United by Loss [1v1 with Guide]

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

A boy woke up in tears for the umpteenth time that evening. Just hours ago he was with his parents at home. Then the home invasion happened. Within the matter of minutes those he cared so much about were murdered right in front of his face; both screaming "Run!" Or "Get out of here Ani!" Followed by a small whimper of "I love you." The voices rang inside the boy's head as e woke up one more. There were others awake in the room with him. All were way older, vicious as a wolf win scars all over their faces. One in the corner looked at the boy in pity. The poor child didn't know where he was, or how.

"Stop crying." The man muttered, his face harsh but his voice soft. "You must stay strong; this is not a place for those who break."

Another man started to chuckle to himself.

"That boy is going to be torn apart. Only men survive in this damned City." The first man hissed.

"Give him hope. We do not know of what happened to him." The first man said.

"Hope, so he can die thinking it was going to be okay?" The second mused. "Perhaps he'll die along with the other kid here... Silence. It's our turn to leave now." With that, both men left the dark solemn room leaving the boy alone with another person although younger. The boy didn't even look up, not to see if the other person was awake or asleep. He just kept crying silently to himself as his head hung low.

(Sorry if this post is weird and doesn't make sense)

Edited August 17, 2015 by Aqua7KH

[TheGuide 177]

Ken shook his head. He was trying to rest, but all the talking made it hard. The last few hours had been a whirlwind and he wanted to just sleep. but even now, after the two men were gone, his head spun with thoughts. All the yelling, the crying, and the fighting. all the fighting. Kenji was no good at fighting. He was better at running. all kinds of running. Up stuff, down stuff, over stuff, you name it. he was never good at fighting though. He cursed that under his breath. if he had just a bit more skill she might still be alive. sarah. he might have been able to save her. but when it came time to fight, he lost. and lost her too. he tried to shake her face from his thoughts, and the simply shifted to his day. get up, hunt for supplies, get back to base safe. Not home, he no longer had home, but base. somewhere to go back to. today was different. he climbed the wall into the commercial district. the gang that patrolled that area never really had posts, so if he could stay hidden once he was in he'd be safe. but he wasnt. "Stupid freakin rock." he said. the thugs that were out heard it and caught him, and trapped him here. Once he spoke out loud, he realized he had probaby attracted the attention of the other boy who was in here. no sense in being rude to him, he seemed innocent enough. "Hey." He tried. "Hey kid, whats your name" He hesitated for a minute. "mines Kenji, but you can call me Ken"

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

The young boy only shook when Kenji called out. He didn't even realize there was still another person in the room there. He remained silent and only continued to hold his legs in the corner for what felt like hours. Finally, he appeared to calm down and slowly looked up to meet his gaze with Kenji's. He looked to be completely tired, and rather exhausted from all the crying. Inside, he was in shock, not really inwardly realizing what was going on. Everything felt like a dream. Or the twilight zone.

"A-An...i... Ani..." He muttered softly.

[TheGuide 177]

"Well hello Ani. it really sucks your here too, at your age. do you know where your parents are?" he wanted to help this kid. he seemed so young, and innocent. he wouldn't make it out side for a second on his own. the least he could do is try to get him back to his family.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani shook when Ken asked about his parents. His eyes looked at the floor, tears welling up as he thought about the events that happened only less than a day ago.

"They're..." He whispered while letting out a shaky breath. "Dead... T-These guys came in and k-killed them... Then they took me..."

[TheGuide 177]

Oof. Thats a lot for a kid to go through. Ken knelt down. "Hey man, its gonna be alright. i know its hurts loosing your parents like that, and its okay to cry. but ill look after you now." Why did he say that? he didnt know this kid, he didnt have to do that. this would just mean more work for him. Maybe it was for sarah. he keep Ani safe to prove to himself he could protect someone. ill keep him safe for you sarah. He sat next to Ani. "i can be your family now, if you want."

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani gripped his legs tightly and tried his best not to sob again. He was just about to until he heart Ken's words. Was he telling the truth?

"R-Really...?" He asked with a sniffle, wiping his eyes with his sleeves before looking up to meet Ken's gaze once more. "But why...? W-We only just met..." All he wanted was to be with his mother and father again. Without them he didn't know what to do.

[TheGuide 177]

Ken involuntarily grinned. Why? this was bad. this kids parents were dead. he'd never be able to return to them. plus they were both god knows where, probably in one of the gang compounds across the city, but he had no real idea where. this was bad. but he smiled. "Yeah man. you just stick with me." he ruffled Ani's hair "We'll stick together." 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani looked up into Kenji's eyes with tears welling up with them. How could this person offer their protection like that? When Kenji ruffled his hair, it felt almost just like how his father used to do it. Ani rubbed his eyes with a small sniffle.

"O-Okay..." He uttered softly as he looked to the door. "What do we do when they come back...? They'll take us away... Or kill us." Before he couldn't imagine a human killing a human. Now he pictured it vividly.

[TheGuide 177]

"Lets not be here when they get back." Ken stood up and poked his head out the two men left out of. he looked down the hall to the left, then to the right. seeing no one, he waved to Ani and slinked out to the right. He pressed his back up to the wall at the next corner and looked around. Two men were standing at the end of the hallway, talking. "gotta make a break for it" he grabbed Ani's hand "alright buddy, lets go." with that he started to run to the next corner about halfway down the hall. once the were out of danger, he stopped to breathe and let Ani's stomach settle. that had to be terrifying. 

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani definitely wasn't expecting to break out. Within a few minutes they ran down the hallway passed a few of the people who were patrolling. What would've happened if they got caught? As soon as they were out of danger Ani pressed his back against the wall and gasped for a few breaths of air. He wasn't the best at running. His heart beated so hard against his chest he thought it was going to explode.

"We..." He panted. "Did it..."

[TheGuide 177]

"Shhh. Keep your voice down. We're not out of the woods yet." He waited for Ani to catch his breath, and then he began leading the way down corridor after corridor, no real idea of where he was or where he was leading this young kid, just looking for a way out. They had to dodge past the sight of a few more patrolls, but eventually, Ken should see sunlight shining through the cracks of a door "there it is Ani. The way out."

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani smiled for the first time in days once he saw the sunlight shining from the exit. He couldn't help but get one thought out of his mind; if they do escape, what'll happen then? This thought was interrupted by a bullet suddenly grazing his right shoulder. He yelped in sudden pain and shock, looking behind him to see guards right down the hallway running towards them.

"They're the are!" One yelled as the guards began to shoot once more. Blood seeped out of Ani's shoulder in the new flesh would.

[TheGuide 177]

Gunshots. Ken froze for a moment and looked at the guard. Their yell snapped him out of it. He heard Anis cry of pain and he could feel adrenaline surge up in him. "We need to go. Now." He knew Ani would move a little slower tending to his wound, so ken said to hell with it and threw his arm around Ani's midsection. "Hold on buddy." He heaved him up over his shoulder and he ran out the door, around the corner, and away. Away from there. He just kept running. Once he was to the edge of the gang territory, he paused and caught his breath. He set Ani down. "I think we're good for now. We'll have to climb the wall, but let's rest for a moment. How's you shoulder?"

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani certainly wasn't expecting to be picked up so suddenly. Everything was just a whirl. So sudden. One minute he was in there, now he was shot and out here. He clutched his wounded shoulder, small tears going down his face.

"I-It hurts but... It's throbbing..." He whispered. Luckily it wasn't a deep wound. Despite it being only a deep scratch in his arm, if wasn't dangerous.

[TheGuide 177]

"Here, let me look at it." Ken delicately looked at the wound on Ani's arm. He was right, it wasn't too bad. But ken had a thought. He looked around and found a discarded shard of glass nearby. He picked it up, and cut a swatch of cloth out of his shirt. "Your shoulders fine, but hold this on it anyway to minimize blood loss, and keep dirt from getting in it. We need to keep moving, and I can't have to pass out." He stood up and moved a few paces over to examine the wall. Just a brick structure, no barbed wire. He could get over it no problem, but he pondered for a second how to get Ani over. He decided he'd just have to get on top and pull him up by his good arm. He walked back over to Ani. "Let me know when you've caught your breath, and we'll get over that wall and go somewhere safe."

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani continued to pant. When Ken went forward to tend to his wound Ani flinched in fear, however once Ken was done it didn't hurt as much anymore. Ani looked down at his shoulder to see some small drops of red seep through. He then looked up the wall. How the hell was he going to get up there?

"I'm r-ready..." He said softly. "When we get up there... What then?"

[TheGuide 177]

"Well, I guess I'll get my bearings and try to get back to where my supplies are. After that, I don't know. You can stay with me if you want, I could use the company." He got a running start at the wall, ran half way up, used his traction and leaped to the top. Once there he let his feet hang off so he could reach down and pull Ani up. He hoisted his new buddy up to the top, and then hopped down himself. "Come on down man."

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani knew he had to make the decision of if he should go with Ken or not. He sorta had to say yes. He wouldn't be able to survive on his own. To decline the offer would be suicide. He got up the wall without as much trouble as he thought. However jumping down the wall was a problem. He looked down to Ken with some fear in his eyes. It had to have been an eight foot drop.

"I... Can't..." He uttered softly. Honestly that wasn't how he would normally react to a situation like this, but the events from today left him blank and confused; in shock.

[TheGuide 177]

Ani was hesitant to hop down. "Come on buddy, youll be fine. Ill catch you." Ken didnt want to just leave Ani there, he'd never make it. But he didnt have much time before the gang caught up with them.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani looked down to Ken, then behind him. No matter what he was stuck there either way. He couldn't go forward or backward without jumping. It was either jump or die most likely. With that, Ani closed his eyes and stood at the edge of the wall. His heart was rapidly beating but had to ignore that. With a small breath, he jumped right off the wall.

[TheGuide 177]

As Ani jumped off, Ken put his arms out. He was glad Ani decided to come with him. he was a little worried he would go back and try to hide or something like that. AS he fell,  Ken felt a little happy. Living in the wasteland of a city this was was lonley. having Ani around whould be good for him. Ani approached Kens arms, Kenji adjusted, and felt Ani's weight suddenly drop into his arms. "Oof, i gotcha, i gotcha." He let Ani down onto is own legs. "There, that wasnt too bad, was it?" Ken said with a small grin.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani shook slightly once he his Kenji's arms. For a moment he thought he had hit the ground. But no. He was alive. That was all that mattered. Ani dusted himself off, still a little bit shaken from the jump.

"N-No..." He uttered, not thinking in a million years he could've jumped.

[TheGuide 177]

"Well then. Onward and Upward, as they say. I live off thataway." With that, he started walking. He didnt know the pace he would be moving at, he was a bit winded, but his adrenaline was still pumping. He just escaped a Gang compound. That's quite a feat ,or so hed been told.

[Aqua7KH 5,395]

Ani was still panting. Once he saw Kenji walking in front of him however Ani ran right ahead to join his friend. He had to admit he was interested in where they were going to go now. As he walked however, the wound began to throb and Ani reached down to grab it once more. He couldn't help but sniffle slightly.

"Is it going to bleed more...?" He asked softly.