"I'll be seeing you"
The brunette laid her hand on Mark's cheek. They were just outside the front door. Dawn rose across the mountains and illuminated the two with a brilliant splendor while their bodies cast two long shadows.
Mark slowly leaned in and gave her one last kiss. After that, the two looked at each other for a brief moment before pulling into a tight embrace. He tried to savor all the warmth he could, knowing very well that this might be the last time he would have it.
Then finally, the young man reluctantly pulled himself back.
"Keep yourself safe."
She chuckled.
"I should be saying that to you!"
Mark turned back and began to walk, but after taking a few steps, he abruptly stopped.
He looked back.
"I love you!"
The brunette smiled. Tears lined the periphery of her eyes.
"I know!"
'Ah...'
She seemed filled with sorrow. Mark wanted to run back and comfort her, but knew better. He had to go.
Resolving himself, the young man smiled and left.
He walked along the street for a while, taking note of his surroundings. The sun shone in his face, annoyingly blinding him under its warming ascent to the foggy barrier.
Eastward he went, approaching the port and the great many factories that lined it. If the Spheks really did control the central district, Mark might as well avoid it like a plague. Besides, there weren't any job offerings in the first place.
So where was a place with open jobs and no gangs hunting him down? It could only be the port.
He looked ahead toward the incoming sky. Smog thickened the overhead gray, turning it darker, more dense than it should naturally be. At some point, the barrier coalesced with the sky, and everything above the buildings looked to be the color of ashes.
The sun no longer touched the world, its heat had been eradicated from the cityscape, replaced by a biting cold that infiltrated Mark's body with every breath. And the air quality- while not as bad as the slums, made him feel like he was inhaling toxins.
'Gosh, this place is miserable! Those damned factory owners are making so much money, yet can't even afford to liven up the space a bit?'
Warmth dripped out of his body at a slow pace, yet the difference was gradually being felt. Soon enough, he might be shivering in place.
But, he couldn't complain too much, this is what he chose.
Mark continued walking with his head looking straight ahead.
He didn't feel the change, but his hands became numb, then his feet, same for the arms and legs.
His steps slowed at a boorish rate, yet eventually, they lost all energy.
The young man stood, his pale-black eyes wandered somewhere in the fog above.
'Right, this is what I chose.'
In his chest, he could feel his heartbeat slow, as if suppressing itself in apology.
He lifted his trembling hands and covered his face.
'I'm such a fool. I'm such an idiot...'
Why did he leave? Why did he not beg them to stay? Why, it was because he loved the brunette.
That detestable thing between his legs must have taken over his mind and controlled it with the brazenness of a dunce. He couldn't think properly throughout the night, not even trying to save himself from his fate. No, he had even agreed with them and decided for himself that leaving would be best.
His brain must have been failing for a while to have made such an error.
Even from the night before, when attacked by the Spheks and confronted by their leader, he was essentially brainless.
Self-sacrifice?
What kind of glorified bullshit is that? He might as well sign up in the military if he had so much of it.
He felt his face redden and burn up. Perhaps the cold was finally getting to him, or his shame and embarrassment were trying to burst from his face in a splatter of red humility.
Mark wanted to yell at himself, let out some sort of anguished cry at his stupidity, but decency prevented him from doing so. The restrained tension pulsated through his body, clenching his teeth and rolling his fists into tight balls.
Turning, he wondered if there was still a chance to reenter the house and beg to stay.
'Maybe if I do some housework they would allow me to stay...'
The thought died in his mind not even a second after it had formed. It seemed like the brunette's parents were unwavering about their decision to banish him. Returning might simply make things worse.
Besides, doing so might put the brunette in danger.
'...'
Mark slapped his face with both hands.
'This isn't about her! Just worry about yourself!'
Forcing his legs to move, he walked into the thickening fog... or is it smog? In the blurring gray, he could see factory chimneys rising into the air, huffing and puffing some disgusting stuff that amalgamated into the skies above.
He clicked his tongue.
'So this is where I'll be working for the next few days. Well, at least there isn't any risk of dying from heat exhaustion. How considerate those damned factory owners are!'
These next few months were not going to be pleasant at all.
The young man palmed his head once more.
"You put yourself into this! You remember that you put yourself into this! This is all your fault!"
Mark muttered to himself before stopping when sets of footsteps thundered behind him. Looking back, he saw a crowd of people walking over to the port. Each one of them had a physique that looked strong enough to beat him into paste on the street. It was truly a sight to behold.
Well, at least it looked like he had the right place.
The crowd condensed into a savage mess of desperate pleas before a factory gate. The contrast between their builds and their expressions was almost amusing.
Yawning, Mark followed suit. A warm blanket seemed to have fallen on his head as he went to join the mob.
'Huh, I guess I didn't sleep much last night...'