AWI: So, I realized that my summary is pretty freaking awesome but the first two chapters are so HORRIBLE that I drive away many of the readers enticed by my excellent summary. So, I decided to rewrite Chapter 1 for the THIRD time. Hopefully, it's at least passably better to the point that it only drives away half as many readers… sigh…
Also, let's thank Aldedron for assisting in the rewrite of the chapter this time around!

WARNINGS: adult themes, blood, content subject to change, death, disturbing content, Kanda (language), shounen ai/slash/mild "gayness", violence

Summary:
In a town rotted with corruption and lies, innocent people are killed for the gain of merely one man. Even Allen, who the conspiracies revolve around, seeks the truth. Can he find it in time?

Chapter 1: You're Crashing, But You're No Wave [Fall Out Boy]

With the brilliant colors of the sunset dismantled by clouds, the dusk cast a dreary gloom over the city. The wealthy took the dimming light as their cue to filter off the streets and return to their bright homes. The poor, however, took this as their cue to either seek shelter in the alleys or to slink out for the nightly hunt. Mana Walker and his pseudo son were among those who sought somewhere to stay over the course of the twilit hours.

Mana glanced up at the roiling gray above them. "It looks like the snows will arrive tomorrow." Allen followed his gaze but otherwise remained silent. A sharp breeze whipped through the streets inciting the pair to seek cover from the wind in a dank alley. They stumbled a brief moment in the abrupt darkness; such a contrast to the watery light of the street. Only shadows lurked in the narrow space, turning crates and bins into looming beasts out for blood. Allen inched closer to his guardian in response to the shift of atmosphere. "Hm. Darker than I thought it'd be, but—" He paused, smiling at the boy. "At least the wind isn't quite so biting in here, eh?" The child looked up with wide eyes and nodded obediently as Mana placed a comforting hand on his back to push him further into the alley.

Tension coiling in the air heightened with each step forward, a pressure only Allen seemed aware of as he started to dig his heels in against further movement. His caution was well founded as the darkness reached an apex—

A black shape appeared high above with the suddenness of a swooping bat and fell to collide with the cobblestones with a squelching thud. Allen cried out as a liquid splattered over him and Mana. It was unnervingly warm, giving him a clear clue as to what exactly it was: blood.

While the child stood stock still, Mana dashed forward to the body. "Are you alright?" he cried franticly, although he could already assume the man before him was a bit too less than alright. When a hand to the prone form's neck, his suspicion was confirmed; the man was dead. Mana bowed his head, distressed that a life had been ended.

Something flashed in the dim light. He reached out to see what it was, but as his fingers met with the solid pommel, a woman just outside the alley caught site of Allen splattered in blood and Mana's figure hovering over the body, hand on the knife that had killed the man. She let out a piercing cry that alerted all on the streets of the gruesome murder—and Mana was certainly in a compromising position.

"Mana?" the boy murmured, pointing at a silhouette at the other end of the alley. A well-dressed man stood, gaping at the bloody scene. He'd seen everything.

Mana quickly stood. "E-excuse me, sir! Please! You saw what happened. If you would explain to the lady outside—"

The man shook his head. "I do not dabble in the affairs of street urchins," he pronounced, sentencing Mana to an adverse fate.

Allen glared at the aristocrat. "But he didn't do it!"

"Quiet, boy! Do not speak in such a way to your betters!" the man sniffed. The woman dropped in a faint, the gathering crowd saving her head from meeting the cobbles. Not wanting to get caught up in the trial of such a low class mongrel, the man dashed from the scene, leaving Mana Walker for dead.

A trial was held soon thereafter once it was discovered that victim was of a high notoriety and that a fair amount of funds missing from his person. With only an orphan waif and a claim that some aristocrat had also been present, the trial was quite speedy. Mana Walker was sentenced to death for robbery and murder. Allen Walker was roped in as an accomplice and sentenced to life in prison. Within a week, Mana was hanged, Allen witnessing the murder of his beloved guardian from a barred window.

That very night, the boy slipped out of his cell and vanished into the mists. If only it had been known what had really happened that day that destroyed Allen Walker's life, perhaps the ocean of blood would not have been spilt when the conspiracies responsible came to light.

AWI: Too many people looked at Chapter 1 and left because it was so terrible. Now, the rest of the fic may get the attention I believe it deserves (Even if the word count for Chapter 1 has gone down yet again). Maybe now I can stop losing potential readers!

Word count: 733