Until The Light Comes

Chapter 1

"Hey, you!"

I turned around to find a bare-footed scrawny kid running in my direction. His brown hair was extremely unkempt, and his clothes were barely in tact. He appeared quite malnourished, and seemed exhausted when he caught up to me. I assumed he was orphaned from the war.

"You wanna buy some nose candy?" he asked, as he uncurled his grubby fingers to reveal a small, clear packet of cocaine. 

"No," I bluntly replied, and returned to my walk down the disheveled and muddy road. The last thing I wanted to do was to throw my dignity and health away because I'd become dependent on the drugs a kid gave me.  But the runt was adamant.

"I don't charge much," he said, slowly jogging to keep up with my long strides. "It's $15, but I'll make it 10 for you."

"Listen kid, I'm not interested, so just leave me alone. Besides, don't you have a boss you need to attend to? There isn't a soul from the city to here, so I don't understand why you're conducting business in this abandoned area."

The smug-faced boy looked up at me with kindling eyes. 

"I am my own boss. I don't work for anybody," he said triumphantly.  

I slowed down enough for the child to walk comfortably beside me. I pitied the young fool.

"Unlike most people," he continued, "I know how survive in this dangerous world by myself. I'm a real man."

I wasn't in the mood to give the kid a lecture, so I figured giving him my sandwich would be enough to keep him quiet.  He accepted my offer with snatching hands, and quickly devoured the food in large bites. 

"Where'd you get that cocaine?" I asked, after we continued walking for 5 minutes in silence. "I know it's not yours."

"Well, I stole it from my older brother. He tried to kill me, but I got away just in time.  He's the boss of his own cartel, so he's got loads  of money, but he wouldn't give me any.  Both my parents are dead, so I have no one to help me."

He was quite tough for someone his age, but I knew he wouldn't last long by himself in the drug business.  It was a precedented situation. Most kids that enter such crime either die or quit. Very few become successful. I wanted to discourage him from pursuing the path he was choosing, but I knew it was futile. He'd already made up his mind. Besides, who was I interfere? It was none of my business.

"Do you know where the southern direction is? I'm trying to get to Torate because it is apparently the best place to sell drugs. I heard it was south from here."

I wasn't sure of our exact location, but the sun was setting directly in front of us, which meant we were probably heading west.  

"I think it's that way," I said, pointing to the left.

"Gee, thanks," said the kid, as he began walking in the direction of my finger.  "Where are you off to?"

"I'm not sure."

I stopped and watched the attenuated boy brush past the spiky bushes and trees. I had a slight urge to accompany him.

"By the way," said the boy, "I never got your name."

"Mark Cobra."

"My name's Brick. Don't forget it 'cause I think we'll meet again one day."

Once Brick disappeared into the forest, I continued down the empty road. Although my connection with Brick was equivocal at best, somewhere deep down, I worried for his safety.