"Archie, don't ever let someone throw mud on your name. If they do, take these small paws of yours, clench them into fists, and lay it on them."
"You want me to hit them?"
"Yes, son."
"But didn't you say that violence is bad?"
"That's not what I said. I said that being a violent person is bad. But in certain circumstances where words don't worry, be prepared to use anything you have at your disposal. When it comes to your last name, it is also mine and your mother's. Your name is your legacy, our legacy, and the legacy of all your ancestors. If that name is ever being disrespected, be prepared to die to honor it."
"D-d-die? I don't want to die, Dad. I'm too young!"
"I know son. Life is a luxury but life is meaningless if you don't protect your legacy."
"Why?"
"Because when you die, the only thing you'll leave being is your legacy. That's the only thing that the universe will give a shit about when your body turns to nothing but bones and ash."
"...Mom! Dad said a curse word!"
"Zachary! What did I say about not cursing in front of our child?!"
"I-I-I... how dare you rat on your father?"
Shortly after, Archie's father was dragged by the ear into the kitchen where his mother forced him to finish washing the plates and bowls for her.
This memory was playing in Archie's dream and as he woke up, his father's instruction to die to protect his last name echoed until it faded into nothing as he opened his eyes.
As he sat up, he grumbled softly, "Good morning Mom and Dad."
The 15-year-old boy Archie Alexander Walker, 5'7" or 170 cm tall, had a slim frame with sharpness.
His ghostly skin contrasted starkly with his dark black hair that fell just past his ears in an unkempt yet naturally fitting way with loose strands slipping into his face here and there.
The bedroom he had been sleeping in consisted of nothing more than a worn-down mattress in the corner of the room, a string that was nailed to two different walls for him to hang his clothes and school uniform on, and a small wooden dresser that was missing one of its legs, a bunch of used textbooks and journals were sitting on top.
Strolling his way into the bathroom, the face reflected in the mirror was charming; if it wasn't for his emotionless expression and haunting sage green eyes, his looks wouldn't be so unsettling.
Despite his hardened exterior, he didn't look unkempt or ragged as he turned on the faucet just slightly to create a smooth flow of water.
After brushing his teeth and taking a quick cold shower, being extra careful not to use more water than necessary, he walked into the kitchen to prepare himself breakfast while wearing nothing more than a towel wrapped around his legs.
Going through the cabinets, he found a piece of bread and began toasting it.
Tsss. Tsss.
Once both sides were crispy and a little burned, Archie grabbed his jar of peanut butter from the refrigerator and began to apply a little bit on one side.
He needed just enough peanut butter to provide some extra flavor.
Quickly, in a few bites, the entire toast was inside of his mouth.
While he was chewing, he began getting dressed into his school uniform that he had laid out on his sofa.
He always made sure to prepare his uniform in advance for the next day so he wouldn't ever have to worry about finding a missing piece when he woke up.
As he was getting dressed, he was watching the local news on his television that was over double his age.
- Last night, a shooting star briefly gave our beautiful city a visit. Did everyone make a wish?
- I did.
- I wasn't asking you, Jack.
These two hosts were known to have a love-hate relationship that they would exaggerate on screen for the viewers' entertainment.
- Thank you for asking Dorcy. Want to know what I wished for?
- Nope.
- I wished for a raise in my salary.
- How about you wish to find a girl who will tolerate you for more than a month?
- Ouch. And how about you? Did you make a wish to gain less than ten pounds this week?
- Hahaha. Good one.
She proceeded to dig her middle knuckle into his arm.
- Thanks for the massage. Anyway, some people are speculating that the shooting star last night wasn't a shooting star but instead... aliens.
- And to those people, I say—
Before she could say anything else, Jack used his hand to close her mouth.
Archie continued to watch them banter a little longer before closing the television.
He didn't want to run the electricity bill more than necessary.
Once the last button was buttoned, he patted his uniform a few times, and voila — he was dressed.
Although it was technically a school uniform for Trinity Academy, the school that Archie attends, the black uniform with gold buttons and trims resembled a formal military uniform more than it did a uniform intended for school.
Standing in front of a family portrait that showed a little boy being carried on his father's shoulders while his mother leaned her head onto her husband's shoulders, Archie told the two adults in the picture, "See you later Mom and Dad. I'll try my best to come home alive."
Stepping out into the street, if his home was considered a raggedy one, then the outside view was a thousand times worse.
There were cracks in the concrete everywhere, plants were growing in the middle of the road, and trash riddled every inch.
This was the outskirts.
More specifically, the outskirts of City A-3 in the United States a.k.a. the land where people lived that wasn't inside of the force field dome where the fancy people lived.
Archie immediately heard the sound of barely functioning automobiles zooming across the roads at dangerous speeds.
Zero regrets for any people who might be crossing them.
To his left, a mother was twisting her small daughter's ears, scolding her about her selfish desire to eat ice cream.
To his right, an old grandma was pulling on a wooden cart with ease despite it being filled to the brim with gears, metal trash, and random parts that she was going to sell to a scrap dealer.
At least when he looked up, the blue sky above was gorgeous with fluffy white clouds that looked like sweet, euphoric cotton candy.
The sun had risen past the horizon and was starting its path to the center of the sky, marking the beginning of the day.
At first glance, you might've mistaken this city to be a lawless one because of how everything looked — including the apartment that Archie walked out of which looked like it had been through multiple earthquakes with all of its cracks, the windows that were cracked half of the time, and the vines that decorated the walls.
But because of the military that patrolled the streets, this place was relatively safe.
There were the occasional crimes here and there but that was to be expected.
All things considered, the outskirts of City A-3 were pretty decent.
Of course not as decent as the actual City A-3 which was safely contained inside of a force field.
That was the location that Archie was heading towards.
Hopping on a bus, he made his way to the back of the bus.
Thankfully it wasn't as full as it usually was so Archie had enough room to breathe normally.
It also didn't smell too foul in comparison to how it would smell on his way home when people returning home from work packed up the bus.
Sweat. Sweat. Sweat. And more sweat.