I'm floating. No, wait... I'm flying through the air, through the clouds, through...

Damn, these are some hard clouds... Why are they so unbearably cold... I feel sick...

A man was crawled up in the fetus position on the bottom of a garbage container. Around him were plastic bags of all colors. Some unidentifiable liquid was dripping out of one of those on the man's head. 

Oh great! Now the cloud has started crying. Stupid rain cloud. I mean today was my lucky day. 

Wait... which day do we have? Since when have I been flying? I feel sick

Out of the man erupted stomach acid. His body was fully cramped. His eyes shot open and he gasped for air. A shallow breath filled his lungs; it was way too shallow to bring his conscious back. A second shallow one followed. In agony, he turned his head in such a way that the liquid dropped into his mouth. The foul taste made the man vomit a second time. Everything he felt at this moment was a sharp pain in every fiber of his being. Gasping for oxygen his eyes searched the interior of the container as suddenly its lid opened. 

"Pete! Look here, I think a gutter rat is dying in here! Come fast and bring the cam!"

The cold entered the container first and was then followed by an intense light. 

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

"Hello my dear followers, this a new live episode of Scum leaving the City! My name is Francis and I'm right now next to the docks. To be precisely I'm standing over a trash container and as you can see, we're joined tonight by this young fellow."

"Plea... Plea.. Please just... leave me... al... alone..." 

Tears were dripping from the man's face. He knew he wouldn't make it. A thousand decisions -one worse than the other- had led to this. All he wanted was to escape this very existence. Fright shook his weak and malnourished body. Sweat formed over his whole body. 

"So the majority vote came juuuuust in and this will be a real feast. Hold your seats and enjoy the hot show."

The smell of gasoline filled the air as the man's clothes soaked up the liquid. 

"Pete, hold the camera on his face, it's priceless. I think this could be the perfect portrayal of despair. It's quite exquisite!"

The man tried to escape with sheer will force. But there was nothing he could muster in himself. Thoughts were screaming and racing through his head, but his body would not move. His eyes were fixating on the shadows over him. And by the grin of the guy with the burning match, he knew that no mercy could be found here. And just at this moment, the match was leaving his hand. Slowly it traveled through the air. He closed his eyes. He saw her face as her soul left her weak body. "Things can't be changed.", she had said. This was too much. His being was transformed into a silent scream.

...

Am I dead? I feel like I'm standing... The floor feels soft.

"Hector, it is such a pleasure to meet you!", said a man with no eyes, dressed in a purple suit.

Hector opened his eyes as he felt a touch on his shoulder. He was standing in the middle of a casino. It was a casino where everything had a luxurious touch and the main theme was crimson red. 

"Welcome to my casino, welcome to Pain's casino! We will have so much fun", said Pain while licking over his sharp teeth.

"And be reassured the scum has not left the city yet."