Drunken Man 3

Wren walked with the bottle in hand, supporting himself against the wall. He drank a little more, letting out a loud burp, annoying a passing man. He slumped against the wall, letting out a satisfied sigh, watching the sky turn dark. Night time was the time when the gangs decided to come out and play the most. They ignored him, some doing the usual kicking and spitting. At least they were not the Orca. Besides, they were headed for the same place he'd just left.

Speaking of bars, he'd heard of a bar that had just opened up in the market district of the Zero Ground. The Closed Den, it was closed. He didn't know who run it but he might as well pass by there to see what kind of beer they had.

Wren suddenly became alert. The aura he'd sensed was too pure to ignore. He stood up, dropping the bottle. He walked for a few meters, not in the pretentious drunk state, but in a straight manner, like a trained theif. He reached the spot where the light poles were.

This was Zero Ground. The only place where the goons couldn't spoil the lights, for fear of the force that may end their miserable lifes. A sudden contrast to the vile and harsh streets he had seen. Even at the border of it, he could feel aat peace, like he had stepped into an entirely different realm altogether.

It was also the perfect place for a girl to roll herself in a ball and sleep.

The girl was seven years old. By the growl from her stomach and fairness of her skin, she wasn't the time that was used to eating a loaf of bread once daily. She had cyan blue hair and she wore a white dress. Giving who she was, it was no surprise that the cold didn't bother her. Why would it?

He walked up to the girl, looking at her with the usual blunt eyes. A clean slate of his records, right before his eyes. No one will ever know of the things he'd done. A fresh start. He'll probably open up a thrift shop for a while, then maybe an ice cream shop, the finest. Ah! Freedom!

Just as he was about to pick up the girl, she woke up. The girl looked at him, confused. The guy, also confused, took a step back.

"Hi," Wren said, "What's your name?"

The girl moved back, scared of him.

"I won't hurt you, I promise. Um …cross my heart and hope to die."

The girl was still wary of him.

"What's your name?" he asked again, my name is… Travs Scott. What's yours."

"…Mei…Meimei." She replied.

"That's an interesting name. Do you want to go home?"

The girl nodded.

"Okay. I'll get you there in no time, okay?"

The girl shook her head. "I … have to find my friend."

Friend? Girl you were barely here for three days and you made a friend? He or she was probably using her. "Don't worry, we'll find your friend."

"We have to find him, fast. Some guys were hurting him."

A boy at that. If her dad found out she'd burn him alive for sure.

"We will find him, no I will find him. But I need to get you home…"

A stray snowball hit him in the face. Wren…or Travis, was surprised, too shocked to think. He turned in the direction of the projectile only for another to hit his face. A boy dashed at Meimei running away with her. He was younger, way younger than Meimei.

"Run, he's a bad person." He said, disappearing behind a building.

Wren wanted to follow them. He really did. But this was Zero Ground. Chase a kid, and you'll lose a lot more than just blood.

His chance at a fresh restart. A new life, a restart. All gone, in a blink of an eye. Wren stood up and yelled.

"Shut up, you shithead," a guy said, "You'll wake folks up."

Wren turned to him, "I was just…"

"Don't want to hear it, pedophile. Just get outta Zero Ground or I will call the big guns."

Wren watched him go and sighed sadly. He walked away, heading towards the Closed Den. He really needed that beer now.

Leo woke up in pain. He fell off the bed, trying to get back to his feet.

"I won't move if I were you." The female voice said, "You had a lot of kicks to the stomach so it's going to hurt."

Leo knew that voice all too well. And it was the voice of someone he knew. And probably the only person he trusted.

"Hey, old woman."

The woman seated on the chair beside him smiled. "It's Madam Alicia, Leo. Madam Alicia"