Immunity Fire

Chapter 1

Alex Rothman is a big troublemaker. He always stole food from the Bronze City markets and brings everybody mischief. Zain always thought that he was rather stubborn, but his stubbornness can make him rather brave; brave enough to not tolerate people who mess with him.

Zain stood by his side ever since his mother left him at their family doorstep as a baby. Whenever Alex goes around stealing and causing fist fights, he had his back.

Alex and Zain lived in a tavern called the Red Eye. It was a small family business filled with drunkards and bards playing their festive Celtic music. The tavern was rather dull in colour with candles on the black wooden walls. They worked there with Zain's father who runs the tavern. Ever since Zain's mother died, his father went back into old habits; his drunken days.

The tavern used to be a peaceful restaurant with a happy family. The father used to be an alcoholic until the mother helped him to become sober. She brought out the goodness in him, until it died along with her. He shut down the restaurant and turned it into a pub and kept drinking non-stop. He forced Alex and Zain into working for him and he treated them like nothing but slaves.

After a hard night shift at the Red Eye, the boys demanded their payment Zain's father owed them for the month.

"I don't know Alex," Zain replied, "I just don't want to get on father's bad side."

"When are we never on his bad side? He hasn't even paid us for last month and we can't wait for him. He is obviously not going to bother. I can't wait anymore. It's time..."

"We are not gonna steal again are we?"

"We are gonna confront him, and if that doesn't work out, that would be Plan B."

Alex and Zain walked together with Zain behind Alex and approached the father.

"Father..."

"How many times do I have to tell you to not call me Father? Sir would do."

"But you raised him with mother," Zain argued.

"He is not of my blood! Why would I consider you my son if you are not of my blood?"

"If you say so," Alex wasn't surprised or hurt; He honestly had no heart for him anymore; if he had a heart for anyone it would be for Zain. "Well anyway, we demand payment for last month and this month now. We were supposed to have enough for the Feast."

The Immunity Feast is an annual feast to gather all the sixteen-year-olds and feast on food they won't be able to eat anymore when they leave for the Immunity Island to begin their training in survival and combat. It is a moment to make the most of what they are forced to sacrifice and leave behind. Alex and Zain saved enough money for a year to be able to buy all the food they want.

"No!" The father objected.

"What do you mean no?! We worked hard for that money and we deserve it!"

"My customers were never satisfied in the last two months. I gave up paying you since then."

"They were not customers. They were drunkards who have no respect or appreciation for us no matter how hard we try; just like you."

"How dare you!" The father slammed his fists on the table. "You think you can just waltz right into my office and demand payment and insult me!" He approached Alex face to face right up close. "You are nothing but a bastard son with no mother. Stop trying to pretend that you had a family growing up because you didn't. You are no son of mine and you never will be."