"Are you kidding me? Someone nearly died and they're doing nothing about it?" Aileen shouted.

"We will open an investigation," the policeman calmly responded after confirming there was still a pulse.

"Hey! Watch out, she was very important to someone!"

"Huh, a slum dog doesn't matter," the other policeman grumbled.

"What did you say?" Aileen asked, half in shock and half in anger.

"He said nothing of importance," the first officer quickly covered. They had to keep appearances at least.

"You def..." Aileen wanted to respond, but her mother pulled her by her side. However, what didn't come out of Aileen's mouth made its way onto Bohdi's.

"You said you are going to open an investigation, yet you aren't even making notes. Is this the level of our police?"

"Kid, you're going too far," the officer seemed to get fed up.

"Forgive them officers, they are young and brash," the father put his hand on Bohdi's shoulder. "I'll make sure to lecture him."

As those words set in, the policeman's anger faded. "Well... all right then. We'll make our departure."

And so the police left. No notes. No pictures of the site. No interrogation of witnesses. Not a single hint that the supposed investigation was something else than a lie.

"Unfortunately, they do not care about the slums," Thomas, the father of the two, sighed. "It happens pretty often here, and they are paid handsomely by the rich to keep their wards safe. To be stationed anywhere near the slums is a curse for them."

"That's just unfair and wrong!" Aileen shouted, her brother nodding furiously.

"An unfortunate truth... even in this world, nothing is perfect," Margery, the mother, stated. "I am more worried about the kid... he's nowhere to be seen. Should we go and search for him? What if something happened to him?"

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"A cultivator followed by a powerful puppet, I am more afraid for whoever crosses him. These are the slums after all, he should be at the top of the food chain with his powers. Besides, the puppet is still sending signals on Aileen's phone, which means he's okay. We couldn't find him even if we wanted to anyways. He'll come back eventually," Thomas concluded.

And sure enough, he was right. A few hours later, Arun made his appearance. Blood smeared all over his cut and ripped clothing, Thomas could tell from the boy's posture that fatigue had been plaguing him for a while. Yet even while worn out, there were still signs of strength. His hand was furiously gripping something, and more importantly, his eyes. They betrayed all his emotions: hate, sorrow, but mostly determination emanated from his deep blue eyes. Light glinted off his eyes like fire. Had the perpetrators met his gaze, they would have likely been petrified.

"Boy... what have you done?" Thomas asked. The kids went to sleep after pacing in and out of the building for so long, so he and his wife were welcoming him back.

"Uncle... what do you mean?" Arun asked, in a mix of confusion and annoyance.

"Oh my god, darling," Margery scrambled near Arun and embraced him. "For a kid... to see this... I'm so sorry..."

Thomas shook his head while Arun was quietly accepting Margery's embrace. The blood must have been from his grandmother... how could he think otherwise?

"I'm sorry too... child," and he joined the embrace.

"Thank you, uncle, aunt..." Arun looked around. "Where is Granny?"

" She is here, but she is still unconscious," Margery said reluctantly.

The trace of anger in Arun's eyes momentarily grew to a worrying degree, but after a few breaths, he calmed down.

" I see..."

" We'll see if we can find any hospitals to take her in."

" I'd be eternally grateful if you did, but please don't push yourself as too much. You've done so much for me... us already."

"Oh, please. You spent so much time with my family, I consider you my son. It's the least we could do."

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Arun watched from outside as his friends and their parents made their way into the house. He had done everything he could, and if he could trust anyone to take care of his ma while he was away, it was them.

Arun crumpled the letter in his hand. The strength of his grip was leaving a wound where his finger met his flesh.

"Kid. Didn't catch you down these parts, so I had to come to you. I always pay my debts, but luckily for you, there was someone over here that was willing to pay yours. I am quite merciful, you know, pulled my punches quite a bit. You should thank me for that! Or maybe you shouldn't since it wont be pleasant if I see you again. You shouldn't have messed with me, kid."

"You... I will find you!"