I pulled the hood of my cloak tighter over my head, glancing around to make sure no one had noticed my ridiculous face. The streets of Purgatory weren’t forgiving—not to weakness and definitely not to someone walking around looking like a failed art experiment .

This part of Purgatory wasn’t like other parts of the city. Here, the air was heavy, thick with the stench of sweat, rot. The uneven cobblestone streets were littered with trash, broken glass, and things I’d rather not think too hard about.

Shadows clung to every corner, growing long and distorted under the flickering, dying streetlights. What few vendors still lingered at this side of town, their makeshift stalls cobbled together with scrap and desperation.

The people were just as ragged as the streets—gaunt faces with hollow eyes, scarred hands that twitched nervously, and voices that whispered deals better left unheard. Some leaned against crumbling walls.

Ahead, two men argued loudly, their voices echoing down the narrow alley. A shove turned into a scuffle, and I quickly slipped into a side path to avoid them. Getting involved in someone else’s fight was the fastest way to wind up in a ditch—or worse.

As I approached the hideout, I slowed, letting out a quiet breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. My reflection in a grimy window caught my eye, the doodles still mocking me. I sighed, shaking my head. Mae was going to have a field day when I got back in

Few people lived on the outskirts like us—especially out here among the jagged rocks. The silence was eerie, broken only by the distant hum of machinery—The dim glow of the distant factory fires was still visible. I paused to survey the area, checking for any signs of movement. Finding none, I crouched and slinked down through the narrow crack leading to the hideout. Maneuvering with the plates was tricky, but there was just enough room to make it through.

Entering our hideout, the stench of Purgatory finally faded from my nose, replaced by the faint metallic tang of oil and the musty scent of stone. Was this a good day or a bad day?

Ev was at work in my place, fixing the foreman’s gun and jukebox. Senna was off doing something, but since he went to Frankie, that meant we’d probably have some good food tonight. Mae embarrassed me again, which sucked, and Serrani was leaving next week.

But… I did get my first date and my first kiss.

So, yeah. It was a good day. Dare I say, a great day.

I groaned as my arms strained from holding the plates for so long. I’d better hurry before they gave out.

Inside, Mae was sprawled on the floor, flipping lazily through a combat instruction manual. She glanced up, her sharp green eyes immediately locking onto the plates.

“That was fast, and you got some quality steel too,” she said, sitting up with excitement. Then her eyes lit up even more. “Are you making me a sword?!”

“No! Are you crazy? Ev and Senna would kill me,” I replied quickly.

Mae’s face scrunched into her signature pout, her lower lip jutting out dramatically. “Then why else are you so happy?”

I leaned the plates against the rocky wall and puffed out my chest. “This guy just got his first kiss from Serrani,” I said proudly.

“Ew, ew, ew! Gross!” Mae exclaimed, recoiling like I’d just told her I ate worms for breakfast.

“It’s not gross!” I shot back, indignant.

“What’s gross?” Ev asked, stepping into the room. Her short hair framed her face, giving her a sharp, boyish look—a practical style for a machine rat. Long hair was just asking to get caught in gears.

Mae pointed at me, all dramatic flair. “He said Serrani gave him a kiss!”

I relaxed slightly. Thank god Ev’s here to set her straight.

Instead of defending me, Ev covered her mouth and backed away slowly, her eyes wide with mock horror. “Oh, the horror! Poor Jack… He’s doomed. Doomed, I say! Destined to become some murderous, raging psychopath!”

Mae tilted her head, her face scrunching in confusion. “What does that mean?”

I bent down to grab the plates. “It means Ev here is what the grown-ups call an idealist,” I muttered, shuffling toward the tunnel. “And maybe a little jealous,” I added with a smirk.

“Did I mention the first step is becoming ugly?” she teased, following close behind.

I rolled my eyes. Ev never much liked the Rani twins. Being the kids of two infamous murderers didn’t sit right with her, as if anyone else in this place was any better.

At the bottom of the tunnel, Ev lit the lamps, their flickering light casting jagged shadows across the cluttered workspace.

“Oh, yeah, Frankie wanted me to ask you about his offer—whatever that means,” I said, setting the plates on the workbench.

Ev didn’t reply, already distracted. I turned my focus back to the plates, measuring them carefully. By the time I finished, Ev and Mae were gone.

“Oh well,” I muttered, pulling on my goggles.

As I started cutting into the steel, the world around me disappeared. The sharp hiss of metal against metal and the glow of the lamps were all that mattered. Time passed in a blur, and before I knew it, the pair of hats were finished. I laid them carefully on the cleared workbench, glancing up at the dangling wires that seemed to vanish into the darkness above.

There was still one last task.

After another hour of work, I scurried back upstairs, my stomach grumbling faintly.

Senna, Ev, and Mae were huddled around the usual pot of black beans. Senna smiled apologetically when he saw me. No luck this time, huh?

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I grabbed my usual small portion and sat down, eating slowly to savor every bite. The room was quiet, a heavy stillness hanging over us. Ev lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. Senna poked at his food in silence. The only normalcy came from Mae, singing a nonsensical tune about herself and her “present.”

When I finished my bowl, I set it down and stood, licking my lips. Before I could say anything, Ev sat up abruptly.

“You finished my present, didn’t you?” she asked, her eyes darting around the room. “Where is it?”

I sighed, gesturing toward the tunnel. “It’s down there, along with everyone else’s.”

Senna raised an eyebrow, and Mae squealed with delight, bouncing on her feet.

I led them through the tunnels, Mae skipping ahead, her latest song consisting mostly of “Mae” and “Present.” I tuned her out as best as I could.

When we reached the bottom, I stopped them. “Stay here a sec.”

The three exchanged confused looks as I darted around, dousing all the lights and plunging us into darkness.

“Huh,” Ev said dryly, her voice cutting through the silence. “I never thought Jack was one for theatrics. All this for my hat? How am I so lucky?”

Senna coughed, “Ahem, it’s for all of us, remember?”

“Must’ve slipped my mind,” she replied smugly.

“JACK IS GIVING MAE HIS LONELY PLACE!” Mae shrieked, bouncing on her toes.

I inwardly groaned, forcing a smile as I pulled down a lever. The space was suddenly bathed in crimson light. Overhead, a large red moon flickered to life, casting an eerie glow across the workshop. Smaller lights, strung haphazardly along the walls, lit up in sequence, their soft hum breaking the silence.

Senna rubbed the back of his head. “It’s impressive you managed to get power down here, but… I think I preferred the old light. That moon feels a bit off.”

Ev, however, seemed captivated, her eyes fixed on the glowing red orb. “Do you guys hear that?” she whispered.

I strained my ears, listening for anything unusual. “I don’t hear anything.”

Mae, uninterested in the light show, sprinted toward the workbench. “Which one’s mine?” she asked, practically vibrating with excitement.

I grabbed the fancy box, removing its lid to reveal the daggers inside, gleaming ominously in the crimson light. “These are for you,” I said, glancing nervously at Senna and Ev, whose raised eyebrows burned holes in me. “But you’ll get them when you’re older.” Yeah, probably not my best idea.

“Yay!” Mae cheered, clearly not understanding she wouldn’t actually get them anytime soon.

Quickly moving on, I picked up Senna’s gift and handed it to him, holding my breath. The gold-and-brown pistol gleamed as he rolled it over in his hands, stopping to notice the initials carved into the metal just behind the trigger.

“Jack, this is…” he paused, glancing at me. “Perfect. I’m proud of you, Jack.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “I am the best, aren’t I?”

Senna rolled his eyes but smiled as he holstered the pistol.

With one more gift to go, I grabbed Ev’s hat from the table. I glanced up to make sure she was watching, then applied pressure to the right side of the brim. Sharp metal jutted out, barely noticeable but undeniably deadly. To demonstrate, I flung the hat at an old metal chair. The blade sliced deep into one of the legs, leaving it lopsided. I walked over and dusted off the hat, pressing the same spot to retract the blade.

Ev took the hat wordlessly, inspecting every inch of it with the sharp focus only she could manage. When she put it on, it nearly slipped off her head—it was a bit too big for now, but she’d grow into it. If she lived long enough.

“Jack, this is incredible. I love it,” she said quietly.

I shrugged and slid on my own hat. “I made one for myself too.” Mine had a “J” on the front and was slightly smaller.

Leaning back in my chair, I watched the three of them admire their gifts. Mae wasn’t allowed to touch anything, of course, but that didn’t stop her from marveling at them. Senna was already playing with his new pistol.

“Watch it, punk!” he said, twirling it dramatically. “You know who I am? No? Then let me show you. Whablam!”

Ev arched a brow, unimpressed. “You know, that just might be… the lamest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Senna’s face fell, like he’d just been betrayed.

“Never do it again, okay?” she added, her lips curling into a creepy smile.

I stifled a laugh, watching them. It was rare to see everyone genuinely happy —moments like this felt as fragile as they were fleeting. Sweet…

I smacked my forehead as the thought hit me. I almost forgot! “Ev, Frankie said something about an offer he gave you. Oh, and that you should tell him by tomorrow. Whatever that means.”

The words hung in the air, echoing faintly in the quiet workshop.

Ev’s smile faltered, a subtle tension creeping into her expression. “An offer?” she murmured, her arms slowly crossing over her chest. Her voice was calm but I caught the sharp edge hiding underneath.

I glazed at senna, who had gone unnervingly still. His hands rested at his sides, clenched tight enough to make his knuckles whiten.

For a moment, he didn't answer. The air felt heavier, like the room was holding its breath

Then, without warning, senna slammed his first into the rock wall, the sharp crack splitting like a whip. The force echoed through the workshop, sending a shiver up my spine. Dammit he barked, his voice raw with anger. “I told him to leave her alone!”

Ev angrily crossed her arms, her fingers gripping her sleeves tightly. “Hang on. When did you say that to frankie? Are you doing jobs for him again?”

Senna froze, his gaze flicking briefly to Mae and me before he let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping. “Look.” he began, his tone defensive but weary. “It was just a little meet up for a simple job. I sneak into some dead rich guy’s house, grab a few designs and valuables and get out. That's it”

He paused, running a hand through his hair as though trying to shake off the weight of the explanation. “The problem was I couldn't find a way in. the place was locked down tighter than i expected—guards everywhere, not a single opening.”

Ev’s scoff cut through the tension like a blade. “You can't risk your life like that!” she snapped her voice rising. “What are we supposed to do if something happens to you?”

Senna’s eyes narrowed as he turned towards her, his jaw tightening. “And who do you think I'm doing this for? He shot back. “The pay would've been enough to fix your problem. You think I'm just out there for fun?”

The air felt heavy, thick unspoken frustrations. I sat frozen, my nervous smile glued to my face like a mask. Why were they fighting? We'd all been happy just moments ago…

Evs trembling hands dropped to her sides as she locked eyes with Senna. “Where exactly is this dead guy's place?” she asked , her voice quiet but steely.

Senna hesitated for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a shrug, he said “I don't know the address. I just followed the map Frankie gave me. There was a green statue out front. Some kind of angel I think.”

Ev closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as if steadying herself. When she opened them again, the fire in her gaze was unmistakable. “I know the place,” she said firmly

“And I know the way in.”

Senna raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “Oh?”

“But,” Ev continued, cutting him off, “neither of us is small enough to make use of the opening.” Her words hung in the air.

Senna turned his head towards me, his lips curving in a slow, deliberate smile. “You’re up, Jack, he said.

I stiffened, my stomach tightened with excitement as Ev's gaze followed him. Her face hardened the instant she realized what he was insinuating “No!” she barked, “absolutely not!”