|Weak Hero| Dawn Na

Chapter 2

Donald didn't like the idea of staying in one location for too long. He didn't know if their "parents" were still looking for them and he didn't want to risk him and his sister being found. So, they never slept in the same spot twice. During the day, Donald would steal some food from street vendors so they could eat for the day and then they'd move locations. When their clothes started to become too dirty, Donald would steal another set. Donald wasn't always successful with stealing food on some days so they wouldn't be able to eat at those times except when they dug through trash. 

But food, shelter, and clothes weren't the only things that they had to worry about. There were also a bunch of criminals and delinquents that they would have to look out for. Occasionally, Donald would take Dawn with him to watch a fight between two groups so they could observe and learn how to fight. Of course, at five years old, Dawn didn't completely understand this but Donald still brought her along because he hated the idea of leaving her alone for a long period of time.

"Donald?" Dawn asked as they were getting ready to sleep for the night. "Those people hurt others for fun. Why do they get to have a loving family but we don't?"

"Because the world is cruel and unfair," Donald answered. "But if we don't like the hand that destiny dealt us with, we have to take action and change our fates with our own two hands. One day, Dawn, we'll be able to live happily. We'll be able to live without worrying about getting hurt or worrying about where we'd sleep or what we'd eat. I promise you that I'll build you a future where you won't have to suffer,"

"You sound like an old man," Dawn giggled.

"Hey, I'm only two years older than you," He playfully flicked his sister's forehead.

"Do..." Dawn's smile disappeared. "Do you think we'll ever gain a loving family?"

"Hey, hey," Donald faked being offended. "I'm your family, aren't I?"

"I know, but sometimes when I watch the other kids play at the park with their parents, I get jealous," Dawn admitted. 

"You've only been watching them play while I went out to get food?" Donald questioned. "Why don't you go play with the other kids? Maybe you can make some friends,"

"Because I don't want to get close to anyone," Dawn answered. "Because I know that we'll just move out of the area the next day and then I probably won't see them ever again. If I get close to them, it'll hurt when we leave,"

'Dawn should be making friends with other kids her age,' Donald thought. 'She should be having fun and being happy, not being stuck living this kind of life. I've heard of some adults adopting a child, but there's a high chance that Dawn and I will be separated. Do I want to take that risk?' He frowned. 'No. I'm going to be selfish. I don't want to be separated from my sister. I've been taking care of her all this time so I can just continue taking care of her,'

XXX

Dawn was sick. Her skin was sickly pale and hot to the touch. She couldn't even stand up and barely had the strength to talk.

Donald didn't know what to do. He could take a chance and try to steal medicine from a convenience store, but he didn't want to leave Dawn alone in her current condition. He tried to get her to eat some tteokbokki he had managed to steal, but Dawn didn't have any appetite.

"Dawn, I know tteokbokki isn't what someone usually eats when sick, but it's all we have right now," Donald begged. "Please, you need to eat to regain your strength,"

"You...eat..." 

"Dawn, you're sick," Donald pleaded. "Please...even just one bite..."

But Dawn still wouldn't eat.

"H-Hey," Donald suggested. "How about some bread? T-The bakery nearby has lots of yummy bread and pastries. There's donuts and cake and pies and other really good stuff!" He carefully picked his sister up. "I-I know you're tired, Dawn, but please stay awake. Don't go to s-sleep. If you fall asleep, the bakery won't have any food,"

They reached the bakery which was closed. Donald grabbed a brick and threw it through the door. Donald entered while carrying his sister and gently set her down on the floor away from the glass. He picked up a loaf of bread and held it up to his sister's mouth. "Come on Dawn, it's a good loaf of bread. This one has raisins in them,"

Dawn mustered up the strength to shake her head slightly.

Donald grabbed a donut and a slice of cake. "Okay, maybe you don't want bread. H-How about a donut or some cake?" His voice continued to falter as tears started to fall, no matter how hard he tried to hold them back. "Please...sis, you need to eat. Look...you're making your big brother cry because you don't want to eat..."

The owner of the bakery, a twenty three year old man, resided in the apartment above the bakery. When he heard a loud crash, he rushed downstairs with a metal baseball bat, prepared to fight against whichever delinquent's that decided to mess with his shop. What he didn't expect was to find a little boy crying over his younger sister and begging her to eat.

'That girl is really pale,' The baker set his bat down to the side and walked over to them. 'She's shaking and her breaths are ragged,' 

"Get away from us!" Donald screamed. "Stay away from my sister!"

"She's really sick," 

"She...She just needs to eat!" Donald tried to look fierce to intimidate the man and get him to leave. "Stay away from us!"

'Both of these kids are covered in wounds,' The baker noted. 'Have they been living on the streets? For how long?' "She needs to go to the hospital. I can bring both of you to the hospital in my car. I know I'm just a stranger, but I need you to trust me. If she doesn't get to the hospital soon..."

Donald didn't want to trust this person. He didn't know who this guy was, but Donald was desperate. He swallowed his pride and requested in a broken voice, "Please...save my sister..."

Here is a quick drawing I made of five year old Dawn Na. She has bruises and cuts from living on the streets.