Third Wish: volume Two

Episode 37: Brothers in arms

Pluto and Maddox moved stealthily on the rooftops, their shadows racing across the dark slate tiles as they approached the bridge. Below them, they could see Romeo Martin and his three guild mates standing near the center of the bridge, laughing and chatting.

Pluto decided to stay on the rooftop, content to watch and wait until the right moment to strike. Maddox, however, was itching to get started. It had been too long since he had let loose on a job, and he was eager to get his hands dirty.

Taking a deep breath, Maddox leapt from the rooftop, his body twisting in the air as he descended towards the bridge. In one swift movement, he landed behind Sonny, his blade held steady at the man's throat.

"Nobody move," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Romeo, Leon, and Rose spun around, their hands going to their weapons, but Maddox was too quick for them. He had them all in his sights, his blade darting back and forth as he kept them at bay.

Pluto watched from the rooftop, satisfied that things were under control. He knew that Maddox was a skilled fighter, and he had complete trust in his abilities.

                     15 years ago

Maddox trudged through the streets of Pandora city with his head down. The scorching sun beat down on him relentlessly as he searched for a place to rest. Everywhere he went, people sneered and jeered at him. "Look at that demon!" one woman exclaimed as she clutched her purse tightly. Maddox could feel their hot stares on him like a weight.

Hungry and tired, Maddox finally collapsed on a park bench. It was the only spot he could find where he wouldn't be disturbed. He closed his eyes, his mind drifting off to the days when he had a home and a family that loved him. But those days were gone. Now he was just another homeless demon trying to get by.

Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see a small girl standing before him, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Hi," she said, "what's your name?"

Maddox hesitated for a moment before answering. "Maddox," he replied.

The little girl smiled at him. "I'm Tia. Would you like to come play with me and my friends?"

Maddox looked at her in disbelief. No one had ever invited him to join in anything before. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Tia nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! We're playing hide-and-seek, and we need another player. Please come play with us."

Maddox stood up and followed the little girl to a group of children who warmly accepted him. For the first time in a long time, Maddox felt like he belonged somewhere. As they played, he forgot all about his troubles and enjoyed the simple joy of being a kid again.

That feeling soon came to a sudden end when Tia's parents caught notice of their daughter playing with a young demon, they tried not to make it as obvious but Maddox knew what was going to happen as they dragged Tia away from the playground.

Maddox watched as Tia and her parents walked away, his heart sinking in his chest. He had been having so much fun playing hide-and-seek with Tia and her friends, but now he was left alone on the playground once again. The sound of children playing in the distance made him feel even more isolated.

Suddenly, a voice called out to him. "Hey, demon! What are you doing here?"

Maddox turned to see a group of older boys approaching him. He recognized them as the same ones who had taunted him earlier that day. They had always been a thorn in his side, never giving him a moment's peace.

"Just playing," Maddox replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

The boys sneered at him. "You're not welcome here, demon," one of them spat. "This playground is for human kids only."