carbonated angel
FAINT
.0o0.
It was nighttime. The air was cold and sharp. And dark. There was darkness everywhere.
The big man was rough-looking. He hadn't shaven in days, and the stubble grew up his chin. His breath smelled of alcohol and cigarettes. Black, thin hair grew on his head like vines, filthy vines that hung down the front of his face. He was ugly, with crooked teeth and a thick neck, but he was alive.
Two boys were with him, tall and gangly; they were not yet men, but they were almost there. Their strength combined was greater than that of ten men, something that many people considered dangerous. But it wasn't a problem, since no one ever went near either of them. They were freaks.
Only the old man had touched them. The older boy called him pit bull, because he looked like one. The younger one didn't say anything, because he would get hit if he did. No one could hit him except the old man, because he was stronger than both of them. Or so he said.
The three of them were inside the dead city right now, walking with their hands inside the front pockets of their long jackets, because it was a cold day. There was no snow, but all of them could feel the jagged ice in the air.
Where we goin'. Said the younger boy, looking at the empty windows of a building.
Shuttup. No talk till we get there. The old man was the one who spoke. The other one said nothing.
He kept his eyes on the cracked ground, and kept silent. Strike one, he thought. Three strikes and pit bull hit you in your right eye, and you wouldn't wake up until the next morning. It was one of the early lessons that they had learned.
.0o0.
She was huddled inside her room, doing her homework. The teacher said that he would give her one more day, when she told him that she couldn't give it in because her father tore them up when he lost.
He's like that when he's lost, she had said, Then he tears things up and I can't sleep.
The teacher had looked at her worriedly, and suggested that maybe he could visit her father sometime. She'd shaken her head and told him no, because then she would get into more trouble again.
So now, the girl was there, squinting at the pencilled words on her English book, and trying to make sense of them. But the truth is, she can't, because she is thinking about other things.
Maybe you should give him a chance, her Aunt had said. Judge Silver says he behaved well in jail, so I suppose your father is a more decent man now.
Aunt never called her dad by his name, only 'Your father', or 'that man'. The girl never asked why. It was none of her business. After all, she was just the daughter. That's what her mother had told her before she left them.
Keep out of it, Izumi. You're just the daughter.
Her dad lived in the part of town called the dead city. It was a horrible place, and his apartment was also horrible, with its cracked glass windows and the smelly cloth that he had made her sleep on, while he took the couch. She heard noises at night, and sometimes, gunshots. He had told her that it was just the rats and the druggies, and not to worry because they were both safe.
She never really believed him, though.
.0o0.
They were all standing in front of the door now. Pitt Bull told the older one to go and get the girl, while he and the other boy waited there. None of them said anything after, and soon, only the creaking sound of the door swinging open was heard.
We'll sell her, said the old man, Don't' worry, Shelley won't care anyway. She's nothing to him. Gave 'er to me for fifty.
The younger boy nodded. He waited for his brother to come back with the girl. According to Pitt Bull, she was a good catch, though a little banged up. She would sell for a couple hundred at the Market. They were always looking for girl slaves there.
Hey! Let go of me! LET GO--mmph!
Both of them heard the screams, and looked at each other. Pitt Bull nodded, and fixed his small black eyes on the open door. Soon, the older boy came out, lugging the girl over his shoulder. He'd stuffed her mouth with some filthy cloth, and it was too big for her to spit out.
Pitt Bull grinned approvingly. He took something long and rough out of his pocket, and barked at the younger boy to tie her up. The old man had a rope in his hands. The boy obeyed, taking the rope and binding the girl till she could barely move.
Let's go, said0 the older one, dropping the girl heavily on the ground. She let out a muffled shriek.
What's her name again? He asked Pitt Bull, who gave him a dirty look.
Izumi, he answers. Her name is Izumi.
.0o0.
NOTE: hey, I'm back:D Kouji doesn't appear yet. Hang on. :) This story will be very short.