Rough story intro

I woke up with Greed resting her head on my neck. She gently nudged me and whispered in my ear.

"What do you want most in the world?"

I didn't know how to answer.

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Walking up the cement stairs out of my apartment and feeling the moisture on my skin is always a welcome "Hello". Rain rarely hits the ground in this place. With how hot this city can be I decided for a place almost underground. I should be asking myself how the I woke up from what I can only assume was a dream, or at least something I created. The details are fading every second. All I can clearly remember is her face, smooth skin and comforting green eyes. I strain to remember the house and the people. The conversations I had are all mixed it up. It went all wrong though. Quickly.

I was headed to Mandolins for a coffee, which is something I usually do when I am thinking. Mandolins is a very calming place. A small coffee shop on the corner of my street. I sat down in one of the few chairs. They always have dangerously cute girls working here, who I always feebly attempt to flirt with, usually resulting in disappointment. I walked to the counter as a young girl I knew came out of the back room with some large boxes in her arms. Her face was hidden but I recognized the smell of her perfume. She is small, thin, with shoulder length black hair and her bangs are cut short around her eyes.

“Hey Jess” I said as I reached across the counter and grabbed a cup from beneath the cashier.

 “I get paid to serve you coffee you know, Ethan.” She replied, gently placing the boxes in front of the coffee makers.

“But I like this cup.”

I filled up my cup with coffee and sat down on one of the stools and looked back up at as she started to unload bags of coffee from the boxes up onto to the shelves above the machines. I have known Jess for years. She had been working at Mandolins for a year when I moved into the city. We never spend any time together outside, so I’ve only really seen her wear her green apron and blue jeans. I was very interested in her when we met, but after awhile we just kind of just became outlets for each other when we wanted to talk about something. She was the exception to the rest of the girls that hung around here.

“Any luck finding work?” She asked.

She hit some buttons on the till, opened it and then closed it again without depositing anything. I never pay for my coffee here.

“You know I don’t need to work.” I smiled at her and put some more sugar in my coffee. "My parents have left me more than I could ever need." 

“Don't you live in a small apartment on Lexin?" She teased, pulling up a stool to join me at the counter.

"Yes, but I've been trying to get away form the luxuries that I grew up with." I shot back.

"Well it would be good for you. All you do is roam the city. At least find a hobby or something.” She said with a slight smile.

“Roaming is my hobby. A lot of interesting things happen around here.” I replied, grabbing a copy of the The Estis Daily News.

"Well we are the largest capital in the country" She noted.

I took a look at the front page. In the main column was a picture of a small pile of blue pills. They were the size of a dime and etched in to the middle of each one was a symbol.

“Here we go.” I said, folding out the paper on the counter. Jess went back behind the counter to fill up the coffee machines as I began to read the small caption below the picture.

“Estis City Police have been investigating what appears to be a new pill that is being created in the underground. We have not been able to get any more information from the department but will be making  investigations into the new drug and will report any news as it surfaces."

Note - More needs be added here

I am supposed to be finding some sort of employment, although it is hardly necessary. I have enough money in my account to afford me, along with a few others, a long lifetime of care free living. I always find it unfair that I should be given so much opportunity. All based on chance. Typical story. Born to rich parents. They were killed in an unsolved homicide. When I say unsolved, in no way do I mean that their was ever much of an investigation. I still haven't found out what they did or why they seemed to be victims of such loathing by, well, everyone around them. Despite all that, the result was me growing up with a very indulgent lifestyle. Never really longing for anything, as almost anything I could think of was easily attainable. I can safely say I've experienced more of what is out there than mostly anyone my age. Which is 18, by the way. It isn't too hard to find time for travel when your name is pretty much paying for your honor roll.

I was walking home from downtown late last night, when I heard raised voices from a group of men one street over. I decided to take a detour in their direction. People fascinate me, and I usually take any opportunity I can to understand how we think the way we do. Just as I was approaching the dim street corner they were standing at, I heard a sobbing voice quietly trying to raise her voice back at the men. She sounded scared.

“Hello gentlemen. Having a good evening?” I said calmly to the back of the first man.

There were three of them. It sounded like a large group of them from where I was standing earlier.

“Things are starting to look up” One of them replied.

I could tell he was already grinning before he slowly turned his head around, locking eyes with me. The man on the right had a knife in his hand, but I wasn’t sure at the time. I got cautious. Just as I was about to ask them what they had intended to get from conversing with the girl, the man swung at me. I broke his arm in 3 places and grabbed the knife as the others lunged at me. I stabbed them both. One in the femur and the other in the stomach. Just enough so they couldn’t walk.

“What are you doing out here by yourself?” I asked the girl. 

I said it calmly. I didn’t wait for an answer and tossed the knife to the ground by her feet. I started back towards the street I was on. Still about 10 blocks from home. It was getting late. That's when I heard sirens. I sighed.

Now here I am.

I’m waiting for the officers to fill out paperwork and come get a statement from me. As far as they know I had assaulted the men without cause. The girl somehow managed to avoid running into the police. I don't blame her for avoiding them. She knows very well those men that were harassing her are not the only evils in the world. I know this too. After about 45 minutes I hear them finally coming back. I have been smoking cigarettes this whole time. Not that I am anxious, but these plain interrogation rooms bore me, and they took my damn phone. The cops must have brought up the other mens records. They all got handcuffed and brought to the cells, no doubt with some court orders being written up.

“Your free to leave” The officer said after opening the door. He didn't even step inside.

“Excuse me?”

“Have a good evening, sir” He said and closed the door.

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Her breath was cold on my neck. I was shivering as she placed her frozen fingers on the back of my spine, cutting deep into my skin with her nails. Everything was cold except the steady stream of blood between our chests, running down my waist and collecting on the floor. I always knew it would end this way. I fought so hard to avoid it but always knew it would come to this, just as it had all began. A beautiful girl, confused and betrayed. I know she didn't deserve this. Neither one if them did. They were self-less and caring. Thoughtful and intelligent.

I watched the focus fade from her eyes and saw her tears freezing to her cheek.

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I open my eyes and things begin to focus. I see her. She doesn't belong here and I tell her so. She walks around me without shifting her eyes from mine. Through the green I can see vengeance. She puts her hands on shoulders and leans her head to my ear.

"How can you be so sure?" She whispers.

I reply.

"By the softness of your voice. By the feeling of your rough hands. By the small scar on your neck."

I breathe in.

"And your eyes."

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