Gideon worked his way to the backside of the docks. He climbed over the railing and made his way to the beach. The heat stones that littered the shore were perfect for cooking his fish. He sat down and pulled out his skinning knife from his boot. “This is definitely getting a little ripe,” he said. Should I risk eating this? It’s still good isn’t it? His stomach growled again. Can’t be helped, I need to eat. He knew of other scamps that ate bad food, food from the rubbish heaps. These scamps would get violently sick and he never wanted that for himself. Gideon cleaned the fish quickly and filleted it. He rinsed the fillets and his knife in the salty water. He placed the fillets on one of the flat heat stones and was greeted with the sound of searing meat. The pungent smell had dissipated, and his nostrils were filled with the wonderful fragrance of breakfast. He cut off a couple small pieces to cook them faster. Unable to wait, he plopped a small piece into his watering mouth. “So good,” he moaned quietly. He was so focused on his breakfast he didn’t hear the old man sneak up on him.
An old man stood before him, his crazed eyes were sunk deep in the sockets of his face. It’s old man Hizel. He’s probably hungry. “Do you want some?” Gideon said. He gestured toward the cooking fish. “I have plenty to share.” Hizel was a former priest for one god or another. He’d lost his mind many years ago. Some say it was in his sleep to a dream, it had leeched his sanity away. Gideon normally avoided him when he could, but he didn’t dislike the old man, he just found interacting with him awkward. He held out a few chunks of fish to the old man.
Hizel began to chant loudly. “Dream the dream of life, dream of your strife. Dream the dream of death, merge and take your breath. Dream the dream eternal!” Hizel gestured to the water and area around him. “He is coming. The stars have told me, I see the map. It will be in our lifetime. His dream will wash over us all, washing away the burden of our minds. The deep ones will be the heralds of his call,” the old man said with a mad vigor.
“Going to be one of those days is it,” Gideon muttered as the old man walked away. Hizel took a few chunks of fish with him. Gideon watched as the old man went into the water and laid the fish on a stone altar that was barely above the tide. He spoke softly. From this distance Gideon could no longer hear him. He watched, lost in his thoughts. Hopefully he eats that, I’d hate to waste perfectly good fish.
A noise from behind caught Gideon’s attention. “What do we have here? A little runaway scamp,” the voiced said. Gideon turned to see Blake and his cronies Razor and Grifter. Great, the nobleman’s son. Why does he like to come to the the favela to bully and lord over the scamps. There went my good day. Can’t be helped I suppose. Blake lead the group toward Gideon. He was dressed in a fine black coat and trousers. His loose black hair completed the picture of a raven turn flesh. A dark glint in his eye spoke of malice and ill intent. Razor walked a step behind him, her hair cropped short and bleached platinum. It framed her stern angular face well. Grifter brought up the rear, his features so plain you could never place where you’d seen him before. Grifter walked with a relaxed confidence. Gideon didn’t like him, his anxiety spiked when the young man was around. “This is our beach little scamp. I thought we told you not to come here? Didn’t we tell him?” Blake asked, looking to his friends.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“We sure did Blake,” Grifter said with a chuckle. Razor grunted her acknowledgment.
“I thought so,” Blake said. The three started to spread out and circle Gideon. “Look guys, I think he is cooking us a little snack.” Blake looked disgusted as he eyed the food. “We’re not bottom feeders like you scamps. I wouldn’t eat that if I were starving. We don’t eat garbage. Do you really survive on this disgusting filth.”
“I’ll eat it,” Grifter said suddenly from Gideons side. Grifter had slid into his blind spot in the blink of an eye. Damn, I got distracted by Blake and let my guard down. So stupid. Grifter snatched a fillet off the stone and took a bite. “You know what Blake, you were right, this is garbage and tastes like dung.” he spit out the fish and tossed the fillet down the beach. “How can you eat that?”
Gideon was indecisive, frozen until that moment. The image of his food landing in the dirt brought a focus back into his eyes. He grabbed a handful of sand and tossed it into Blake’s face. The rage flowed through him and came out in a scream. “Why can’t you just leave me be? I’m not bothering anyone.” He spun toward Grifter, but the boy had vacated the space. He was blindsided as Razor’s fist connected with his jaw from the opposite side; his vision swam. The world blurred as he was struck repeatedly. All Gideon could hear was the ringing in his ears and the maniacal laughter of Grifter as he cheered her on.
“Hold him up,” Blake directed. Gideon was lifted off the ground. He felt fingers placed under his chin. They guided his head up to look into the eyes of Blake. “You scamps never learn. This is my city!” he shouted into Gideon’s face. Gideon spit out the blood that was welling in his mouth, dousing Blake with blood and saliva. “You dare! You’ll pay for that. Let him go.” The two released Gideon and he fell to the ground. I feel so weak. I can’t focus. I need to clear my head. Get it together Gideon! He was unable to do anything but stare up at Blake, far too weak to resist. He stared into the dark raging storm building in Blake’s eyes. Gideon felt a heat building near him. Blake’s arm burst into flames. “You deserve this you filthy scamp. I’m going to brand you like the animal that you are.”
Blake, his hand engulfed in flame, struck out at Gideon with the intent to brand and maim him. On reflex, Gideon held up his arm to protect his face. The expected pain never came. Gideon looked up, not understanding. Glowing metal plates on his arm shielded him from the attack. The glowing plates were shaped like a shield, a shield that was made from energy that came from within him. Gideon stared at his arm in amazement. Everyone stared at his arm, shock on their faces. “Well well, the scamp is growing up,” Razor said, a look of wonder on her face.
Gideon saw words displayed before him. He felt a presence all around him. How had he never noticed it all before?
{{Congratulations! Alpha Ability: Armor of the Protector awakened.
Congratulations! Alpha Skill: Immovable Object unlocked. Alpha Skill Slots remaining: two.
Welcome to the System, Welcome to the void!}}