Underground (2045)

Chapter 4: Kei Afia (2043)

Kei stormed in to the bar, a ripped jacket thrown over his shoulder. Behind him, the older members of his gang followed.

A few people left immediately, other simply got up and moved, making room for his gang.

"Give me a batch of that strong stuff I got last week. Its.. been a long day." Kei grumbled. The jacket fell to the floor.

"Sure thing K." As the bar tender went into the back Kei slammed his head into the counter, startling the drunk man next to him.

Thorn walked up behind him, patting his back. She said something in her native language, english. Kei shrugged her off.

"I don't need your pity, bitch..." Although his words we harsh, his eyes said something else, regret.

Thorn shook her head and picked up the jacket, before walking over to join a poker game.

The bartender returned and sat the glass down. Kei swallowed the drink swiftly and asked of a refill.

"Sorry bud. That's the last batch till friday."

Kei groaned hitting his head on the counter again. 'Of course it is.'

'That boy.. what did he say? Something about wanting to help us? Ha. As if a prissy kid like that could possibly change anything... not even I could."

.....

Kei was born on the streets. His mother was drug addict, his father a drunkard.

Neither one wanted a child, and had planned on abandoning him to the doctors the second he was born. The only thing stopping them was foodstamps and the fact that they couldn't afford to have him born in a hospital.

He spent most his life on the streets, being raised by Uncle Oji. They weren't related in anyway, Oji was just that guy everyone loves. He takes in a few orphaned children off the street each year, raised them for a bit, then hands them a ton of yen and tell them to get.

Most leave for another town, get an education or a job and move on from Kieca. Kei, on the other hand, stayed.

He new these streets well. He knew how easy if was to get stuck there, to get caught up in the gangs. So he stayed to try and steer people away from that area, to keep them safe.

It never worked out that well though. His attempts to talk people into leaving never worked out well.

When the elites moved in, everything went to hell. Half the town was stolen, half the town was furious, and they kept trying to expand their industries. Trying to industrialize their side of the tracks.

Talking never worked. Protests, treaties, speeches, it was all just talk. A lie the government's made up to make people think they actually had power.

The only thing that people listen to is violence.

'Who's to say? Maybe the world will change. But I betcha a million yen that when it does, it'll be covered in red.'