memento mori [DNF]

Chapter 1

"We need more bread." Levy held up the empty box. The corners were moldy and slowly rotting away. Clay watched as she tipped the box upside down and maggots tumbled out into the dirt floor. She shook it to dislodge the last remaining pest before she let the weight of her foot fall down on top of the squirming pile. There was an unforgettable crunch that replayed in Clay's mind for the next minute.

"Damn, that was our dinner levy." He was mostly joking, however they were out of bread any money so they truly had no other food. Still, he sat and wondered if he would be able to actually eat maggots. They had been low on money for majority of their life, but had never had to resort to bugs. Normally, they would just go scavenging or hunting for small animals. Levy was giving him a dirty look, "You're disgusting. I'd rather starve." She threw the box at him, but it split as soon as it left her hand, barely making it halfway to him.

"Levy," He whined, "Seriously? We don't even have enough money for bread, let alone another food box."

Food boxes were a necessity for those living in the slums. Theoretically it was meant to keep bugs out and thieves away since it could be purchased with locks and bolted to the floor when leaving the house. However with weak locks or cheap boxes, both the thieves and the bugs were easily able to outsmart it. They had had their box for years. It was just a simple wooden one that clay had reinforced with scrap steel he had stolen. However, over time, the metal rusted and termites starting eating away at the exposed wood. It was a miracle that their entire box hadn't been pried open and broken by a thief yet.

"There were holes in the box and it was covered in maggots. Why can't we just leave it out. It'll get infested either way."

"Yeah and it'll get infested a lot faster without a box. But before that can even happen it'll get stolen. Even if we hide it." Clay was angry with her as they simply didn't have enough money to purchase another one or buy materials to make one, but he knew deep down that theirs should've been replaced years ago.

They lived in a cruel world, where it was every man for himself. The small shack they lived in was, by most standards, nice. Most people in the slums were homeless, and the people that did have homes, weren't in them for long before they were killed off and their home was taken over by the intruders. They didn't have proper doors or windows so they hung up tattered pieces of fabric that they managed to acquire throughout the years. Occasionally having to replace it due to animals chewing through it, or on one occasion, bullets ripping the fabric from the frame. Clay was respected in the city though. People knew who he was, and that he was dangerous. He was able to build up his reputations with the doctors, and that got people's attention. However, sometimes people would travel to the city just to try and get a house. Seeing two young siblings, on of them being a girl, was most likely what drew them in every time. This however almost always ended in a pile of bodies being burned outside their house the next morning. Which also served as a message to any other thugs in the area who thought they would be weak targets. Word spreads quick. Especially with money involved. Throughout the years, he had bribed some influential people to spread rumors about him. Nasty rumors that would keep anyone away from his house. The rumors didn't stop everyone, but Clay knew how to handle himself and protect the people he cared about, and so he would do anything it took to stop them.

"I'm sorry." Levy's apology pulled Clay out of his nostalgic thoughts

"Hey what happened to the box?" Clay and Levy both whipped there heads around towards the door and were greeted by Nick who appeared to be holding in his anger. Their eyes moved back towards one another and initiated in a silent argument.

"Hello?" Nick was getting impatient as he watched the two siblings' intense stares. Levy's lips started slowly moving, begging her brother to take the heat for her. Her lips were moving subtly, not making a noise, or even forming complete words, but Clay knew what she wanted. Despite the sheer amount of times Clay had covered for her, he would continue to do it. It was the safer option anyways at least. Nick had a tempter, much like himself, but his temper was often less aggressive with Clay since they had been friends for so long and they considered themselves equals as opposed to the younger more naïve Levy.