Chapter 2
Hours later, Joey found himself wandering the streets aimlessly, brooding over the awful truth that was his life. A deep darkness had spread and taken hold over the city, as the moonless night hovered overhead. He wished for anything, anything at all, to take his mind someplace else. Anywhere but the here and now would suffice, as that was what was eating away at his heart and mind at the moment.
Not that the streets offered any comfort. The silence was disquieting, interrupted only occassionally by the chatter of others like himself: alone and alienated. Only one kind of person ventured outside at night in this part of town, and this wasn't the first time that Joey had been counted among their numbers.
He walked along the facade of a building, and noticed two young girls standing in the doorway. Very young indeed, probably only about his age, maybe even younger. However, the expressions on their faces boasted not an age-appropriate innocence, but a harsh critique of the world as it was. He knew it all too well; he had seen it in too many youthful faces over the course of his own life. He had also seen himself reflected in it countless times. For them, the world was not as it should be, it was a place of harsh reality and even harsher conditions for those struggling to survive within it.
One of the girls, with shoulder-length brown hair and light green eyes, walked up to Joey. He stopped a moment, and the girl took up place at his side, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. He, in reply, put an arm halfway around her waist. Joey looked down and away for a moment, his heart and his head suddenly engaged in fierce battle. The girl took the opportunity to encourage the side that would support her by gently stroking Joey's neck a few times with a finger. So soft was her touch, in fact, that the hairs on the back of his neck bristled in response. He looked back up and into her eyes. The soft sea green was offset by the black and blue marks surrounding them, and they looked tired. Not in a need for sleep but in a need for rest from the path she was on. She looked at him, and leaned in, but Joey turned his head away.
No. I can't do that, he thought sullenly, although each and every one of his physical senses cried out in protest. He slid his arm out from around her and walked on, not looking back. He could feel her hand linger on his shoulder until it could no longer reach him from where she was standing.
Joey suddenly found himself wondering how many more there were like her. Not just in this city, but everywhere. People who had somehow missed out on the happy fairy-tale childhood, and were faced with the cruelty of the underworld long before their time. This place, this life, was like Hades incarnate. The lightless night reflected the impenetrable gloom and despair that hung in the air, thick as fog off the ocean shores. Perhaps there was no comfort, not here or anywhere. Maybe life and existence was all there was. There would be no heaven, no hell. Just life to go on living over and over again. Eternal torure for the human race would be no release from what people had cordially decided to name their daily prison: life.
Joey stopped at the crner of the next building he passed, hiding slightly in the shadows of an alleyway. From the other end, he heard voices drift carelessly by his ear on the wind.
"C'mon, just give me another week. I promise I'll get it," one voice pleaded.
"You've had over three months already," another countered.
After that was only a soft grunt, and a thud of something hitting the ground. Joey closed his eyes, trying vainly to block out the image his mind was producing. He felt his stomach drop, and took off running again for a block or so.
Damned conscience, he thought to himself. But what could he do? Sticking his nose in someone else's business was the surest way to get it removed. Quite painfully at that. His innards were now into full-out acrobatics, and Joey fell to his knees. Helplessness was not a feeling that he enjoyed, but it was a persistent one in his life. It was one that he had tried so many times to escape. His memory drifted back to his attempts, and one in particular.
Not long ago, and old middle school associate of his decided to expand his turf. The guy had propositioned that Joey join him, but there was no way Joey wanted to go back to that. He had just gotten into high school, and Yugi was becoming his best, and only, friend. There was no way Joey Wheeler could screw up this time. What he hadn't counted on, though, was Hirutani's threat to mess with everyone Joey's class. His conscience had gotten to him then, too. He couldn't just stand by and watch something like that happen.
Then he remembered who had gotten him out of it. All of his friends: Tristan, Téa, and especially Yugi. Joey couldn't believe he had so much support in his life. There were so many times he felt he didn't even deserve them, but they were still there.
Finally breaking Joey's intense reverie was a scream coming from a nearby alley. His conscience caught up to him, and he ran as fast as he could towards the source of the sound. He felt the adrenaline released into his system in anticipation of what he might find.
His eyes were greeted with the sight of four guys- tough, brainless muscle types- and in their midst one young girl with long brown hair, and matching chestnut eyes. The guys had formed a circle around her, but she stood in their midst in a fight-ready stance.
One of the guys grabbed for her arm, and she yelped in reply, turning towards him with a kick to his head. Another took opportunity of her distraction and grabbed her from behind. She elbowed him in the side, but his distraction wasn't long enough to let her escape, and in the next moment, he had the sharp blade of a hidden knife pressed against her neck. She froxe instantly, and gritted her teeth. He pulled it away and pushed her to the ground in one smooth motion. The girl let out another cry, but was then silent and still, a trickle of blood coming from her forehead.
"Who goes first?" one of the guys asked.
Joey's eyes widened. That's it...
"Are you morons all so weak that it takes four a'ya ta smack around a girl, or are ya just too stupid ta be able ta do it on ya'own?"
Four pairs of eyes, burning with anger, looked back at Joey. "Get the hell outta here blondie, this ain't none of your damn business."
"I guess I'm makin' it my business. And my suggestion is that you leave her alone," Joey answered. His voice was hard. He was scared of course, four on one was never good odds, but he couldn't stand to see someone get treated like that. Especially no girl.
One of the thugs chuckled. "What, you want the bitch?" he mocked. The brute grabbed the girl by the hair and picked her up like a rag doll dangling from his hand. The blood has created a small maze down her face, and Joey's stomach lurched again.
"Then take her." The guy pushed her body forward, and Joey made a rush forward to catch her before she hit the ground. In the same moment, one of the other muggers rushed forward and connected with a kick in Joey's right temple, knocking him to the ground and sending his mind reeling. The throbbing from those few short hours ago was back in full force, and a heated spike of rage shot down Joey's spine.
He could hear their laughter, but between the revived marching band and the anger burning in his head, it was background noise, and wouldn't even be that for long. Joey pulled himself up to his feet and glared at his attackers, his brown eyes hard as steel in resolution.
"You are gonna regret that..." he said, in a voice so low they could barely hear him above their hyena chatter.
"Is that so?" the apparent leader of the thugs said. "Why do I get the feelin' that you're gonna be the one regrettin' once I'm done with you?" With that the guy charged at Joey, his fists ready.
Joey managed to duck under him and roll away, picking himself back up all in one fluid motion.
"Is 'at the best ya got? I mean, I saw that punch comin' the day befo'e!"
The guy growled and charged again, knife in hand, and swung it at Joey. This time Joey grabbed his arm. The blonde-haired hero was a blur as he ducked beneath the thug's arm, came back up and landed a hard kick in his back, still grasping the limb. A loud *CRACK!* sounded and the mugger fell to the ground, wimpering in pain.