'Haah~'
That was the only noise i could let out, an exasperated sigh
I tapped my barely functional, rusty pen, idly against the notepad, the dull noise being the only thing that filled the room, naturally making sure to not do it too agressively less i want the thing breaking on me...
Although im not sure i could even-
Sigh
....
''Where do i even begin...'' I muttered to myself...
I'd found this notebook somewhere in the garbage during yesterday's trip, sure the condition it was in was questionable. The covers were nonexsistant, 2 patches of leather on each side of it clinging on for dear life, just about every 3rd or 4th page was either torn in half if i was lucky or completely ripped out.
The pen i had wasn't of much better quality either although....
....
Yeah honestly what did i expect from stuff i found in a dumpster.
Even if the quality was atrocious....good way to stave off boredom. Not like i had anything better to do in the backstreets anyway...
I tapped the pen against my chin, "Now lets see here" i muttered to myself
I honestly had no clue if anyone would ever find this, much less alone if they'd take time out of their day to read the thing but, it was a comforting thought nontheless
I clicked the pen idly a couple of times, and simply got to writing
My name is Haru, im 19 years old i'm...possesed of a stature that can best be compared to a sickly child, my hair's usualy drenched in blood and sweat, unkept as all hell, i...cant exactly recall the last time i got to properly cut...
I live in the backstreets or district 24[1], currently residing in....
Well a shithole.
Theres no other way i can really put it, its atrocious even by the standards of the backstreets, but it comes with its perks.
Sure, its a barely held together windowless concrete box with the only light coming from a hole i made in the celling, something done moreso out of necessity so i could actualy see what i was doing in here...
But, on the upside, i didnt have to pay a cent in rent, even if that meant having no working water or electricity, not like i needed it anyway.
The only real possesions i own apart from my notebook and pen are a dusty, half torn open sleeping bag,a dented and beat-up safe, and a particularly sturdy, blood covered hammer.
Took a small moment to stare at the paper, my handwriting was beyond atrocious but... I was satisfied with what i'd written so far, it...was relaxing in a way to be honest, even if i felt like i was talking to myself.
I went to write another paragraph and-
Click
Click
.....
Click-Click
sigh,the ink ran out.
''Useless peice of shit.'' I mutter to myself, already having tossed the pen against a wall, running a hand trough my hair in annoyance as i shut the notebook
I sat up,making my way across the room as i bent down to pick up the same thing that i always carried whenever i went out, that bloodied up hammer,afterwards, with another heavy sigh, i made my way over to the door, taking one last look at my "House" before finnaly slamming the door shut and stepping outside.
The sunlight hitting my face felt like a thousand tiny pinpricks stabbing my eyes all at once, i covered my face with my arm, hissing in annoyance, it wasn't exactly common for there to be a day this nice in the backstreets of all places, couldn't remember a non cloudy day if i tried....
I began walking, my bare feet padding against the rough concrete below as the long trek towards the nearest highway began, you guessed it, yet another "benefit" of living in bumfuck nowhere, i am in fact, in the middle, of bumfuck nowhere, the only visits i ever get are from the local syndicate coming to take their debts.
I made my way trough the maze of alleyways, my feet were so callused and bruised it felt like i was walking on spikes instead of concrete, looking....well, past that small fact, a skill i'd gotten very good at as of late.....something about all those long, winding corridors, lined with pipes and garbage always seemed to rub me the wrong way,it honestly instilled a greater sense of dread in me than the more ''open'' parts of the backstreets ever could, no matter how hard i try to supress it.
.....
.....
...
.....
I can't handle it anymore....
I paused dead in my tracks, something was.....seriously, seriously wrong here.
Pretending like walking literaly anywhere outside in this hellhole is a pleasant ordeal would be lying to myself on a magnitude so obscene i couldn't even find the words to describe it, it sucked, it always sucked, felt like if i dropped my guard for even a second i'd get a pipe to the back of my head, drop dead, and have my guts shipped off to the local vendor for a quick buck, because....well i would.
But....this....
This wasn't like that, i dont usualy flinch at things like this..
I didnt have the courage to turn around and actually look but-
I.....guessed- no, knew. Something was behind me.
It exuded a presence so utterly terrifying that i couldnt compare it to anything else.
....
I kept walking regardless...
Simply ignoring whatever that "thing" behind me was, if it wasn't an immediate threat to my well being, it was none of my bussiness.
In due time, the presence behind me grew fainter and fainter, until it was just me, the cold dead concrete beneath my feet, and the suffocating, claustrophobia inducing alleyway.
And yet i still couldn't shake the strange feeling of unease that washed over me as i made my way trough it.
.....What on earth was that...
It was so...wierd...
It was utterly terrifying but it didnt seem malicous, i could feel every bloodlust coming off of it in waves and yet...
I had never once felt like my life was in any actual danger...like it was just...watching me...
....
My thoughts we're quickly redirected elsewhere, as i began hearing footsteps nearby....
Right. I had work to do today.
After about 5 more minutes of walking, i had reached my destination, the end of that godforsaken alleyway.
I was met by a sight that was completely ordinary for this place.
The alleyway had led me directly to a street, large, plain, dull, apartment buildings lined the street on each side, seemingly with no end.
The streets were unusually busy today, around 20 people were out in the open, from broad shouldered tank top wearing thugs to your average raggedy backstreet rats, simply minding their own bussiness, taking a stroll down the street..
It was a nice day after all, but something about seeing such...normalcy in the backstreets felt...fake...
It's not like i had any time to reflect on any of that though, i slid my hoodie over my head and began walking.
I ignored the chatter and stares i got as i passed by the locals, i had a target in mind today, a man i've been following around for the last 2 days.
He was tall, broad shouldered, muscular and dangerous, the exact kind of person your average rat wouldn't want to mess with.
I, am, an average rat.
But unfortunately, when it comes to making ends meet....
You have to take risks.
I turned the corner, there it was.
The apartment building he lived in.
I clutched my hammer tightly, my expression the perfect picture of calm and composure as i began making my way towards it.
As much as i'd want to, you can't exactly get a regular old dayjob in the backstreets like rich nestfolk can, instead, there are 3 different paths one can take to gain any substantial amount of money.
One, of course, was becoming a fixer, a field of work i was incompotent in due to my small stature, two being joining a syndicate, which, again, same issue as for becoming a fixer, i can't fight-at all.
Even if i could fight, joining anything but an affiliate of the fingers, or the finger directly, was the most moronic idea one could possibly undertake, working with a bunch of lunatics wasn't exactly something that screamed ''Appealing''.
Now that i think about it.....that same thing goes for joining the fingers aswell.
As for the third method of making money, well, you'l see what it is in a minute.
I made my way over to the apartment building, old, barely held together, in complete disrepair, yada-yada, you know the drill by now.
I went to inspect the door, placing my hand on the knob as i gave it a gentle pull, then a push, it was locked, to nobody's suprise.
I sighed deeply, scratching the back of my head, maybe one day i'l get an easy way of entry into one of these things.
Estimating the time was difficult without a watch, but, judging by where the sun is, it should be around 1 PM, ''Perfect'' I thought to myself, he should be the only person in this apartment building at this exact moment.
I clutched the hammer in my hand tightly, before twirling it in the air for a brief period, and then.
SHATTER
Throwing it straight at the the window, the glass shattered into a thousand shards, scattering both outside and inside the building, one of them had manage to strike me, leaving a minor cut on my cheek.
I brushed the blood off with my thumb, and stared at the broken window, walking over to pick up my hammer, naturally making sure so as to not step on any of the broken glass, if i was going to die, it wouldn't be from an infection i can tell you that much.
''And now, we wait.'' I muttered to myself, quiet enough that it was barely audible.
After about 20 seconds, i heard footsteps, followed by very angry grumbling, followed by a ''OI WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!!?'' coming from the man inside as he stomped down the stairs.
I could hear the crunching of his boots against the hardwood floor as he bent over to look at the window ''OI, WHO DID THI-'' He cut himself off as he made eye contact with me, standing there, lightly brushing off my dusty cloak as i held the hammer in my hands.
It honestly felt like i could see a vein pop on his forehead, as expected of course, i knew he had a short fuse.
''YOU LITTLE SHIT! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING AROUND BREAKING PEOPLE'S WINDOWS!'' He yelled at me, to which i simply stayed quiet, sticking my tounge out at him lightly.
Once again, could see a vein almost threatening to pop on his forehead as he scrambled towards the door, ''OH YOU THINK YOU'RE REAL FUNNY HUH! JUST YOU FUCKIN' WAIT!'' He yelled again, digging trough his pockets for a set of keys, slowly cycling trough each of them to see which one fit the front door.
He slammed it open with a kick the moment he unlocked it, standing over me with gritted teeth.
''Greetings, im with the Kurokumo clan, you owe 50,000-Ahn, hand it over and i can assure you your limbs will be spare-''
''CUT THE BULLSHIT!' He yelled at me, getting so up in my face i could feel his breath, foul, of course
Maybe one day someone will fall for that trick.....
''YOU'RE THE ONE WHO OWES ME MONEY FOR THAT BROKEN WINDOW PIPSQUEAK, SO YOU BETTER PAY UP UNLESS YOU WANT YOUR SKULL CAVED I-''
THUNK
Before he could even finish, my hammer was already moving.
...Straight at his nuts of course.
...
You can't blame me, it fucking works.
It connected with a noise so sickening even i could barely stomach it, pretty sure i heard a pop in there too.....
Of course, the man's face proceeded to go from one of excrutiating anger, to one of extreme and obscene pain, as he let out a pained noise, clutching his groin profusely as he collapsed to his knees.
''YOU.....LITTLE.....FU-''
THUNK
I swung at him again, this time connecting with his jaw, hard,i could hear something clatter against the floor, his teeth most likely, he collapsed against the door without a sound afterwards, leaving a trail of blood on the door as his head slid down onto the floor.
...
''Never can be too sure i guess...''
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
Even long, long after his face was unrecognizable, even after i heard, and felt, his skull begin to crack under the force of such obscene and relentless violence, even after the blood splatter on the floor, door, walls, and even window, stopped growing with each hit, having already grown to as large of a size it could, for he simply had no more blood in his head to be splattered, even after the horrific squelching and crunching of his skull and flesh being repeatedly bashed in stopped, signifying that i had well and truly killed the man.
I just....kept beating his head in.
Over, and over, and over.
Until finally, only after my clothes and face had been thoroughly stained with blood, he was at a point I was satisfied, not quite dead, but also, not quite alive, or atleast-
Hold on a second.
I pressed my ear against his chest.
....
Fuck I killed him.
I was confused as to how, said confusion fading very quickly as i saw the state his head was in...
I groaned in annoyance, i usually like to have my victims be alive, but of course, having them wake up later and come kick my teeth in wouldn't be very good for me, so i generally like leaving them a teensy-weensy bit alive.
''It'l do i guess'' I said to myself as i walked towards a nearby trash can, dumping out its contents as i grabbed the bag inside, dragging it over to the man's blood soaked corpse, i was thinking about taking his clothes for a brief moment but, they were alas, way too big to actually fit me, even by my standards.
I walked over to cover the body with the trash bag, flipping it over to tie a knot, firmly sealing it in place.
I walked over to the front of the body, grasped the fabric tightly, and began dragging him trough the street.
I received quite a few wierd looks as i passed trough the street, cassualy draging a corpse like i was going trough the motions, because well, i was.
This was just how i lived, if i didn't kill people, i'd starve to death. That man probably had a family, or atleast people he cared about, real shame that he'l soon end up as lunch meat.
It only took a few more minutes before i arrived at the restaurant.
It stood before me, the massive windows on each side of the front door covered in blood and sinew, both inside and outside. A large flickering neon sign hung overhead, fancy, for backstreets standards atleast, "Alice's Pies" it read.
I slid the metal door open, the smell of the place was absolutely foul, my nose could never get used to it.
The restaurant was a pretty nice place if you ignored the smell of blood in the air, along with its very noticable presence on the floor, tables and seats. Said seats we're quite fancy actually, consisting of large armchairs and couches, the cushions a dark, rich red.
I had asked the owner where they got the dye from, and once i heard it wad "Locally sourced" i had quickly lost interest.
With a small grunt of effort i hauled the body onto the checkered floor inside, shutting the door behind me. I wiped some sweat off my brow with a small "Phew" Curse these feeble arms to death.
The only sound that broke the silence came from the door behind the counter, ocassional clanking of dishes in the kitchen. My suspicions we're confirmed, she was definetely here.
"Yooohooooooo, Alice.....special delivery" I said, not quite shouting but, in a tone loud enough to be heard from within the kitchen. After i said that the noise of dishes quickly stopped, followed by the sound of footsteps.
"Hm?" A soft voice made itself audible as a woman in her mid-20's tilted her head to look past the door, her hair was short and white, donning an ordinary looking chef's uniform and hat, covered head to toe in blood of course, large splatters across her entire uniform, some dried and old, some fresh and new.
"Ooooh! Well if it isn't my most prized deliveryboy~" She said with a soft smile that completely contrasted her physical state as she began skipping towards me
"Yeah yeah just...cut the drama, i want 5 handpies and a pack of cigarretes."
"Hmph! So demanding when i haven't even inspected the quality of the ingredient you brought me!" The woman pouted at me, having made her way over to me, beginning to undo the knots and ties that kept the trashbag secured around the body. "Although this one is quite plump, So i suppose il just have to let it slide!"
Stared at her blankly as she undid all the bindings, the fabric sliding off to reveal the headless body contained within. Her expression went from cheerful, to a frowning pout as she slowly turned her hear to look at me.
"You killed him!"
"I know"
The woman stood up abruptly, leaning down until she was at my eye level, still pouting like a child who didn't get their favorite toy, crossing her arms under her chest as she got up in my face.
"How many times do i gotta tell you! They taste-"
"Sigh Better when they're alive and left to marinate in as much pain as possible, i know, look just...take it, i don't really care if i get 5 pies instead of 10, im not that hungry today."
She was still clearly angry with me, but it seems like for the first time in a while she saw logic in my statement.
She uncrossed her arms and turned away with a "Hmph!", followed up with "You're lucky you're my favorite deliveryboy you know!"
"You mean your, only-"
"I SAID MY FAVORITE!"
With another annoyed pout, and general disposition that was more akin to a spoiled child, she began dragging the corpse to the back of the kitchen with low effort. "Fine though! Il take this ingredient, just dont complain about it when it ends up tasting like shit!"
"I won't, you dont have to worry about that" I said as i sprawled out across one of the couches. "Oh and also, my ci-"
"Yeah yeah i got your cancer sticks!" She yelled back, tossing me a brandless, black colored pack of cigarretes, accompanied by another angry reaching into her pocket, procuring a small lighter that she also tossed towards me. "And you should really stop smoking! It's bad for kids! You'l make a horrible ingredient if you keep doing that."
I plucked a cigarrete from, the box, bringing it up to my lips slowly, clutching the lighter with both hands as i lit the cigarrete, puffing on it absentmindedly before responding "I dont care,Just go make my food damn it."
The woman's pout deepened "Fine, whatever then! Be alone with your lung cancer, not like i care!" And after that, she dissapeared from view entirely.
The only sounds i heard from the kitchen afterwards was the loud, repeated slamming of a butcher knife, over and over again.
....
I took a deep inhale of smoke, plucking the cigarrete from my mouth as i exhaled, tapping my fingers against the table, looking past the blood smeared window, watching people as they passed trough the streets.
''Only 5,000,000 more Ahn'' I muttered, snubbing the cigarrete out against a nearby ashtray, ''Would be real nice if these had a smidge more nictotine in them-''
''Didn't i tell you to stop talking to yourself?'' My monologuing was cut off as the woman's voice piped up from behind me.
''GAH- FUCKING HELL DIDN'T I TELL YOU NOT TO SNEAK UP ON ME LIKE THAT!?'' I nearly jumped out of my seat.
The woman smirked at me smugly, she always got a kick out of scaring the daylights out of me.
''Oh come onnnnn~ How can i resist~'' The woman smiled sweetly, batting her eyelashes as her other hand slammed down a bag onto the table with far more force then neccecary ''Especially after you bring me a peice of shit worthless ingredie-''
I slammed my hands on the table ''ARE YOU SERIOUSLY STILL PRESSED ABOUT THAT!? IM THE ONE WHO'S GONNA BE EATING IT ANYWAY!''
''Ooooh~ Struck a nerve didn't i~'' She poked my cheek with her finger
....
Bitch.
I eyed the plastic bag she'd slammed down onto the table,i could clearly make out a layered meat pie held inside a wrapper within it, she didn't fuck up my order atleast, silver linings am i right?
''Looks like you got my order right atleast, unlike last time..'' My gaze flicked from her smug expression, to the bag of food, then back at her. Narrowing my eyes in suspicion as i asked ''What about the money though?''
At the mention of ''Money'' i could see her smug expression dissapear immedietely, replaced by pouty annoyance as she angrily reached into her pocket ''Jeez! You're so stingy about this stuff!''
''Fine, here!'' With a huff, she slammed a few dozen 1000 Ahn bills into my outstretched hand, all covered in, you guessed it, blood.
''Im not stingy, i just wanna get payed.'' I pocketed the money, lighting another cigarrete as i placed it in my mouth, slinging the bag containing the pie underneath my arm, turning on my heel to leave ''See you tommorow.'' I added before shutting the door, making sure i was fast enough so as to not catch another childish comment thrown my way.
I took a deep inhale of smoke, looks like she was right about one thing atleast, you really do get used to these cheap cigarretes if you smoke them enough, i exhaled again as i took the bloodied up bills out of my pocket, counting them slowly as i made my way back to my house.
''1000,2000,3000'' I muttered under my breath, my finger moving rhythmically ''3100,3200,3300'' I continued muttering, moving onto the ''change''.
3350 Ahn was the final sum i'd counted, shoving it back inside my pocket, i was in all honesty suprised by her generosity today, usually i'd only get about a 1000.
''What should i treat myself to..'' I pondered as i tossed the plastic bag away, unwrapping the slice of thin layered meat pie contained within as i took a bite.
I paused the moment i did
''...''
''This tastes like shit''
Let it be known if there is anything that can motivate someone to bring a non dead person to a butchershop, it's the threat of low food quality.
Still gonna eat it though.
I chewed as i walked, ocassionaly placing the cigarrete back in my mouth for a quick smoke. I thought about what i could treat myself to with all the money i'd earned, i still had the whole day ahead of me of course, and the debt i had to pay to the Kurokumo's was already safely secured in my safe.
''Maybe a drink for once...'' I thought as i took another bite of my pie, immedietely gagging as i struggled to swallow it ''Or some actually good food'' I whined afterwards.
''I'l think about it later i guess...'' I patted the pocket containing the money, as i made my way back towards that alleyway.
My feet had begun to ache from all this walking. ''Maybe some shoes'' i thought to myself. I felt the cold breeze beginning to penetrate trough the thin layers of my rags ''Or some actual clothes.''
I chucked the last of the meat pie into my mouth, chewing briefly before downing it with a gulp, crumpling the wrapper in my hands as i tossed it aside.
''Decisions decisions.'' I muttered to myself, having finnaly reached the front door, just as i was about to open it though.
''OH THERE YOU ARE PIPSQUEAK!''
I heard a booming voice coming from behind me, seeing a man with messy black hair and a stubby beard. He was easily over six feet tall, donning a black pants and a short sleeved V-Neck shirt, exposing the broad expanses of his chest.
Said chest, along with his forearms, had cloud black cloud patterned tatoos running all the way up his sleeves, my eyes raked over him, noticing the woman that clung at his waist, giggling with a slight slur, she was clearly drunk, weakly banging against his chest as he rested his other hand was raised in the air, waving towards me.
''Kurokumo Clan'' I thought to myself. ''Why on earth would he be here now of all times though...''
''Been looking for ya' all morning! Seriously, why'd ya gotta keep a guy and his gal waiting over some petty protection money!'' He said, hugging the woman to his chest tighter. Took every muscle in my body not to roll my eyes so hard they popped out of my head at that. I remained calm nonetheless, for all i know, if i piss this tatooed fuck off, i'd be 1 arm poorer.
''Maybe because you're 5 days early...'' I replied calmly
The man seemed taken aback by that, blinking twice as he rubbed his chin. ''Huh, what're ya-.Ah, right! Nobody's told ya, see there've been some rumors that those Middle dogs are on their move again! So our kind o'l captain had no choice but to react!''
He pushed the woman off his chest with a light shove, causing her back to hit a wall, prompting another slurred giggle. ''Disgusting'' Was the only word that crossed my mind at the sight. He slung an arm around my shoulder, crouching down slightly to be at my level even as i remained stone faced.
''Think of all the things those big o'l musclebrains from the middle could do to ya if it wasn't for the friendly neighbourhood Kurokumo clan working hard, day in and day out to keep you folks protected!''
''And since you got such a sweet gig being safe and all, Cap'n just had to go ahead and make you pay up a littleeeeeeee bit earlier! 'S Only fair after all''
I bit my tounge so as to not let out any scathing remarks at the stupidity of that statement, instead replying with a ''Fine, just...give me a second.''
''It's fine anyways'' I thought to myself as my hand gently closed around the doorknob ''I had enough money in that safe to pay the Kurokumo clan off 10 times over'' I thought again as i gently opened the door.
I took a step inside.
It was like i could feel my life flashing before my eyes.
That rusty old safe, was haphazardly lying in a corner, the steel framing dented from what appeared to be a dozen blows.
Which wouldn't be much of an issue.
If the thing hadn't been torn inhalf.
Words can't describe how quickly i bolted over to it, my mind racing with thoughts of how this could've possibly happened, no backstreets rat, hell, not even a Capo could've inflicted this kind of damage onto this thing.
''No no no no no-'' I frantically muttered to myself, crouching down as i inspected every nook and cranny of the safe's interior, but. It was gone, every last bill of Ahn that was inside, even the spare change i'd ocassionaly found on the street, it was all gone.
The footsteps of the man behind me felt like a guillotine.
''Ya seem distressed yknow kiddo-'' He was cut off as his eyes landed upon the safe.
''Oh, you're out of dough huh.''
''NONONO WAIT I CAN-''
It was too late. The odachi at his hip had quickly been unsheathed, brought down across my right arm in a single fell swoop, it was removed from my shoulder instantly, leaving only a bloody stump as the cut off limb fell to the ground with a thump.
I let out a sharp cry of pain as i clutched at it,could practically feel my heart pounding against my ribcage like it was trying to break out, my breathing quickening into short pants as i grit my teeth to try to make the pain a bit more tolerable.
The man on the other hand, was as carefree as one could be, picking his nose with his pinky as he tapped the sword against the floor.
''Aw cmon, aint hurt that much does i-''
''YOU CUT MY FUCKING ARM OFF.''
...
Silence, absolute silence followed that statement, before i could even realize my mistake.
My leg was next. a nice clear cut at my knee, severing it completely, blood gushing out from the wound as i let out another hiss of pain.
''Ya really oughta watch that tounge of yours yknow, we're still a thumb subsidiary.'' The man said as he walked closer, beginning to hum as his fingers rummaged trough my pockets, landing on the cigarretes, which he proceeded to take out.
''Ooooh~ Very nice pair of cigarretes ya got here, don't mind if i take 'em right?''
His question was met by nothing but shaky breathing.
''Eh, that's what i thought,you don't mind.'' The man stood up, staring down at me intently. ''Sorry kid, just the way the cookie crumbles i suppose, real shame too, ya never caused trouble, always payed on time.''
He had already lit the cigarrete, puffing on it absentmindedly, i could barely make out what it was, my vision had already begun blurring from the blood loss.
He took a deep exhale, while i had already collapsed to the floor in a pool of my own blood.
''Welp, See ya around!'' The man said with a grin, waving at me as he walked away.
All i could do was lie on my back helplessly, staring up at the celling, i could barely move, i tried to reach out my hand towards him, say something, anything, but it was futile.
Nobody was coming to help me, they had no idea where to find this place, even if they did, nobody would bat an eye to try to save me.
It was so utterly pointless, all of it, at some point i thought my life here was becoming allmost tolerable, i would be laughing at it if i had the strenght to.
And so, i accepted it. I closed my eyes, awaiting death.
The final thing i could see, hear, or feel before i passed out, was a gentle, single cut.
Followed by the sound of something rolling across the floor.
And the head of the man who'd just left me to die hitting my foot.
I blacked out.
[1] District 24 is X corp