drazba first, they are my friends also my co-workers on the workshop. According to sun positions i guess its already half to eight, just an half of hours before the worktime. As an eldest child, its my obligations to support my family financial by getting work, since my mother has aged i replaced her position as an backbone of the family. Don't ask about my father, everyone can guess him by looking at his habits, an such people doesn't understand about responsibility, in short.
Cold, damp, and dirty alley, another normal view of my town. No one cares about cleaning here, even the last recycling station are being closed last week, they're overwhelmed with bunch of worktime to processing garbages but they not well-paid for their hardwork. Weekly newspapers often mentioned about this town, Biarva, as the slumliest city all over the country, last time i read the news government stated this town would be razed around next fourty years. If its was right, where i could live then? This town was the only my home, although it was hard to live here.
In the middle of my walk, i suddenly heard something is just dropped. I looked back, it was apparently tin cans so nothing should be worried. Unfortunately im wrong, two bandits appeared from one of the alleys.
"Oh come on, them again!?" i thought i already escaped but apparently not yet. There's only two, then where's the another one? Alright, i should be careful, in case they've planned an ambush while im off guards.
An rusty metal plate lied on garbage box, next to me, maybe i could use it as shield. Im not hesitate to grab it, now i have an defensive instruments, i need a weapons now. Those bandits are approaching me, both of them shows an angry face, the leader has many wounds on his face i guess it comes from fighting his own friend previously.
Instead of wasting time and got injured by the bandits, i decide to take the long but rusty metal sticks, with an sharp point on its edge. Im ready for a fight like an medieval spearman, this rusty stuff looks like an combat equipment though.
I made an step forward, slow but steady, while holding my shield and pointing my spear. The unarmed bandit looks terrified, but not to his leader, instead he feels provoked by my equipment which better than him.
"So you think you're an warrior? Come on! Show me what you got!" he yelled at me with raspy voice, then he takes an stances preparing for attack.
He charged at me, i hold my shield tighter to keep my defensive stances, i will let him attacked first. That guy swings his bat, it hits my shield, i managed to blocked his attack now its my turn. Spear pushed forward, almost impaled the bandit but he evaded, he swunged his bat again and hits my shield once more. Seems this guy doesn't understand the word "tactics", he only know to attack but not to defend or even how to maneuver, that means i have an advantage, but still i should be careful, enemies are unpredictable.
The unarmed bandit rushed at me, he yelled while running like a crazy. I quickly turned then pushing my spears to him, impaled his right legs, he's scratched, i can see an wound from his tattered jeans. Now its my turn to be offensive, i ran to the unarmed guy, i jumped and draw my spear onto his stomach, he screams, that guy feels terrified, he slowly backed away, then flees.
"Hey! How dare you!? Running from fighting? Come back!" said the leader.
"Now we balanced, one versus one." i said while staring at the bandit.
"Hahaha, let's see..." looks like he feels challenged, i gulped.
The fight was about to start, the bandit leader looked down his breath are heavily like an angry bull. Panic starts to grow, but i try to not distracted by the fear, this guy really want to kill me. I would stay defensive at this moment, if i couldn't won it then i will run.
"Graahhhh!!! You bastard!" he rushed, full of fury. I have no choice but to hold my shield as tight as i can, hoping my shield could stand his strike.
Swing of baseball bat hits the rusty metal plate, and surprisingly it cracked. I lose my shield, cause im not able to handle his strike, now i have no protection. I got into panic after losing my shield, but the bandit keeps attacking me with no mercy, i evaded his attack, one by one. I begin to feel exhausted, all of my energies are spent just for evading each attacks.
Damn it, he dashed to the left! He's flanking me! Why is so sudden!? Im desperated now i realised that i can't win, maybe its my end.
Im about to give up, however, suddenly my hands moves itself. It quickly pushed my spear with awesome speed, the spear impaled his chest and it went through his back. Oh dear god, what am i do!? I've give him an fatal strike, my eyes widen as i witnesses my spear had pierced his body.
The bandit falls down, soon he coughing heavily. During his dying i can't do anything but to freezes, stares at him, and regreting my deeds. Just in few seconds, the bandit eyes starts to closed until finally he loses his life. I killed an people today, for the very first time on my life. Even he was a criminal, sense of guilty keep haunting me, what am i do? do i sinned? why it must happen? I asked myself for my own actions.
"What should i do now? Am i criminal?" I muttered.
"Im sorry for my actions, may you rest in peace." The sun goes up maybe its already at seven, i must go to work. To cover my sins, i hide the bandit corpses inside the garbage box, im really sorry, i dont have much time to bury him, hopefully no one would find it. I begin my walk to the workplace, act normally like nothing happened, luckily im capable at this, to pretend, mom says i was good at pretending since i was an toddlers, even she think i could become an actor, but i don't feel like that though.
Along the way to my workplace, the streets are empty like usual, why not? around thirty to hundreds of people leaves this town each years, due to extreme poverty and inability to invest an economy here cause of high crime rate. Therefore, most people of this town are unemployed, i almost ended to one of them, but luckily the Dzerny Workshop employed me, so thank god that i saved.
According to last census, the population of Biarva are approximately around seven hundred and fourty three people, and possibly it was reduced to half now. The buildings on this town are mostly abandoned, there is Zlotdzyk House not far to my right, across the three-way junction after the water tower, that five-stories buildings used to be most greatest and luxurious commercial buildings here. However, bad management and fund embezzlement followed by practice of corruption had turned the luxury places into abandonment, looking at the building makes me remembered about political scandals six years ago. That time the scandals becoming famous topics on my town, everybody talked about it for almost everyday, luckily im not understand about politics that time, so i don't pay much attention for that.
Biedron house is just few metres ahead, just turned left at the 31st Alleyway then i arrived. Biedron's family chooses right spot for their settlement, this area is the last clean zone in the town, although sometimes some small pieces of trash are spotted. I stands in front of door, then i knocked it three times while awaiting for answers. A few moments later, Biedron's mother come out along with his little brother who's still an toddler.
"Zwielko? How are you young man?" she said.
"Im fine ma'am, as usual." i answered.
"Okay, what you doing here? Don't you go to work?"
"I looking for Biedron, does he at home?"
"Biedron and Drazba just departed an half of hour ago. They have been waiting for you since six." said Biedron mom. Im a little surprised, why they was so early? Didn't the workshop is opened on eight?
"Umm i see...i will go there then, see you ma'am."
"Ok Zwielko, be careful out there."
Door closed, i turned my body then walked back to tiny path. I quicken my steps as i realised that i was late for work, my workplace doesn't far away from here, just across the bridge over the Snazda River so i would arrive between eight to ten minutes by walking.
I used an shortcuts by walking through alleyway between the houses, the way is narrow but quick, i can save three minutes by choosing this path. Almost nobody crossed this path, since it was too tiny for two ways crossing, it looks like one-way road for cars but designed for pedestrians. Arrow path shows the direction that everybody should moved to, sometimes the arrow path can be ambiguous, like it was forcing two pedestrians to bumped each other, so its better to not follows the rules completely.
Out from the alleys, winds blows my black hair with its breezes as i stepped on the open field. I crossed the country road, then im walking the bridge. An car passed by, sometimes i dreamed of having an vehicle but my financials says no, i used to have an bycycle but it went broken by age. I'm sure in far future, i wish i have an vehicle so i don't have to walk if i want to travel.
The building is seen, an small workshop built with two floors placed between two buildings of houses and another workshop. Those two buildings are actually the part of workshop, under the ownership of Mr.Kazovsky, the boss of this small business. I worked as mechanic here, fixing the broken automotives, at same time im also in position between the welders, and now im studying how to be electricians like my friend, Biedron.
Arrived at the workshop, i entered the place, first im gonna sign for my dialy absences before starts working. Clear with fulfilling the attendance list, and i goes to garage, here is the place for mechanic sectors, Drazba is there, he's working on broken car engine along with another workers.
"Morning, Draz!" I sitted down, taking an wrench from nearby toolbox.
"Oh good morning too, Zwiel. Where you have been? You're the last to come?" said Drazba, he's repairing a car engine.
"Sorry for my late, bandits, they almost robbed me. Huh, luckily i escaped." i explained.
"Thank god." he reacts normally, not surprised at all. Such an moment is commonly happened here, almost all of my co-workers have experienced that, including my boss, Mr.Kazovski.
Encountered an bandits, then got into fight is like a part of our life. For us, confronting with criminals is like an dialy breakfast, lunch, or even dinner, depends on which time we got attacked. Answering the question why people here doesn't care or getting excited when heard about bandits attack.
I have an dream, a dream to moved far away from this city. Im curious how outer world beyonds the city would look like. By the dream i made an savings, hidden under the floor below the mat since investing on bank are not possible anymore due to high crime rate. Today im about to receive my monthly paid, good days for me, more money to save.
Slowly but surely my promise would come true. Im awaiting for that day, always hoping for the best.