Thirty minutes ago
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Cloud stepped out of a dilapidated apartment complex, its crumbling facade barely holding together against the elements.
The place was so worn down that it felt like a strong gust of wind could send it tumbling into oblivion.
Filth clung to every corner, with garbage strewn about like confetti at a forgotten celebration.
The stench was overwhelming, just one whiff could knock you out cold.
Rodents and insects scuttled through the debris, making this place anything but suitable for human habitation.
This neighborhood had earned a notorious reputation; crime and violence thrived in the dark alleys, with statistics showing that the murder rate here was among the highest in the city.
Yet, despite its dangers, people still chose to live here, drawn by rock-bottom rents so low that even beggars found shelter within these walls.
It had become a haven for society's outcasts, while city officials turned a blind eye to the chaos unfolding daily.
As Cloud cautiously surveyed his surroundings, a dimly lit world even in daylight, he felt an unsettling tension rise within him.
He tiptoed quietly toward the streets beyond the complex but first had to navigate through a long, shadowy alley.
With each step he took, his vigilance heightened; sweat trickled down his forehead as he scanned for any signs of danger.
Three minutes later, he stood before the mouth of an ominous alleyway that seemed to beckon like the gaping maw of some terrifying beast.
Shaking off his dread, Cloud gulped hard and stepped into the darkness.
Instantly, an unbearable stench assaulted his senses, a putrid mix of decay and filth that made him grimace but didn't deter him from moving forward.
Piles of garbage littered every inch of ground; animal carcasses lay rotting alongside human remains that told tales best left untold.
Yet Cloud pressed on with an air of calmness born from years spent living in this hellish environment.
After more than ten years here, he'd witnessed far worse horrors than what surrounded him now.
Just as hope flickered at the sight of light up ahead, panic surged within him: "Please don't let me run into those guys!" he silently prayed as he quickened his pace.
But as the saying goes the harder you try to avoid something, the more likely it is to happen.
Suddenly hearing rustling sounds ahead sent alarm bells ringing in his mind.
He peered forward and saw a group leaning against the alley wall, dozens of figures laughing and smoking while playing cards on the ground.
"Shit! What bad luck!" Cloud cursed under his breath as dread washed over him.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he walked past them slowly; their tattoos and scars marked them as ruthless gangsters devoid of compassion or mercy.
As he passed by their gathering without making eye contact, a feat easier said than done, his heart raced dangerously fast when they turned their murderous gazes upon him.
"Hey there, kiddo! Long time no see!"
Cloud had just taken a few steps away from the gangsters, relief washing over him as he thought they might let him go. But then, one of them called out.
"Oh no… I'm dead." His heart raced as he mechanically turned around.
Running wasn't an option; he knew he didn't have the strength to outrun these ruthless gangsters who could spell his doom.
After all, he had encountered them countless times before, those rotting body parts in the alley didn't just appear out of nowhere.
The gangsters surrounded him, their malicious grins revealing blackened, yellowish teeth and faces twisted with intent to kill.
The leader stepped forward, a burly man with a large tattoo resembling some ferocious animal on his face, completely shirtless and covered in scars and ink.
He wrapped his massive arms around Cloud's shoulders like a predator claiming its prey.
"Hey kid," he sneered, "you've been trying to avoid us lately. It's been ages since my brothers and I saw you! What are you so afraid of? We don't eat people… at least not yet!" His grin widened, but a dangerous glint flickered in his eyes.
Cloud laughed nervously, stammering, "N-no! I'm not avoiding you guys; it's just that we always miss each other."
"Well then," the leader replied with an unsettling smile, "it seems today we didn't miss each other after all! Ha!"
"Yeah... what a coincidence," Cloud said, his face turning ghostly pale.
"Since we finally meet again after all this time," the leader continued menacingly while tightening his grip around Cloud's neck, "I have something to ask you."
Fear flashed in Cloud's eyes as he realized what was coming next. "You know you owe us money," the leader said coldly.
Cloud quickly nodded; terror coursed through him as he looked up at the gang leader.
Suddenly,
WHAM! A powerful punch slammed into his stomach.
His eyes bulged as if they might pop out of their sockets; he crumpled to the ground and vomited bile along with remnants of breakfast. Panic surged through him as pain radiated across his body.
"You know you owe us but don't want to pay? It's been two weeks already! Do you think my brothers and I do nothing for free?" The gang leader loomed over him with murderous intent.
"I... I'll pay!" Cloud gasped between breaths. "I'm going on a Ruin raid, I promise I'll get your money afterward!"
The gang leader paused for a moment before grabbing Cloud by the collar and lifting him like a rag doll.
A sinister smile spread across his face. "I'll give you until tonight to pay me back; otherwise…" He let the threat hang ominously in the air.
"Yes, I understand! I'll get you your money by tonight!" Cloud quickly nodded, urgency lacing his voice.
"You better," the gang leader sneered, his eyes glinting with menace. "Now get out of here and bring me my cash. If it weren't for your value to me, I would have killed you already." With a dismissive flick of his wrist, he tossed Cloud aside like a rag doll.
Cloud hit the ground hard, pain radiating through his body as he groaned in agony. Every muscle protested as he gritted his teeth and forced himself to rise.
He staggered toward the entrance of the dark alley, each step twisting his face in discomfort.
Behind him, laughter echoed mockingly from the gangsters as they resumed their activities without a second thought.
Finally breaking free from the shadows of the alley, Cloud stepped into the sunlight.
It enveloped him like a warm embrace, soothing his battered spirit as he faced the bustling city ahead.
Towering skyscrapers loomed in the distance while cars zipped along Alpha Road.
The air was alive with laughter and conversation; honks and shouts mingled into a vibrant symphony of life.
Standing at that threshold felt surreal, like teetering between two worlds: behind him lay the oppressive darkness of despair and danger; before him sprawled a lively scene filled with joy and hope.
The contrast was stark, a reminder of humanity's duality.
Rubbing his aching stomach with a sigh of relief, Cloud pondered this strange existence.
Was he truly living in two worlds?
Each time he emerged from that dark alley into daylight, confusion washed over him like waves crashing on shore.
The constant shift between light and dark created an illusion that left him feeling disoriented.
Shaking off those thoughts, Cloud turned right and began walking along the pavement among other pedestrians, but even in their midst, he felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness wash over him.