Navigating the maze of backstreets was easy—these routes were practically home to me. I moved quickly, ducking under low-hanging pipes and squeezing through narrow gaps between buildings. My thoughts raced as I neared the spot where I'd left Avelyn. Bringing her into this life wasn't ideal, but it was better than leaving her defenseless in the streets.
Finally, I reached the familiar alley where Avelyn waited, her small figure huddled beneath a ragged blanket. She looked up as soon as she heard my footsteps, her eyes lighting up with relief. "You're back! Did you find something?"
I crouched down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, I did. But listen, we're going somewhere new. It's a bit different, but I think it's a place we can finally belong."
Her eyes widened with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Are we going to be safe there, brother?"
I hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Safer than out here. There's a group of people who've agreed to take us in, but we'll need to pull our weight. You'll have to be strong, okay?"
Avelyn bit her lip, her fingers gripping the edge of her blanket nervously. "I'll try my best," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
I offered her a reassuring smile, though deep down, I knew this was a lot to ask of her. But there wasn't any other choice. If we were going to survive in this unforgiving world, we had to take risks.
"Come on, let's go." I helped her up, and together, we made our way back through the maze of alleys.
As we neared the hideout, Avelyn stuck close to me, her small hand clutching the edge of my sleeve. The distant sounds of the city seemed to fade as we approached the entrance, the weight of this new chapter settling over us. I glanced down at Avelyn, who was doing her best to mask her unease, and I gave her hand a quick squeeze.
When we finally stepped through the door, the atmosphere inside felt different. The people who barely noticed me earlier now looked up with a mix of curiosity and skepticism as they noticed Avelyn by my side. Roran was waiting near the entrance, arms crossed and an approving look on his face.
"Well, there she is," he said, nodding toward Avelyn. "Welcome, little one. You're with family now—so long as you prove you belong."
Avelyn nodded timidly, clinging to my side as she took in the rough surroundings. Her eyes darted from person to person, trying to make sense of this new environment.
Vora, still seated with her cigar in hand, watched us closely, her expression unreadable. "Let's see if the two of you can make it here," she said, her tone both challenging and curious.
I gave a firm nod, more determined than ever. This was where our journey truly began—the first step toward breaking free from the chains that had bound us for so long. We weren't just surviving anymore. We were going to fight for our place, for our future, and for our destinies.
"Allright you kiddos, I'll show you to your rooms" said Roran as he made a gesture to beckon us into the inner parts of the hideout.
I gave Avelyn a reassuring nod, and she clung a little tighter to my arm as we followed Roran down a narrow, dimly lit hallway. The further we went, the more I noticed the subtle shifts in atmosphere. The smell of smoke and oil hung thick in the air, mixing with the faint scent of old metal. The walls were lined with mismatched patches of scrap, hastily repaired holes, and the occasional flickering light that barely illuminated the path ahead.
The corridor twisted and turned like a labyrinth, with the sounds of distant chatter, clinking metal, and low murmurs echoing from hidden rooms. We passed by a few members of the crew who eyed us curiously, some with smirks, others with hardened gazes. I felt Avelyn tense up beside me, her small frame almost trembling, but she kept pace, her eyes wide as she took everything in.
"Don't mind them," Roran said casually over his shoulder, as if he could sense the unease in the air. "They're just curious about fresh faces. Not every day we bring in new recruits, especially young ones."
"Recruits?" Avelyn whispered to me, her voice barely audible.
I leaned in and whispered back, "Just stick close to me. We'll be okay."
Roran led us to a heavy, rusted door at the end of the hallway. He pushed it open with a creak, revealing a small room with two makeshift beds, each barely more than a frame with thin, patched-up mattresses. A single light hung from the ceiling, casting a dim, yellowish glow over the space. There was a rickety wooden table in the corner and a few crates stacked against the wall that served as makeshift storage.
"Home sweet home," Roran said with a grin, though there was a hint of something almost mocking in his voice. "It's not much, but it's yours now. Make yourselves comfortable—or as comfortable as you can. You'll find we're not big on luxury around here."
I took a moment to survey the room, noting every detail. It wasn't much, but compared to the streets, it was a step up. Avelyn released a small breath of relief, her grip on my arm loosening slightly as she glanced around the space.
"It's… cozy," Avelyn said, trying to sound optimistic despite the obvious discomfort she felt.
Roran chuckled. "That's the spirit. You'll get used to it. Anyway, rest up. You'll need it. Tomorrow's when the real work starts. Boss'll want to see what you're made of." He gave me a nod, a silent warning in his eyes. "You've got potential, but you'll have to prove it—both of you."
As Roran left, closing the door behind him with a clank, I turned to Avelyn. She was already sitting on one of the beds, testing its stability with a slight bounce. Her expression was a mix of curiosity and nervousness, but there was also a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"You think we'll be okay here?" she asked softly, looking up at me.
I walked over and knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We'll be more than okay," I said, trying to inject as much confidence into my voice as possible. "This is our chance, Avelyn. We just have to be smart, stay strong, and stick together. We can handle whatever comes our way."
She nodded, her resolve strengthening as she met my gaze. "As long as we're together, I know we can do it."
I smiled at her determination. For all the uncertainty swirling around us, one thing remained clear—we were in this together, and I'd do whatever it took to make sure she stayed safe. The road ahead was going to be tough, but with every step we took, we were closer to something better than the life we left behind.
"Get some rest," I told her. "Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
As she lay down on the creaky bed, I turned my attention to the small window on the far wall. Through the grimy glass, I could just make out the faint glow of the sector's artificial lights—cold, distant, and indifferent. But in the darkness, I could still see the stars beyond, twinkling like unreachable dreams.
We were far from the life we wanted, but for the first time in a long while, I felt like we were moving in the right direction. Even if the path was treacherous, we were ready for it. And no matter what tests or challenges lay ahead, I'd face them head-on—for Avelyn, and for the future we both deserved.
As night passed, the peaceful silence of the early morning was shattered by a sudden, thunderous bang on our door. The sound echoed through the small room, jolting both Avelyn and me awake. Before we could even gather our thoughts, a gruff voice barked from the other side, "Get up, new meat! We got shit to do!"
Avelyn's eyes flew open, still heavy with sleep, while I instinctively jumped to my feet, already alert. The urgency in that voice left no room for hesitation. "Come on, Avelyn, we better move," I urged as I grabbed her hand and helped her out of bed. She nodded groggily, rubbing her eyes as we both stumbled toward the door.
We stepped out into the narrow hallway, where we saw several other individuals exiting their rooms as well, all heading toward the direction we had originally come from the night before. The air was thick with the musty smell of old metal and sweat, and I could feel the tension of the morning routine buzzing around us.
"I guess we follow them," I muttered, glancing at Avelyn.
"Mhm!" she chimed in agreement, her curiosity overcoming her grogginess. We fell in line with the others, who were all moving with a sort of practiced urgency, each of them focused and purposeful. As we walked, I couldn't help but notice the wide range of people here—different ages, different builds, and all with that same hard look in their eyes, as if they had seen too much of the world and had nothing left to lose.
Eventually, we reached the main hall, a large, dimly lit room that was bustling with activity. The air was filled with low chatter, the clattering of metal, and the occasional barked order. Several individuals were lined up, handing out provisions—bread, water, and some questionable-looking dried meat—to the members filtering through. I scanned the room quickly, counting a total of nine people present, including the two familiar faces of Vora and Roran. They were standing near the back, observing everything with a keen eye.
Avelyn's face brightened as she tugged at my sleeve. "Ooh! Look, brother, they're giving out food!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement, her voice filled with the same innocent joy she always showed whenever food was involved.
I allowed myself a small smile at her enthusiasm. "Let's see if we can grab some before it's all gone," I replied, steering us toward the line. As we moved closer, I noticed that the atmosphere was more serious than I'd expected. People collected their provisions with a certain grim efficiency, as if this was just another part of surviving in this rough world.
One of the individuals handing out food—a burly man with a scar running down his cheek—eyed us with a mix of curiosity and indifference as we reached the front. "You two the new meat?" he asked gruffly.
"Yeah," I replied, keeping my tone steady. "We're here to help."
He grunted, shoving two small portions of bread and dried meat into our hands. "Eat up. You'll need it. Today's not gonna be easy."
I took the food and handed Avelyn her share, watching as she eagerly nibbled on the bread. I bit into mine as well, trying not to think too much about how stale it was. Food was food, and in our world, you took what you could get without complaining.
As we ate, I kept my eyes on Roran and Evora. Roran was talking to a group of people, his expression calm but authoritative, while Evora leaned against the wall, puffing on her cigar and scanning the room with her cold, calculating gaze. She seemed to notice me watching and locked eyes with me for a brief moment, her expression unreadable before she turned her attention elsewhere.
After a few moments, Evora stepped into the center of the room, her voice cutting through the chatter with commanding authority. "Alright, listen up! We've got a full list of targets today, so I need every one of you in top form!" Her sharp gaze swept over the room before she turned to Roran, who promptly handed her a stack of documents.
"Now then… let's discuss our prey, shall we?" Evora said with a wicked smirk, holding up the papers for all to see.