A rotund man stood in the doorway, grinning wide enough to reveal a golden tooth.
Fat man: "Here it is! Your new home sweet home. Don't worry, you'll get used to it in no time."
Virno stood behind his mother, arms crossed and a scowl on his face. Cabdan gestured grandly at the house as though presenting a palace.
Fat man: "No keys, no locks. No need for 'em, see? People around here trust each other. Well..."
He chuckled, scratching his chin.
Fat man: "... That, and there's not much worth stealing anyway."
Anya offered a polite, if strained, smile.
Anya: "Thank you, mister Cabdan."
Cabdan (Fat man): "Oh no, thank YOU! I was in desperate need of a new pair of fists."
He slapped Virno's shoulder with a meaty hand.
Cabdan: "If your boy does well, you can bet every month you'll only have to pay half the rent. So earn me lots of money, alright, kid?"
He extended his hand for a handshake. Virno's gaze lingered on the man's pinky ring, which gleamed with an odd, unnatural gray glow. Without hesitation, Virno slapped his hand away.
Virno: "Tch. You're getting a bit too friendly, fatso. I'll show up tomorrow and beat their asses, don't worry."
Cabdan roared with laughter, his gut shaking like jelly.
Cabdan: "That's the spirit! Quite the rebellious fire in you, eh? I like that! I'll see you tomorrow, then. And welcome to the slums!"
With a theatrical wave, Cabdan slammed the door shut behind him. The wood around the hinges cracked, and a thin cloud of dust drifted down from the fissures.
Virno: "What a shithole."
Anya sighed, setting down the basket she carried.
Virno: "Don't worry, though. You'll find work around here in no time. People don't care where you come from, just that you've got a healthy enough body to be useful."
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Anya: "I hope you're right..."
Virno collapsed into a nearby chair, which wobbled precariously under his weight.
Virno: "So, what's for dinner tonight?"
Anya: "Bread and..."
Anya rummaged through the basket, her shoulders slumping.
Anya: "Bread. Just bread."
Virno smirked bitterly.
Virno: "Ah, the house specialty again. Got it. Did that fat bastard at least leave us some water?"
Anya glanced around the tiny home, but the only containers she found were a pair of empty buckets.
Virno: "Figures. Guess I'll take care of it."
He grabbed the buckets and headed for the door.
Virno: "Be back soon."
The dirt streets of the slums glowed orange in the light of the setting sun. Children splashed in puddles and built crude castles out of mud. Others drew figures and patterns in the dirt with sticks, their laughter echoing through the air.
Virno took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the horizon.
Virno (muttering): "We can only go up from here."
As he made his way down the main street, a small group of children caught his eye. They had a small bucket of water beside them and were drawing in the dirt.
Virno: "Hey. Where'd you get that water?"
The kids froze, turning to look at him with wide, cautious eyes. None of them answered.
Virno: "What, cat got your tongue? You're old enough to talk."
Instead of replying, the children huddled closer together, snatching up sticks and stones from the ground. Virno raised an eyebrow.
Virno: "Jeez, relax. Forget I asked --"
Before he could finish, a pair of strong arms wrapped around his neck from behind, yanking him into a chokehold.
Voice from behind: "What do you want with these kids, you pervert?!"
Virno struggled, gasping for air as the buckets clattered to the ground. Whoever it was, they weren't tall, but they were strong enough to keep him pinned.
Voice from behind: "Let this be the last time I see you near them, understand?!"
The arms released him, and Virno staggered forward, coughing violently. Spinning around, his eyes flared with rage.
Virno: "DO YOU HAVE A FUCKING DEATH WISH?!"
He raised a fist, ready to strike -- but froze when he saw who had attacked him. Standing before him was a girl, maybe a year or two younger than him. Her hair was tied back messily, her clothes smeared with dirt.
Girl (voice from behind): "A child rapist and a homicidal freak. We really hit the jackpot with you, huh?"
She dropped into a fighting stance, fists raised.
Virno: "Wait, wait! Calm down! I didn't know you were a girl!"
Girl: "And I didn't know you were such a pussy! Come on, try and kill me! Let's see if you can!"
She advanced on him, her stance unshaken. Virno stepped back, raising his hands defensively.
Virno: "Alright, alright! Calm the fuck down! I wasn't messing with the kids -- I just wanted to know where to get water. My mom and I just moved here."
The girl's posture eased slightly, but her expression remained wary.
Girl: "New in town, huh? Cabdan mentioned someone like that earlier. So you're his new fighter?"
Virno: "Yeah. Starting tomorrow. You know him?"
She scoffed, crossing her arms.
Girl: "Everyone knows Cabdan around here... He practically owns the slums. That fat bastard makes his money using and abusing us. But then again, if it weren't for him we wouldn't even have a place to stay. So, you know... It's a love-hate kind of thing."
She gestured down the street with a thumb.
Girl: "Anyway, if you want water keep heading down the street. Once you see a big boulder, turn right. There's a fountain down that alley."
Virno: "Got it. Thanks."
As he turned to leave, she called after him.
Girl: "And next time, try asking someone your own damn size. You might not get so lucky with who jumps you."
Virno: "Yeah, yeah. I'll keep that in mind."
The fountain was tucked away in a quiet alley, its water cool and clear. Virno filled the buckets quickly, glancing over his shoulder every now and then. The slums were unpredictable, and he wasn't about to let his guard down again.
With the buckets full, he began the long walk back home. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the streets of the slums grew darker, the air heavier. Virno carried on, the weight of the water in his hands a grim reminder of how far he'd fallen...