Eddie
I woke up all alone in a damp looking place. I remembered where I was. I was hiding in some old garden like greenhouse district with lots of plants. As always, after No Heart got me, I ran off the moment I had another chance. I didn't stop. I ran until I puked. And here I was, safe and hidden for now. It was already afternoon when I woke up, and I slip outside into the district. It was full of people selling wierd looking plants and exotic looking flowers. It was a very weird place for me to be in.
I walked around and then I fell. I struggled to get up until I was helped up by someone. "Are you okay kid?" asked a boy about 18 or so. He was tall with light brown hair, wearing a white tank top and he had muscles. I nodded awkwardly and the boy began to laugh.
"You fell head first on the floor there. What gives?" he said.
"I just fell." I replied.
"Yeah, and you look filthy as heck. What happened? You lived in a dumpster or something?" he asked.
"I did." I said. I was very untrusting to people and I wanted to play it safe with this guy. He looked nice, but I didn't know what to make of him. The boy then gave me a banana. "Eat this. Might give your brain a workout." he said.
"Thank you." I replied sheepishly.
"I'm Cody. You?"
"Eddie."
"Okay Eddie, so what's your story?" he asked.
"I'm running away from a psycho." I said.
"Oh. You ran away from someone who was going to hurt you?" asked Cody.
"Yeah." I said.
"Well, who ever he is, he won't find you here. This is Floral District. A place where people buy plants for their gardens and to get high. This place belive it or not is owned by the gangster Wolfshiem." said Cody.
"This place is his? I didn't know he was into plants." I said.
"Please, the guy makes money out of it. That's why he's filthy rich." said Cody as he put on a jean vest.
"So, are you an orphan?" I asked.
"All my life. Been here and there, and I managed to work for the man. And here I am, selling stupid weed plants just to make a profit." said Cody.
"That's awful." I said.
"So, I take your an orphan too." said Cody.
"I am. But I wasn't alone. I have a little brother, but we both got seperated and I don't know where he is. I doubt he's still at our safe space." I said.
"I'm sorry. Anything I can do?" asked Cody.
"I'm not so sure." I replied.
"Well... I'm lonely. Wanna hang here a couple of days? I live not too far from here. It's a shabby old apartment, but it's safe." said Cody.
"I don't know. I don't want you to get in trouble." I said.
"Please kid. Wolfsheim has too much money and his thugs here don't care if we are here or not." said Cody.
"You sure it's safe." I asked.
"You need a bath and a place to rest. I'll take you to my apartment." said Cody.
In a couple minutes, I took a very relaxing bath and put on some new clothes Cody found. "These belonged to me when I was younger. I hope they fit you." said the boy.
"I'm sure they will." I said.
The boy sat down on his chair and lit up a cigarrette. However, he didn't puff it or anything. He just held it and offered it to me. "You smoke?" he asked.
"Nah. I don't." I replied.
"Suit yourself." said Cody as he put out the cigarrette. He didn't even use it which was very weird.
"So you sell weed?" I asked.
"I said they were weeds. Not weed. But honestly, I don't care. People get high on whatever plant they get their hands on." said Cody.
"They do huh?" I said.
"Yeah. Stupid people." said Cody.
"So, you live here alone?" I asked.
"Yep. All my life." replied Cody. He stood up and looked at the mirror. He looked at his muscles and chuckled.
"Who knew I would end up so big and strong." he said.
"Ah huh." I replied awkwardly. Cody looked at me and smiled. "You will have one like me someday. I think." he said.
"I hope so." I said.
"I had this friend once who was so obssessed with sports and body building. He would go to the gym every single day! It was a nightmare! Me and the other friends told him to relax a little." said Cody.
"Really?" I said.
"Yeah. That doofus." said Cody.
"Where are your friends?" I asked.
"I don't know. We all split up in this damn city." said Cody.
"Techno City is the pits huh?" I said.
"Your telling me. So much corruption. So much suffering. So much social unrest. It's all so bleak and unhappy." said Cody.
"You sound like you had a normal childhood." I said folding my arms.
"I never had a childhood. I lived in the streets too. Also, when you are a kid, the world is unicorns and rainbows. But when you grow up, that land of imagination one would make would start to crumble and mess up." said Cody.
"I don't think of unicorns and rainbows. All I know is that we all are suffering like pigs." I said.
"Wow, that's a little harsh." said Cody.
"So, what else do you do around here?" I asked.
"I sell veggies and plants, come back here and just hang out doing nothing. My life is pretty boring." replied Cody.
"Boring, but safe." I said sadly.
"Don't fret. Just lay back and relax. Don't worry about it." said Cody.
I smiled, but I knew that deep down, I had to leave. I looked outside the window and as usual, I saw No Heart standing looking at my window with his hand stroking his chin. Cody got up and looked outside.
"Oh. He's the one after you? What you do? Sell your soul or something?" asked Cody.
"He's a jerk who abuses." I said.
"He looks abusive." said Cody. He then opened a window and screamed. "NO HEART! YOU STINK!" he cried.
At first, I thought this was going to fall on deaf ears and No Heart would probably ignore it. Not this time however. No Heart walked backwards in surprise and shock. I looked from afar and he looked as if he was looking at a ghost or something. But whatever it was, it terrified him and he walked back in the shadows, still watching, but this time cautiously.
"Did you ever meet him?" I asked to Cody.
He turned to me and smiled. "In the past. I showed him a thing or two." said Cody.
"Who are you? I thought only I could see No Heart." I asked.
"That is for me to know. And for you to never find out. Just stay put and don't leave the apartment. Besides, I doubt he'll come here." said Cody.
"Why is that?" I asked.
"I beat him once." replied Cody with a warm smile.