Struggles of Poverty

Planet Zonia

Marcus was atop a mountain a white fog enshrouded him. Snow was the only presence surrounding him, He sat down with closed eyes and began breathing deeply in a rythmic manner,snow slowly began melting around him, while him instead began sweating. He slowly inched his way closer to exhaustion. His eyes shot open, a white string materialized in front of him out of thin air, jiggled around a center point in the air, subject to the strong gusts of wind, then disappeared. Replaced by a small invisible circle of distorted air which pulsed along the rythm of his breath then disappeared like dust scattering to the wind.

His smile stretched from ear to ear as he began exclaiming "Yes! yes! Woo-hoo".

He thought-From the looks of it i can already manipulate my string, I can't imagine how strong i'll get once i get my vibranium space injection!!.-

What Marcus didn't realize was that his string actually already manifested the most basic of abilities the ability to manipulate matter through mind control.

He trudged his way down the mountain back to a small village at the feet of the mountain.

He stopped at a pill store where he nurished and hydrated his body with the cheapest of products then proceeded to walk out of the store towards the hyperloop station.

The owner of the store who saw the cashier serving him "I bet you almost pooped your pants standing in front of the mountain tiger from the south huh?" he joked.

The cashier could only give an imbarassed nod, out of curiosity he asked the manager "Why do they call him, the Mountain Tiger from The South?"

The Manager answered "Cause he comes from a Cyber City in the southern boonies where the vibranium mines are located. He goes through Half the planet just to go to school and train himself that's some dedication if you ask me!"

In the meanwhile Marcus was riding the hyperloop train, all he could see was sand. Nothing else but sand, scorcing starlight and endless dunes. Once he arrived at his city's station, which was full of graffiti's that gave a vandalized and unkept look to the station,without mentioning those sketchy dudes walking around with vibranium handguns in their hands, or in clear view for others to see.

While walking down the street towards his home, he could spot countless gangsters chasing each other in cars, motorcycles even riding sideways on the walls of buildings. Vibranium guns shots could be heard like a symphony, stray bullets that scarred walls and killed random people walking down the streets-Welcome to Cybercity- Marcus thought while walking.

Swoosh

He instintually dodged sideways. BANG a vibranium bullet hit the ground where he just stood earlier. He stared at the hole as big as melon. Marcus exclaimed "Tsk, close one".

A man besides him clearly pissed pulled out his gun from between his trousers and his back and shot the perpetrator, then "Hoho, bingo" he exclaimed with a whistle, clearly satisfied with his handiwork, the man shot thumped on the floor with a hole in his forehead.

Marcus glanced at him and the body then lowered his gaze and kept walking as if nothing happened. In Cybercity this was the norm form of living conditions.

A gangster leaning on the wall of a building with a handgun held in his hands saw him, "Yo mi friend Marcus, yo back home? I saw yo old man walk home earlier." he said. Marcus nodded deeply respectfully. "Ah, yo don't worry it's cool you know as long as you keep within the rules." then followed with a wink in a friendly manner.

He arrived in front a gate which was surrounded by men wearing black suites and silver christian cross lapel pins on their upper chests..He entered the gate.Then walked to his home a house complex with many floors, of which he walked upstairs until he reached the top floor, placed his finger on a rectangle on the door in front of him which then it opened from the middle.

He saw some blood stained boots near the door, the discovery made him excited. Just as he took off his shoes then walked in the small double room appartment. He could smell something fragrant and sweet. He smelled something similar to it once, he would never forget it, food!. He saw a man squatted stirring some boiling water on a deep pan heated by a portable gas stove. The liquid itself had a golden color. The man was Marcus' father his name's Joe.

Marcus as he saw the golden liquid was left in awe with his jaw stretching to the width of the pan itself. His mind jumbled he stuttered "I...i..is that food?!?!"

His father grinned answering "Not food, but a drink. I really hit it big this time, hehe."

Marcus still mind boggled by the treasure in front of him his eyes began shining,"Can i have some?" in a double take while staring at the golden fluid. Without a second of delay Joe said"Come here son" while pointing besides himself.

Father and son drank the the liquid while discussing the origin of it "But wait where did you get it? Are we in trouble?!"Marcus probed, "Relax, kiddo I was mining along with an old fellow, the mine half collapsed crushing his leg he gave me this as a parting gift while bleeding out..." Joe sighed "He said it's called tea, alright let's try it."

The father slowly poured two glasses filling them to the rim "Enjoy!" he exclaimed.

They began sipping the liquid just like cats licking water, after a good while...When they finished their glasses, Marcus fell asleep "Dad, thank you. thank you... ". The father put a blanket over him.

-I wish I could provide more for you son...but my brain's rotten, the only good job I could get was being a miner for the Cristiano family..- Joe thought while smoking a cigarette on the balcony.

Puff