Aaron, Sarah, George, Grace, Adam, and Evelyn were sneaking past the guards. Getting caught meant death. Life in Awbex was hard enough without the Nobles taking food from the common folk. They reached a corner and silently decided to leave George there.

George was a good and trustworthy friend, but he was huge. His muscular frame would easily be spotted.

They continued on. Evelyn dashed forward to scout the area ahead. Evelyn motioned for them to continue. As they traveled they snuck past four more patrols, each time stopping and waiting for them to pass their position.

Traveling silently in one of the floating cities was difficult to say the least. The floor of the cities were always metal. If one of them took too heavy of a step, the sound would reverberate through the air, instantly alerting every guard within a hundred yards. They also had to keep away from the windows.

Evelyn started to climb up a building. Luckily all buildings were made of wood, so she didn’t make any noise. Adam got furious before realizing that it would be good to have a higher point of view. Adam was the complete opposite of George. He was small, skinny, and weak, but his intelligence made up for those factors. While George was not stupid, his Intelligence was nothing compared to Adam’s.

Finally, they got to their destination, the Food Vault. Grace turned away from the vault to keep an eye out for the guards. Evelyn climbed down from the rooftops, pulled out lockpicks out of her pocket and started to pick the lock.

Adam started to count the amount of seconds they had left before the next guard patrol walked past.

Aaron and Sarah got the bags from their belts and got ready to rush in.

It took Evelyn only a couple of seconds to pick the lock. She took out the lock and opened the doors.

Aaron and Sarah rushed in, filled the first pair of bags, threw them outside, and pulled out two more bags and started to fill them. They filled seven bags before they were done. They pushed the door shut and locked it again.

Grace rushed forward grabbed one of the bags and shoved it towards Adam. She then started to distribute the bags. Two for Aaron, Two for Sarah, one for Evelyn, and one for Grace. They quickly returned to where they left George. He grabbed a bag from Sarah and a bag from Aaron.

They rushed through the alleys until they got to their home, at least, the shack that they deemed as their home. They entered the building, closed and locked the door, and hid the food. The next morning they took out the food and checked out what they got. They had enough food to last them two weeks.

“It took only four minutes and seventeen seconds. New record!” exclaimed Adam.

Aaron smiled, “No offence Adam, but no one cares. We only care that we made it out with food and without being caught.”

“Don't be so mean Aaron!” interjected Evelyn

“Be quiet Eve. They’re just playing.” said Grace

Aaron smiled even more, “Not yet!”

He then tackled Adam. They wrestled for a couple of minutes before George joined in. All the girls sighed. Sarah, Grace, and Evelyn decided to store the food and prepare a breakfast. Breakfast was almost done when they heard two grunts. They all looked over to see George sitting on top of Adam and Aaron.

“Get off them George, before you break their backs! Besides, breakfast is done.”

Almost instantly George was up and at the stub they called a table. It took a little longer for Aaron and Adam, but they got there quickly.

Breakfast consisted of bread and fruit. Aaron grabbed a slice of bread and placed it over the fire. He waited thirty seconds before turning it over and waiting for another thirty seconds. Aaron then walked over to everyone else and started to eat it.

George widened his eyes and followed Aaron’s example. They finished eating and started to clean up when there was a knock at the door. Everyone froze.

They were completely silent, hoping that they would go away. They didn’t. There was another knock at the door. Aaron grabbed one of the knives they used for breakfast and motioned Sarah to open the door.

Aaron rushed over to the door, while Sarah just walked. When Sarah reached the door she looked over to Aaron, who nodded. She opened the door. Outside was one of the gang leaders. More specifically, the leader of the Souin, the strongest gang in Awbex.

“Hello, my name is Frederick. I’m here to offer you a deal.” Aaron went in front of Sarah, who was in the doorway, and said, “Not interested.” and shut the door.

Frederick knocked again, but they just ignored it.

“Aaron, you do know what he can do to us, don't you?” Asked Grace

“Yes I know, but I also know nothing he does is good for us. He may be able to do a lot of stuff to us, but what he can do to us we can do to him.”

“What can we do to him?” Asked Adam

“His gang doesn’t like to have the attention of the Guards on them. If they do anything to us, we can do stuff to benefit us, but put the blame of them.”

“You do realize that if they decided to kill us that we could do nothing against them, right?”

“He asked us to do something for him. So, he won’t kill us.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Aaron and George spent the next two hours exercising, while Adam took inventory, and Sarah, Grace, and Evelyn worked on fixing their clothes.

Aaron walked outside to get water from the depositary. He got a drink, dunked his head in the cool water, turned around, and nearly jumped.

“What are you still doing here?” Aaron asked Frederick.

Frederick crossed his arms and said, “What do you think?”

Aaron rolled his eyes, “Look we are not interested in anything to do with you. Just by talking to you I am endangering my family.”

Frederick chuckled, “I thought the Souin was your family.”

“That was before they decided to do anything more than required to do the job.”

“We did that for the plan.”

“Oh right, I forgot! The big plan to take over Awbex.”

“Shhhh! You know you shouldn’t say that out loud!”

“And you know that the noise from the market keeps anything within a ten feet radius from being heard. Besides,” Aaron continued, “It is a foolhardy plan. Even if you could do it, the other cities will know about the change in leadership, take it as a sign of weakness, and attack.”

Frederick sighed and said, “You're probably right, but don’t you want for things to change?”

Aaron crossed his arms, “Look Frederick, I do want things to change, but it would be so much safer for you, the Souin, and everyone else in Awbex if you just did things slower.”

Frederick leaned against the water depository and asked, “What do you mean by going slower?”

“You could pretend to be one of the nobility. It might take a couple of years, but with enough bribes, alleyway killings, and persuasion, you could rightfully become the ruler of Awbex.”

Frederick smirked, “Rightfully?”

“-Ish”

Frederick stood, “Maybe you're right, but I can’t stop thinking about all the lives that will be ruined if we stop doing what we’re doing.”

“Then don’t. Continue stealing food for the hungry. When you become a noble, and the other noblemen start to complain, you can come running in. Tell them that you will stop them. Bring your trusted guards, and make a flashy show of stopping a food raid in progress.”

“You know, I can’t get over the fact that you are only thirteen.”

“A lot of people don’t even know that I have pitch white hair.” “oh, that’s right! Don’t you put mud in your hair?”

“Yea, that’s why I never go outside when it is raining. When they decide to open the dome, that is.”

Frederick walked up to Aaron laid his hand on his shoulder and said, “Alright then, I’ll be leaving.”

Aaron turned around just in time to see Frederick turning the corner, “How does he do that?” whispered Aaron.

He took another sip from the depository, before returning to everyone else. As he entered the building, he saw that Grace and Evelyn were checking on the food, while Adam and George were arguing, again.

Aaron looked around even more and saw that Sarah was looking at him in the corner. Her look practically said, “Get over here, now!”

Aaron slowly made his way around the room. When he got there, Sarah didn’t say anything. All she did was cross her arms.

“Yes?” Asked Aaron.

Sarah rolled her eyes and whispered, “What took you so long outside?”

“Frederick was waiting outside. Don’t worry, I talked to him and he left.”

“I hope you didn’t volunteer us.”

“I’m pretty sure it would’ve been voluntold, but either way I didn’t.”

Sarah uncrossed her arms and started to walk towards the door, “Good, then we can go to the market.”

Everyone stopped.

They only ever went to the market if they had money, and they only got money when it was dropped and money was rarely dropped. They never stole from other commoners, never stole during the day, and never stole directly from a nobleman.

Currently, they had no money.

“Why do you want to go to the market?” Asked George

“Because it might be fun!” Replied Sarah

“But it is loud.” Said Adam

“And there are a lot of guards there.” Said Grace

“Just think about what would happen if we get caught?” Said Aaron

“Well, what would they charge us with?” Said Sarah.

“Probably theft or something.” Said Aaron

“But we aren’t going to steal!”

“Then why go?” Asked George, all Sarah did was shrug and say, “I want to check on something.” Aaron was going to say he had stuff to do, but then he realized that he didn’t, and so, they went.

They only spent about half an hour there, but Aaron didn’t like it. It was too loud. Everyone there was buying, selling, or stealing. There were stalls on either side of the road. As they were leaving, Aaron saw something that caught his eye.

“You guys head back, I’ll meet you there.”

They were hesitant, but left. Aaron went after what caught his eye. There was a Rifle leaning against a crate. The Soldier that the Rifle belonged to, was talking to a merchant, only four paces away. Aaron snuck up to the Rifle.

He didn’t want the Rifle, he wanted the Bayonet. Aaron lifted the Rifle off the crate and unhooked the Bayonet. After all the years of stealing Bayonets, it came easy to unhook them.

Aaron quietly backed away, and turned around.

There was a little child standing right there. The child was in ragged, dirty, and ripped clothes. He was completely dirty, and obviously orphaned.

Aaron put his finger to his lips, motioning to be quiet. Aaron then motioned for the child to follow him.

As he was leaving the market, he would occasionally look back. Every time he did, he saw the child following him, quietly.

When Aaron had left the market, he turned around and kneeled down. The child rushed over to him. “What is your name?”

The child shrugged

“Do you know who your parents are?”

The child shook his head

“Do you want to come with me?”

The child vigorously nodded his head.

Aaron and the child, went back home.

When the opened the door, Aaron had to duck.

“Damn it, George! Don’t go punching people!”

“Sorry, I thought you were an intruder.”

Aaron closed the door, and immediately cringed. Evelyn squealed, and rushed over to him.

“Hello, what is your name?”

It was then that everyone else noticed the child. Everyone rushed to the child, while Sarah pulled Aaron aside.

“Who is that?” whispered Sarah

“I don’t know and neither does he. He was in the market.”

“How old is he?”

“When I asked, he just raised five fingers.”

“He is Five?”

“It doesn’t seem like he can speak, but he can definitely understand speech.”

Sarah and Aaron joined the others. After a couple minutes of chatter, Grace asked, “What should we call him?”

Evelyn started to shoot out random names, “Boo, Spot, Buddie.”

“Eve, please shut up. You’re too loud, and he isn’t a pet, he is a child.” said George

“Sorry.”

Aaron chuckled

“What’s so funny?” asked Grace

“I just thought of a name, but it’s dumb.”

“Aaron, no one has come up with a good name.” said George

“True. What about Saber?”

After a moment of thought, Sarah said, “How did you think of the name?”

Aaron showed them the Bayonet.

“Seriously,” said Adam “Not very creative.”

“Shut up Adam.” said Evelyn

“Who agrees with Aaron’s name?” George raised his hand, as did Evelyn.

“I like it as well!” Exclaimed Grace

“That makes three. His new name will be Saber!” Said Sarah.

The boy looked at Aaron and smiled.

“I think he likes you.” said Sarah

“I think you're reading too much into the situation.”

“Maybe, but how many times have I been wrong?”

“Touchè.”

“Look at him.” Aaron looked at the child. He wasn’t smiling, he wasn’t touching anyone, he wasn’t looking at anyone.

“What’s going on?” Asked Aaron

“He looked at you and smiled, but when you looked away he stopped. He doesn’t trust anyone.” Replied Sarah

“Spend time with him. Teach him our language. Be his mentor. Saber is clearly a starving orphan. Feed him.”

Sarah started to walk away, but Aaron said, “Why did you want to go to the market?”

“Promise you won’t laugh?”

“Yeah.”

Sarah turned around, her face red with embarrassment, “I wanted to look at the jewelry.”

Aaron had to cover his mouth to stop from laughing. He made enough noise that everyone looked over.

“Sorry, it’s just that I didn’t expect you of all people to look at pretty things. I’m not judging, I liked looking at the firearms.”

Sarah walked outside. George laid down and instantly fell asleep, Eve and Grace got into an argument, Adam pulled a book from under his shirt and start to read, and Saber walked up to Aaron. Aaron looked down at him and sighed.

After a moment, Aaron walked over to the wall and motioned for Saber to come over. He rushed over and sat down.

“Nod if you understand.” Saber nodded

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Can you speak?”

“... Kind… of.”

“Do you have a name?” he shook his head

“Weren’t you listening?”

“No. I fell asleep.”

“But you were standing.”

“So?”

“I’m going to teach you to read.” and so he did.

Everyday, they would wake up, eat, exercise, which Saber did as well, George would fall asleep, Adam would read, Evelyn and Grace would argue, Sarah would help Aaron teach Saber.

After a week, Saber could read fluently, speak easily, and knew everyone’s names.

“Alright the boring part of your education is over!” announced Aaron

“What is the next part?” Asked Saber

“Physical!”

“What do you mean?”

“I am going to teach you how to run quietly, fight, climb, and other stuff!”

“Don’t hurt him.” Said Sarah

“Stop worrying! I won’t kill him!” Exclaimed Aaron

“What?”

“Shhh, don’t worry Saber. Come on, we got stuff to do!” Said Aaron as he pushed Saber out of the shack.

Saber and Aaron got a drink from the well before starting.

“Climb up that building.” Said Aaron.

Saber looked to where Aaron was pointing and saw a three story building.

“Aren’t you going to teach me first?”

“No.”

“...Uhhhh.”

“Get going.”

Saber walked up to the building and reached up as far as he could. Saber put his foot on a ledge and pushed himself up. It was very slow, but Saber was determined. After half an hour, Saber rolled onto the roof and just laid there, exhausted.

“What took you so long?” Asked Aaron.

Saber sat straight up and looked around. Aaron was laying on the roof, with his eyes closed.

“Are you sleeping?”

“No, I was trying.”

“When did you get up?”

“When you were about ten feet up. Don’t worry, I have been doing this for as long as I can remember. Tonight I will teach you how to move quietly, but right now just sleep.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice!”

Saber rolled away from the edge of the building and bumped into Aaron

“Sorry.”

“Just sleep.” Saber laid his head on Aaron’s leg, and closed his eyes.

When Saber woke up it was still night. He just laid there until his eyes adjusted to the darkness. After he could see as well as he could, Saber sat up.

“Get up, Sabe. We got work to do.”

Aaron was already up and stretching. Saber got up and started to stretching as well. When they were ready, they climbed down. Aaron spent an hour teaching Saber how to move quickly, but silently. After Aaron was satisfied, he had an idea.

“Sabe, I want you to try to find me.”

“You’re right there.”

“Oh shut up! I meant, you close your eyes, count to ten, then try to find me. There is a twist though.”

“Of course!”

“If I find you first, I win.”

“Game on!” Saber closed his eyes and counted to ten and opened his eyes.

Aaron was nowhere to be found. Saber quickly hid behind a building, and listened. He could hear two sets of footsteps. One was higher up, while the other was on ground level, slow, and heavy.

“Probably a Caco.” thought Saber as he started to climb the building he was hiding behind.

It took him only five minutes to climb this building. When he got up the building, he laid down and looked around. The moonlight gave him enough light to see clearly for about a quarter mile. He continued to search, and listen.

“Did you fall asleep?” Asked Aaron,

“No! I was listening!” Replied Saber as he stood up.

“I won the first round. Best two out of three. This time I’ll count.”

The instant Aaron closed his eyes, Saber bolted off. He jumped from building to building, making sure to stay near his new home. Saber laid behind a box and tried to slow his breathing. When his breathing had slowed down to regular speed, Saber looked around and after seeing nothing, started to climb down. Saber slowly made his way down the building. When his foot reached the ground, he felt something sharp touch his neck. Saber instinctively raised his hands and slowly lowered his other foot.

“Turn around!” Ordered a strange voice.

Saber obeyed, when he turned around, he saw a Guard. The Guard was clad in their usual Deep Green and Red armor. Their armor was made of Leather and Steel. It covered them from head to toe, only leaving their eyes and neck exposed.

The Guard was pointing his Rifle at Saber, the bayonet only inches from his face. While the Rifle was only good for one shot before having to reload, and was only good for around two hundred yards, there were no open spaces that large in the city, a bullet only inches away would still kill him.

“What are you doing out past curfew?” Asked the Guard

“Uh...I was trying to find food. I’m really hungry.”

“Punishment for being out past curfew is death!”

“I’m sorry, it won’t happen again!”

“You’re right, it won’t.” The Guard cocked the gun and moved his finger to the trigger.

Before he got the chance to fire, Aaron appeared behind him and slit his throat, which he had to jump to reach. Aaron caught the body while Saber caught the Rifle.

“What did you slit him with?”

“That’s your first question?” “He was about to shoot me... in the face!”

“Remember the Bayonet I took when I found you?”

“Yeah, but the thing has no handle!”

“Good observation skills. Now go get a bucket of water.” Saber did as he was told.

He filled the bucket and carried it back, it was a slow process because the bucket was heavy for him. Aaron dragged the corpse out of the way and dumped water on the spilled blood. The water cleaned the spot and carried the blood into the gutters that led to cleaning factory.

Saber helped Aaron drag the corpse back to their home, returning the bucket on the way. When they opened the door, Sarah instantly stood up and everything went quiet, except for George who continued to snore.

Adam closed the door after them. Grace took Saber’s spot. Sarah opened a hatch in the floor. Aaron dropped the body and started to take off the armor. Aaron passed the armor, weapons, and other equipment to Saber, while he and Sarah dropped the body through the hatch. Saber was able to see through the hatch and saw that it led to the outside of the city. The body fell down hundreds of feet before disappearing through the tree cover. Adam closed and locked the hatch and they all sat down at the table.

“What the hell happened?” Asked Sarah.

Saber put down the stuff and joined them.

“I was teaching Saber. He was trying to find me, but a Guard saw him climb down from a building. He was about to pull the trigger so I killed him.” Answered Aaron

Sarah held out her hand and said

“Hands.” Aaron put his hand in hers. His hand was cut and bleeding severely.

“You did it with the Bayonet.”

“No time to grasp it correctly.”

“Adam get the bandages.” Commanded Grace. Adam got the bandages and gave them to Evelyn, who waited until Grace got back with water to clean the cut.

“Wait.” Said Aaron.

Grace stopped, “Why?”

“Saber, wake George. Adam, hold my mouth closed.” Saber ran over and shook George, who woke up instantly.

George looked around and saw Aaron. He sighed and stood up. George walked over and grasped Aaron, using his limbs to hold his. When Aaron couldn’t move, he nodded.

Grace poured the water, and Aaron screamed and convulsed. The screams were muffled by Adam’s hands, and George held Aaron down. George was twice the size of Aaron and twice as heavy and strong, but he still had problems holding him down.

After the cut was clean, Evelyn quickly bandaged the hand. When Evelyn was done, she nodded to George who let Aaron go. Aaron motioned to Saber. Saber came over and leaned down.

“Get the armor.” Said Aaron. Saber ran over and brought it over.

“Not yet.” Said Sarah

“Oh, come on! I collect it for a reason.”

“Yes, but if you get your wound dirty, then we will have to clean it again.” Aaron thought for a moment then said to Saber, “Nevermind, instead bring just the belt and that box in the corner.”

Saber put the armor back and undid the belt.

As he approached the box, Aaron said, “It’s heavier than it looks.”

Saber placed the belt over his shoulder and gripped the box with both hands. It was much heavier than he thought. Saber struggled to get over to Aaron. Not knowing what was in it, Saber carefully placed the box right in front of Aaron.

“Open it.” Saber did as he was told and saw Bayonets.

“Saber, grab one of the Bayonets, a handle, and one of the metal sticks. Come to think of it, I still don’t know what those sticks are called.” Saber did as he was told.

“Put the Bayonet on the handle and line up the holes.” Saber did

“Now put the stick in through both of the holes.” Commanded Aaron.

“Now what?” Asked Saber.

“Now slam it against something hard, we want to flatten the metal stick that didn't fit through. It will then prevent the stick from coming loose, therefore keeping the Bayonet on.”

After Saber had flattened it, Aaron said, “Keep doing it with the rest of them.”

Saber grabbed the next set and got to work.

After a few minutes of silence, Aaron asked, “How you holding up?”

“I think I’m getting the hang of it!”

“I meant, how are you? How are you feeling after we killed that Guard?”

“Nothing. Why?”

“It is bad to keep your feelings in.”

“Really? Huh, learn something new everyday!”

“Saber?”

“Aaron, I don't have any feelings about that Guard. Do you know why I was abandoned?”

“No.”

“It is because I don't care about life.” Saber let that sink in, “I don't know why I think this, but for as long as I can remember, I haven’t cared about whether anyone dies or not. If they threaten my friends, I won’t hesitate to kill them. If the harm my friends, I will find a way to make them regret it, a thousand times over.”

“Life is empty. Life is weak. Life is worthless.”

“Life isn’t like that!”

“You didn’t let me finish. Life is empty, but it is full. Life is weak, but it’s the strongest thing. Life is worthless, but has worth. I didn’t know that life was full, until I met you guys. I didn’t know that life was strong until I saw what you could do. I’m still trying to find out how life has worth.”

“It doesn’t.”

“What?”

“Life as a whole is worthless, but for everyone, there is one part that is worth living. Some people never find it, while others do. When you find it, you will risk everything to protect it.”

“I know you, where did you steal that from?”

Aaron laughed, catching everyone’s attention, “A book.”

“You have a book?” Asked Saber.

“Not anymore, I sold it.”

Everyone returned to what they were doing, except for George, who never woke up.

“Never knew you were a romantic.”

“I’m not. I stole it, got bored, read it, then sold it. There is only one book I have that I didn’t sell after reading it.”

“What is it?”

“My own.”

“You wrote your own book?”

“Kind of, I just wrote down thoughts.”

“So it is a diary?”

Aaron lightly push Saber, “No, stupid!”

Aaron turned sober, “I hate this life. I write what I want life to be like. I’m a kid so I dream about fighting in a war, so I write down techniques, Strategies, and my dreams about fighting. After a while, I realized that I lived in a war zone. After that, I took some of my techniques, and put them to use. That is how I became Co Leader of the Souin.”

“The strongest Gang?”

“Yep!”

“What was it like?” Asked Saber

“Promise that if I tell you; you won't ask about the Souin or my life with them again, agreed?”

Saber nodded.

“Hell.”

“What?”

“My life was Hell.” The look on Aaron’s face told Saber, that the conversation was over.

Saber worked on making the daggers until there were only ten Bayonets left.

“Leave the rest. Go to sleep.” Said Aaron.

Saber was too tired to say or do anything else. He crawled over to George and fell asleep on his arm.

“He reminds me a lot of you.” Said Sarah when everyone was sleeping.

Aaron watched Saber sleep and said, “Don't insult him. He is so much better than me.”

“He is just a child, of course he will be more innocent!”

“You forget, we are all children. I am only seven years older than he is,”

Aaron looked at Sarah, “I was four when I killed my first! Don't tell me he is more innocent than me because he is young. He has a better chance to survive, than me, and I will make sure he does.”

Sarah walked up to Aaron, “Aaron, always the mature one.”

“Sarah I had to grow up fast. If I didn’t, I would be dead.”

Sarah hugged him, “Then is it good that you grew up, otherwise, I wouldn’t have met you.”

“Come on, we should sleep before the job.” Sarah went to sleep, but Aaron left with a package.

Saber woke with George’s large hand covering his mouth, but his hand was so big it covered his face. George put his finger over his mouth. Saber nodded. George removed his hand and Saber got up. Everyone was awake and getting ready.

Saber walked up to Aaron and whispered, “What is going on?”

“We are going on a food raid. Grab four of the daggers you made.” Saber did so and returned.

Aaron lifted up a harness. “Take off your shirt.”

“Why?”

“This will hold the daggers while hiding them and keeping them silent.”

Saber put the harness on and put the daggers in the slots that were there. Two of the daggers were upright, while the other two were upside down right beside them. It was meant to take up the least amount of space. The daggers were on Saber’s sides and could be quickly released.

Saber saw that Aaron put another harness on. His harness had an additional four daggers on his back. The daggers on his back were slanted down, but not completely. If they were released, they would quickly slide out.

Aaron opened a box and pulled out a bag, with something in it. He pulled the item out. It was a sword. It was more of a long dagger, but it had an actual blade, instead of the Bayonet. He slid the sword into another sheath on his back. When he put on his shirt, you couldn’t see the harness, daggers, or sword.

“Let’s go.”

It all went just like last time. Saber was just there to watch and learn. George come with them this time to carry more food.

Evelyn picked the lock, and Grace, and Adam opened the door.

Before Saber could see inside, Aaron dropped the bag he had, grabbed the dagger from george, and rushed in.

Saber saw inside, just as two Guards fell to the floor, their throats cut. “George, Adam, grab their Rifles! Everyone else, get in!”

Everyone did as Aaron commanded.

“Saber, close that side that door!”

Aaron ran to close the other. Just before the doors closed, Saber saw a large number of Guards run around the corner.

“What happened?” Asked Grace

“We were led into a trap!” Exclaimed Adam.

“Adam! Shut up and move some of these boxes!” Everyone started to move the boxes of food to create a wall in front of the door. Within ten minutes, the wall of boxes reached the ceiling, three boxes thick.

“Alright, take the boxes we used as stairs and form a hill in the back.” That took fifteen minutes.

“What is taking them so long?” Asked Evelyn

“They are getting the key. The person with it, would be asleep and in the wealthy section of the city. That part of the city is on the other side, but they should be here soon.” Said Adam.

“Found it!” Shouted Sarah.

Everyone rushed over.

“What?”

“The exit!”

“What?”

“This latch leads outside. If we open this we can escape, it will have a rope ladder!”

“Going out there is suicide!” Exclaimed Adam

“Yeah, but if we are captured by the Guards, we will be tortured. Pick one. Possible death,” pointing to the latch, “Or a painful death.” pointing to the door.

“Fine! Eve work on the lock! Everyone else get to the hill! We set the wall to fall when the door opens, but the survivors will come.” Sure enough, the door opened and the wall fell.

Dozens were instantly crushed. Dozens more were injured, but more just rushed past.

Grace shot, and one fell, a hole in between the eyes.

Adam shot as well, but the shot hit the wrong target. They both started to reload.

George lifted a box and tossed it. It crushed one, burst open, and injured or killed all those nearby.

Within seconds, the fifty by twenty five meter room was covered with the dead, injured, and food.

A group of Ten Guards lined up. Five kneeling, five standing right behind them.

“George get that group!” Shouted Aaron.

George lifted another box had threw it. The box was large enough and they were close enough that it instantly crushed four and killed the rest.

Soon, The Guards moved the boxes to form a line of defence.

The battle soon reached a stalemate. If a Guard tried to rush or fire, they were taken out.

Aaron and the rest of the children were in a bunker made of boxes. There were two slits, for the rifles. “What do we do?” Asked George “We wait until Eve is done. Then we leave the city, permanently. I plan to leave the city a gift.” Explained Aaron

“A gift?” Asked Saber

“Yeah, take as many of them with us as we can.”

“Why bother?”

“I may not care what happens, but it would be better if the city was under better management. If we weaken the Guard Force, the Gangs will notice, and take advantage. I personally know that the Souin will make a run at the King.”

“You want us to assist in a takeover?”

“No… after this, we will be dead. Everyone that knows us here, will think we are dead. We won't be here when the Takeover happens.”

“We are going to die?” Asked Sarah

“Only in name,” Aaron paused for Grace to shoot, “When we leave the city we will be considered dead by everyone, but we will survive!”

“What is the hold up?” Shouted the Commander.

“Sir! The thieves have barricaded themselves in!”

“I don’t care! Anyone that defies the King will be punished! Everyone follow me!”

He then charged, holding his Rifle in front of him. The Commander rushed into the room, jumped over the line of boxes and charged at the hill. Everyone, but the man who reported to the commander, and five others, stayed. The rest charged.

The charging force was one hundred and twelve strong. Grace and Adam shot. Three went down, Grace’s shot pierced through the neck and into another's chest.

George threw box after box. Aaron also threw boxes, but not even close to the speed of George.

Saber rolled the boxes down, not killing, but certainly injuring a lot. Sarah grabbed a box and pulled it back to where Evelyn was.

Only half of the charging Guards made it the hill. It was a small hill so they quickly made it to Aaron and the others. While they did make it to their goal, they lost so many of their original charging force doing so.

Aaron pulled free his sword and a dagger. He instantly broke into a fury of blades. Anything that got close, was cut to shreds.

George took two rifles, broke off the Bayonets, and used them as clubs.

Saber used the fallen rifles and threw them like javelins, they didn't go very far, or pierce their armor, but it threw them back down the hill. Adam used the rifle as a spear, killing with sharp, precise thrusts.

Grace kept a distance, shooting any that tried to get past.

“It’s open!” Came a shout.

That one shout, among an army of shouts, stopped everyone in their tracks. Their enemy rushed to retreat.

“What is going on?” Thought the private that reported to the commander, while he lived.

The remaining Guards, hesitated. One guard tried to chase, but was instantly shot before he finished the first step. The rest hesitated to even think about chasing until they saw the shooter, stand and retreat as well. They chased.

“Quickly! Drop the boxes down, and get down!” Ordered Sarah. She had dragged four boxes to the latch. George quickly dropped all of them in quick succession. Luckily, the drop was only a meter or two past the rope ladder’s length. The city moved slow enough that they wouldn’t have to find each other or the boxes. After the boxes, Eve was the first down, then Adam, Sarah, George, and Saber. Grace rushed down the hill and literally jumped down the latch.

“Moron! I hope George catches her.” Thought Aaron.

Then he saw why she had jumped, the remaining Guards had rushed after her. A few stopped and shot, but the range, and their skill, was too great apart.

“Hey! Assholes! Remember my name! Aaron Silver! You can thank me for all of your comrade’s deaths!” He then jumped down after his friends.

“Your telling me, the enemies that killed so many of us were children?” Shouted the Private.

The man only nodded. The death count had easily surpassed one hundred, and there were still some that were critically injured. Seven children had single handedly destroyed over half of the Guard Force. Not one of the children had to have been a teenager. Everyone that wasn’t injured was helping those that were. Those that were dead, would be left for later. Those that couldn’t be moved, would die before help arrived. Just before the remaining Guards, limped out of the former food vault, now a Battlefield, a single man walked up to the closest Guard.

“What happened?” The man asked.

“A Rebellion, now move aside citizen.” The Guard grunted, then fell over, dead, with an arrow in his chest.

“Who was it?” He asked calmly.

“We don't know!” Said another Guard, again, he fell over with an arrow in his chest.

“It was a group of children.” The Private said.

“Shut up, or I will have you court martialed!” Exclaimed his superior.

This time, his head whipped back, an arrow in his head. He went limp in the man’s arms, the one who was supporting him.

“Do you know a name?” Asked the man, who hadn’t yet flinched as arrows, from supposedly nowhere, zipped past his head.

“Yes. One of them, a boy, called himself Aaron.”

“Is he dead?”

“I don’t know. He and his comrades left the city using a secret latch inside.”

“What is your name?”

“Daren.”

“Well Daren, why did you join the Guard Force?”

“Don't know how this matters, but I joined to bring food for my little sister. I don't have any loyalty towards them, if they can take care of me and my sister, I don't care.”

“What if you believed in a man’s cause?”

“I would fight for him, but my sister will always be first.”

“Good. I wouldn’t have it any other way. How would you like to join me?”

“What is your goal?”

“To take over the city.” A couple Guards laughed, those that did, found arrows.

“Will you kill me if I refuse?”

“Yes.”

“For my sister, I must live, I will join you, but if my sister is in danger, I will protect her regardless of what you say.”

“If you didn’t, I wouldn’t have the right to think about taking over the city. Those that wish to follow me, step forward! Those that don’t, I won't kill you, I will let you go.”

Six of the remaining twenty nine, stepped forward.

“Follow me.” Said the man as he turned to walk away.

The seven that agreed, followed, but not without hearing the cries of the remaining.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t kill them.”

“I didn’t kill them, my friends did. I promise that if you follow me faithfully, you and your loved ones will be protected.”

“How can we trust you?” voiced one of the former Guards.

“I always keep my word.”

“Who are you?” Asked Daren

“My name is Frederick.”