He was currently smoking his favourite cigarette, a stick of Marlboro Blue Ice. He has been smoking since he went to college, his girlfriend smoked, his college buddies smoked, so as such he decided to smoke too, and he is now addicted to it.

Walking through the streets you wouldn’t assume a baby face like him smoking, most people would actually give weird looks at him when he started puffing his ciggy. But he didn’t care what other people thought.

His family constantly tried to help him curb his addiction, but he never did remove it. Though he did try vaping, that didn’t give the euphoric sensation he felt with smoking tobacco.

He was currently walking briskly to his favourite place diner, he enjoyed this place because the Old woman who owned it was fun to be with and the food was great, and also because he could smoke there. He never asked the owner her name though, even if he came there at least once everyday for two years.

When he went inside the owner called to him

“Hey boy welcome back! What would you like today?” she asked while handing some other patrons their drinks.

“Just the usual auntie.” he answered.

He really enjoyed the dried beef that they served with some fried rice and a sunny side up egg. It was called tapa which the Old Lady said before. It was a juicy kind of dish and he would order it at least once a day if he could afford it.

“Okay just sit down, and I will have Mary give serve it to you later.” she said while she was plating another patron’s dish.

He sat down and immediately took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket. There were only five ciggies left. He lit the cigarette and took the ashtray from the table behind him.

Looking around he saw familiar faces, the people who go here are mostly repeat customers and he would sometimes hold conversations with them casually.

“Yo man, it’s been a while.” a man said behind him.

He looked back and saw it was one of the people who frequented the place. It was Jared. He worked in a courier agency nearby and would go to the place to just chill after work. He hasn’t seen him for a few days now, maybe he was sick, that was what he thought though.

“Yeah, I haven’t seen you for a while man, where have you been.” he asked while the man sat one the seat in front of him.

“I was let go but after that I got a new job and it has quite a good pay. And were looking for some hands to help.” he said while he asked then asked a waitress a bottle of cold beer.

“Well since you offered, I can accept it but what job do you do now?” he asked.

He was currently unemployed and had only been living with the money he got from his parents who frequently sent money from abroad. Most people his age would’ve been working by now, but since he dropped out of college a few years back, and didn’t have any prior working experience other than doing a few odd jobs here and there.

He once asked Jared to help him in his job hunting, so he was happy when he said they were looking for people.

“Well I can’t say it here, the boss just said we can bring a few healthy people go with us to his place and he would decide the jobs they would give, since he had a lot of different businesses.” he answered as Mary came to serve their orders, he gave the plate to him and the beer to Jared.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Anything else you want guys?” she casually asked.

“Well can you also give me plate of what he’s eating? And also another beer for him.” he said “You do drink right?” Jared then asked him, and he nodded.

“Okay then, I’ll be back with it in a few.” she answered and went back to the kitchen.

“She’s such a cute girl right? Heard she had the hots for a customer who goes here.” Jared said to him.

Who was the guy he liked? Was it the huge dude who had a lot of tattoos? Well a lot of women did like that sort of strong guy.

“Yeah she is nice.” he just said, he did like Mary, but who would like to be his girlfriend anyways? He was just an unemployed loser.

“About the job though, lets go to the boss later after we eat so you can meet him. Would you like that man?” he said while he drank half the bottle of beer.

“Sounds good, thanks for the drink man.”

“No probs, I’ll pay for your meal too if ya like.” he offered

“Well okay, thanks again.” he answered

They enjoyed their meals and after that they bid the Owner goodbye and went to see Jared’s boss.

Walking on the streets of their town, someone would call their City ‘dirty’, with all the trash that cluttered the roads, and the many homeless people that they would come across. It was just one of the things that would happen to any corrupt country, that’s why people in the US would call them as people living in a third world country.

He wanted to change all of that if he could, he didn’t like seeing most people from there to work overseas, which is where his parents worked. If there were enough job opportunities here then there wouldn’t be a need for people to work elsewhere. And he really missed his parents.

A homeless man then came in front of them, he wore tattered clothing and was carrying a sack of bottles which he planned to sell to the recycling plant.

“do you guys any spare change?’ he asked, putting his hand forward.

“Here ya go man,” Jared said and handed him a 50, which the man took.

“Thank you, may God bless you.” the rugged man said and went his merry way.

“it’s hard seeing people like them, I just feel so sad sometimes.” Jared said while looking at the old man.

“Yeah it is. Sorry you had to give him, instead of me.” he answered, even if he didn’t have much, he could’ve given him a 10 of at least five.

“It’s okay man.”

They then walked past the Governor’s Building, it was one of the biggest buildings in their city, and one of the oldest.

“still this country needs to change, but before the country can change, the people on top must change first.” Jared suddenly exclaimed.

It was true, most of the public officials were corrupt, even the officials of public education were corrupt. There was once a time when he was still in high school where each of the three thousand students donated one hundred each for the renovation of an old school building. But the building was never renovated, and the school’s Superintendent just suddenly had a new car. It was the latest novel of toyata too.

If there was only a way to change things, he would gladly help to try to change it. Yet he knew he was powerless so he just set those thoughts aside for now.

After ten minutes of walking, they found themselves in front of the new building near the church. The building was not as big as the Governor’s building, but it was as splendid. He heard that the building was owned by one of the city’s most decorated police officers, which has now retired.

They entered the building and were greeted by a receptionist.

”Good afternoon Jared.” she said

“Ah Carla good afternoon too, I just brought my friend to meet the boss, he said he needed men so here’s someone I plan to meet with him. Is the boss free?” he said and asked.

The receptionist eyed him and smiled.

“The boss is free right now, he’s currently on his office in the third floor, go meet with Jessica, his secretary.” she said and waved goodbye as they went to the elevator.

“The people seem nice.” he said to Jared while they entered the elevator.

“Yeah they are, that’s also the reason I wanted you to come. The boss likes nice people.”

“What kind of person is the boss anyway?”

“you’ve heard the rumors right? He’s a retired cop, and he owns this building which houses many offices for his various ventures. he’s looking on expanding his horizons and plans to open up another one, that’s why he’s looking for men.” he answered. “Ah, were here.”

The elevator door opens up and they are greeted by a big bulky man in a long sleeved suit.

“You here for the boss Jared?” he then looked at Jared’s companion “Who’re you with? Oh maybe a new recruit for the boss? Well just go inside then.”

“Thanks Pabs.” Jared said

“That’s Pablo, call me that next time.”

“Okay Pabs!”

“... well fine. See ya guys.” he answered “and you new guy, wish you luck.”

‘the people seem nice’ he thought to himself.

They made their way to a door, which had a look similar to some of those doors from old Chinese movies, why would they have something like this? Jared then opened the door and there was a clean cut man with a scar on his face infront of them.

“Ah… Jared! Welcome, and who’s your friend?” the man asked

“Hello boss, my friend is unemployed right now, he’s a good guy, and since we are looking for more men, I was wondering if he could make the cut.” Jared explained.

The boss eyed the young man infront of him, smiled and stood up.

“Greetings, What’s your name by the way?” the boss asked.

“I’m Justin, I live in this city.”

“Ahh, Justin, would you like to save this city and it’s people?” he asked

‘save the city and the people?’ Justin said to himself.

“How exactly are we going to save the people… sir.” he then asked

“Well as you may have heard the rumors, I am a former Policeman. I worked for the people and saw the corruptness of the government, years have I spent on amassing wealth, power and respect to get to this day, and now I am ready to set things into motion.” he answered while he walked in front of him. “would you like to liberate the people and the City from the Government?”