Author's Note

Lincoln

The day started like many other days before for the young male. Waking up in the run-down house that had been abandoned for years. A cold breeze that entered through the cracks of the broken windows. Along with the cold air that whistled through the broken openings, the sound of the distant sounds of the city.

"It's not much," he spoke said aloud as he opened his eyes, then sat up stretching, seemingly to no one. His eyes focused on the same walls that he sees almost every day. The same faded green walls, with chipped paint, revealing brick beneath it "But when you're homeless, and have nothing else, this place is like the Ritz."

Bones popped in his back, as he stood up and stretched. The boy wished that he had something better to sleep on than an old floor, covered in dust, and bits of paint. Carpet that had seen so many better days. At one point he would have said that the floor was red, but he couldn't really tell, It could have easily been brown with all the dust on it. He stumbled a little as he searched the room, for any food he could have, any kind of leftovers from the day, or days before.

His eyes gaze about the room taking in the surroundings beyond the carpet, and the walls.. He had his backpack, a ratty old blanket, most of the junk that had been left behind from the previous owners, had been piled in front of the door, to barricade it from anyone getting in. A small propane heater that he used sparingly, once the room was warm, it usually stayed tolerable until morning. Hoping that the sound would give him any kind of warning if someone tried. Two other shirts, almost as faded as the one he wore, along with a couple pares of pants. And two pairs of shoes, one in much better condition than the one he normally wore. He didn't wear the good pair, saving them for when the pair he was using ended up useless. Empty cans and packages from a days before.

'I should really get rid of those.' He thought to himself. As he continued looking around the room his eyes landing on a can of beans. Walking over to it, he looked inside, it looked like it could have been a couple days old, some of the beans on the top looked a little dried out. But with how cold it was, he was sure it wasn't spoiled. Either way, he sighed as he used a spoon to eat the beans. It wouldn't even be the worst thing that he had eaten. Had to eat something, and for now, that what he had.

While he ate his meal, he began to plan out his day,

First thing he needed to do was to head out and scout the city for new scavenging areas, the ones that he normally use have started to attract unwanted attention. While homelessness wasn't common in his city, the ones that were homeless, chose that life unlike himself. Either way, most of them were unsavory, and he didn't feel safe around them.

Second thing that he needed to do, was to head out to the more touristy areas in town, and relieve some of the people of their money. The city had a lot of tourists, especially this week. There was some kind on concert going on this week, and it seemed to bring a lot of people in, along with people form the town. Along with the concert, they had some local bands, which really pumped things up. Along with local venders bringing in food trucks, and stands. Games like a carnival or festival style games. Which lead him back to the tourists, and the money they would soon part with.

'I know, I know.' He talked to no one in the room again, 'Stealing isn't right. And I do feel bad about it. But a guy has to do what he needs to to survive. But hey. Those carnival games were rigged, and the food was over priced. Odds are, if I didn't take it, they would lose the money in a 'legal' scams.'

It also didn't help that he was good at it. It seemed the boy was naturally gifted at grifting money from people. Being unusually small, and malnourished for his age made him nimble, and fast. So, if he failed, or got caught picking someone pocket, he would be able to make a hasty retreat, and vanish through small openings.

Finally third thing he needed to do, he thought as he finished his meager meal. He needed to liberate more food. Hopefully, canned food as it lasted the longest. But digging through dumpsters from restaurants. That is about the only good thing about it being winter, was food wouldn't spoil as fast. It wouldn't last forever, but the could would at least give him some time to space out his meals.

The boy sighed as he got back to his feet, figuring that if he was going to get everything done, he might as well get his day started. He grabbed his backpack shouldering it, goes to the window and opens it, he crawls out the window and onto the roof. Slowly walking to a board that connected the roof of the house to the next. The stairs in his house had fallen through he didn't know how many years ago, but it made it harder for anyone to get up the stairs. It was an extra bit of defense, though he still barricaded the door, just in case someone got adventurous enough. He had been. Once he made it across, he opened, and crawled through another window, down the stairs, and out the back door. While these houses were empty, and had been for a while. Every now and again people still came around. Maybe looking to see if any of the houses were salvageable. The boy knew that there was a chance that someone would buy the house he stayed in, and he would have to find another place, but that was a possible concern for another day.

The boy takes a deep breath as he looks up at the morning sky, the cold air slightly stinging his lung. While the house wasn't much it was rather insulated, and sometimes he didn't realize how cold it was outside.

AVAVA

Once he arrived at the outskirts of the city he noticed that there was a lot more people than there had been the day before. The event must have gotten more notice than it had in the previous years. Not that he was going to complain, more people, more money he could liberate, or find. During these large events people were known to drop some money, and the occasional ring that he could sell.

A poster caught his attention of a white female, wearing purple and black rocker style clothing, apparently in the middle of shredding on a guitar. Luna Loud, and the Moon Cats, the poster read at the bottom. Apparently based on what he had heard from the people that was milling about, this Luna girl was a big deal locally. He hadn't heard of her, but that didn't mean much. He wasn't up to date on music trends. Though, even if he wasn't sure who she was, she definitely looked the part. Either way, it meant that there was more people to borrow from.

'Time to get back on track,' He thought to himself as he started to put his plan into action. His stomach growling he decided to shift his goals. He moved to a more built up area of town, with restaurants, where the people normally order more than they needed, and ended up throwing large potions away. He didn't want to scavenge there, but the normal places that he did get food from had started to get picked clean by others. Along with the trend of freeganism. People that choose to eat from dumpsters, instead of buying food. Of course he knew it was to save food waste, but as a person who depended on that wasted food, he thought it was messed up, if they could afford it.

He made his way through the alleys to the restaurants. The farther he went, the more he realized how far they were from where he had come from. He might have to forgo pickpocketing today. Which meant that he would have to stuff as much food into his bag as he could to last him a week. So he wouldn't have to do this trip every day.

Another reason that he didn't normally come here. With the large amount of fresh food, that was very tasty it attracted a lot of attention from others, that were unsavory people. Some of those people are dangerous. He had yet to encounter any of them, but he had heard from a few others on the streets that he had known for a bit. So he was on guard while looking through the dumpster.

One of the reason why he usually has his bag with him, whenever he left the house. Along with carrying good back him, he used it to carry a varity of 'weapons' in it, that he had collected over the years. A couple pocket knives, a baton thing that sometimes got stuck open and he had to hit it on the ground to close it. And if nothing else, he always had a few tricks up his sleeve.

He climbed out of the dumpster, his bag stuffed to the brim, a half a burger in his hand as he ate it greedily. He hadn't ever used this dumpster before, but it was amazing. He wished that he could have tried it when it was fresh, but still this burger was better than anything that he had eaten in years. He walked around the front of the store, wanting to know the name of the restaurant.

'Lynn's Kitchen,' He read to himself. Now this was a place he'll have to remember, giddiness spreading through him, as he thought about eating this food this next week. It would be a good week.

Making his way back into the alley behind the restaurant, he tried to stick to the shadows as much as he could, he didn't want to bring to much attention to himself than he absolutely had to. Last thing he wanted, was to get himself into unnecessary situations that could lead to injury or even death. Some people on the streets were not the most friendly.

Taking the next left from the alley, he would enter another that would lead back to the main street, when he happened upon a situation that he was trying his hardest to avoid himself. He heard a gruff voice saying something, he wasn't close enough to hear what he had said, only that he did not sound friendly.

Against his better judgment, he slowly made his way towards the alley where the voice was coming from., taking a peek from around the side of a dumpster. As the edge of the dumpster he could see three guys surrounding what seemed to be a young girl holding a bag close to her chest. From what he could see, she wore a white blouse, and a yellow pleated skirt. He couldn't see much else other than her brunette hair, pulled back in a ponytail. Older than he was, but still much younger than the three strangers.

"Please, I don't have any money, or anything to give you guys. It makes no 'cents' to rob me. H-a ha, Please, just let me go. I won't drop the 'dime' on you." She laughed nervously, seemingly trying to plead for her to be let go.

Hearing that he started to turn around to find another way to his destination. You see, to survive out here, you need to follow a couple of rules. One of those rules are, 'don't get involved in situations that don't concern you, to avoid making enemies.'

"If you don't have any money, maybe there is something else that we could take." He heard the girl gasp, and start to sob.

His body stopped suddenly at those words, and hearing the gasp she made. Upon hearing those words a war breaks out in his conscious. He wondered, what kind of person would he be if he let these guys do something like that it this girl. Letting them do this, he would be as bad as those assholes.

'Damn it,' he thought to himself, 'I'm going to get involved..'

The boy slowly makes his way back to look at this three soon to be opponents. All three seem to be lowly thugs. I see no signs of any gang markings on their clothing, nor matching colors to clothing to indicate a gang. Them seemingly not being a part of a gang, or at least one local seemed to be a blessing.

'Maybe I can get out of this, without jeopardizing my life in the process.' He thought to himself, as a plan starts to form in his head. He put his hood up, pulling it to cover his face as he began to set his plan into motion. He turns to a nearby trashcan, pushing it over. The sound reverberates off the alley walls, causing him to wince. He didn't expect it to make that much noise. The reaction was almost immediate.

"What the hell was that?" The gruff voice ask.

'I don't know, Gary, go check it out while we keep this piece company." Another voice said.

'Perfect' he thought as he reached into the front of his bag, pulling out his pocket knife, pressing himself against the wall behind the dumpster to lie in wait.

As soon as 'Gary' made his way around the corner, he plants his feet against the back of the dumpster and push it out, using his back against the wall to help push. The dumpster moved farther than he had wanted, but the effect still worked If this Gary was a little more concerned with his surroundings, then maybe he could have avoided being knocked over by the dumpster. Fortunately for him hadn't been paying attention.

The moment Gary hit the ground, the boy jumped into action, literally as he jumped over the dumpster, planting his a foot on the ground, as he swings the other connecting with the side of the other males head. An audible crack echoed down the alley, knocking Gary out. Admiring his handiwork for a moment, He fails to notice the other two thugs coming up behind him.

"Looks like we got our selves a little hero. Or maybe another plaything." The gruff voice from before said.

'Shit,' He thought, No doubt they head the commotion with Gary, and came to check it out. This wasn't part of his plan, but he wasn't going to let that stop him. The boy turned towards the males, and he noticed that the man holding the girl, also held a huge knife, making his pocketknife look like a toy.

"Tell me boy, do you wanna die?" his gruff voice sending a chill down the boys spine.

Not giving him a response, I reach into the front of my bag, and wait for him to charge, knowing that he will, and ready for it when he does. It only takes a few seconds before the guy not holding the girl, charged at him, just like the boy wanted. Once he get close enough, the boy pulls out a can of bug spray, and begin to spray it into the thugs face, and more importantly, his eyes. With a loud scream of pain, the man swings wildly, one fist making a connection with his shoulder, making his his in pain. He retreats back a few steps to avoid any other injury.

'I can't waste any time, If I wait too long, this thug will get hie sight back.' He looks around frantically, for anything that he could use to help himself, when his eyes landed on bricks. Leaning down swiftly, he picks up two of the said bricks, and threw them as hard as he could at the thugs head. Another crack, and a thud as the second make hits the ground. I look up and the third male seems to have retreated back with the girl, maybe hoping to get started while his buddy took care of the boy. I take rope out of my bag tying the two knocked out thugs together. Then make my way to the last thug.

"Fucking useless, both of them," The final thug said while holding that big knife to the girls throat. He turns towards me, "Any closer and I cut the slut open."

He studies the man face, looking into his eyes, and I could see that this guy meant every word he said. Any movement I make towards the girl will most certainly cost this girl her life. A plan comes into my mind, it was risky, and it would rely on a lot of chances, but it was the only plan he had at the moment. He knew that if he left now, and he could, but if he did, the girls fate would be worse than before.

"Hey man, calm down. Just let her go, and leave. We don't need to make this worse than it already is." the boy pleaded, "No one has to die. And we won't tell anyone."

"Ha, fat chance. As soon as I let this piece of ass go, you;ll just attack," the thug brings the girl closer to him.

'Shit... I need to do something, and do it quick, I need a distraction.'

Looking into the girls eyes, hr try to communicate to her that she needs to cause a distraction of some kind, hoping that she understands what he's trying to do. He nods at the case she was holding, that he had previously thought was a bag. She quickly unclasps the case, and what appeared to be a dummy fell out of the case, thumping on the ground. The sudden noise, of the dummy causes the thug to jump back, and push the girl away from him, causing her to trip forward. Taking that moment, he takes his chance, and lunges at the thug with his pocket knife, aiming for the thugs leg, just missing it. As the boy gets back up, preparing for a fight. To his surprise it seemed that the leader thug decided that it was no longer worth all the trouble, as he turned tail and ran.

'Its over, thank fuck,' The boy thought as he looked up at the girl. She seemed to be coming around after falling, albeit a little dazed. The boy thought as he took the girl into his arms straining his legs, and arms. Lifting anything larger than himself is usually a hard task, but he had to get away before the leader decides to come back. He carries her down the alley close to the street

As soon as he makes it there, he stands the girl up, her leaning against the wall, still a bit dazed. He tries to think of a plan. What he should do. Should he tell someone. Would they believe him? Just as a plan was forming, his thoughts were interrupted.

"Oi, mate., What're you doing with my sister, dude?" The raspy voice made him jump, and he turned to see the girl from the poster. Luna Loud he imagined. Yeah this isn't good. Her sister dazed and confused, leaned against the wall, with him holding on to her. Yeah, no one would believe he was helping her.

The boy took off as fast as he could down the alley that they had come from, he notices the dummy and case on the ground as he turns the corner, and without thinking, his scavenger brain kicks in as he grabs both and runs for safety Making his way past the knocked out thugs abandoned by their so called boss.

Once he gets a few alleys away, he stops to catch his breath, sitting on a random box. While sitting there, catching his breath, he inspects the doll. His first impression was that the doll was creepy as hell. It looked as if it belonged in a horror movie. The blank, cold, dead eyes staring at him. Ginger red hair. It gave him a real Chucky kinda vibe.

'Selling the creepy thing, would probably get him a couple bucks at a pawnshop. He shivers as he feels it starting to get colder. He turns his gaze to the sky, seeing that the sun was starting to go down. While the hues of colors dancing in the sky was beautiful, it signaled that it was going to get real cold. Night time, this time of the year in Michigan was not very forgiving. He looked around finding a metal trashcan, Having no other choice, he carried the trashcan farther into the alley, behind a dumpster. He picked up some paper, but knew that he needed wood, the paper would burn bright, and out fast. If he got enough wood, the metal can would heat up and at least radiate heat for a while. Through the alley he managed to find a several pieces of broken wooden furniture, and a few bits of broken wooden crates.

He tossed a few newspapers into the trashcan, and dropped the wood on top of it, keeping a meager pile next to it. Digging through his backpack, he pulled out matches, lit one, and tossed it into the can. The paper took a moment to catch fire, so much so, he almost lit another match. Then it caught fire he watched and waited, adding balled up newspaper to keep the fire going until the wood caught fire. With the fire lit, he added more of the wood, before setting his backpack down using it as a pillow, as he pulled what he assumed it was a cloth tarp. Not really soft, but it would keep him warm, and at least it seemed clean, and didn't smell bad.

The case and the dummy was sitting next to him. He figured that he might as well take a closer look , he sits up pulling the dummy, and it's case closer to him, looking inside.

Inside he saw was appeared to be messages made ou to the girl that he had saved. He started reading through them.

'Happy Birthday, to our favorite little comedian,' Mom and Dad

'Keep the jokes rockin, little dudette!' Luna

'Sigh, your comedy briefly fills the dark void in my heart.' Lucy

'Didn't we celebrate this a year ago,' Leni

Happy womb emigration day, genetically similar older sibling.' Lisa

They continue on like that, ten messages in total. For a moment he wondered what it was like to have so many people care about you. He didn't know how many were friends, or which were family. He assumed the one from 'Lisa' was related, at least what he could grasp from the message.

It was obviously the firl was well-loved by her family. It must be nice, he thought again.

Sitting there he sighed as he felt the resolve build up in him.

'I have to return this,' he thought to himself. 'I can't sell it no matter what I can get from it. The care, and love in the case alone. Not to mention how she had clung to it in the alley. It was obvious that this mean the world to the girl. It was worth to much to the girl to be sold. But if he was going to return it, he would have to find her. And in a town this side, it could be almost impossible.

Laying back on his backpack once again, he decided to start looking for her in the morning after he ate something for breakfast. He curled up, thankful for the fire burning in the trashcan, and the dumpster that the heat bounced off, and back onto him as well. Being warmer than he had all day, he closed his eyes, and the sounds of the city slowly faded away as he fell asleep.