Chapter 1

I couldn't stop looking over my shoulder every few minutes. As I walked down the busy streets of Trilogy City, a shivering fear nested within my artificial body. I clutched on to the shopping bag in my right hand tighter and braced myself to dive into the rushing afternoon crowd. Leave it to me to go shopping in the busiest hour of the day. I could have done it earlier, but work had me busy for the better part of the morning. The grand market located on Level One of Trilogy city was in a never-ending rush hour. Then again it was the only place to shop for food and essentials. Especially since the market was shared with Level One and the Underground.

I waited for the crowd to clear before picking up my pace. I should really learn to manage my time a little better because I earned my fair share of bumps and elbows to the side. This is good though, the more people, the easier to escape if they ever find me. Because they always find me. I've been living in Trilogy City for almost two months now and there has been no sign of them, yet. I guess I've been lucky. I found a job at a seedy bar where only Underground residents go to. I keep asking myself why I ended up like this? I keep coming up with the same answer every time. I don't belong anywhere, but I prefer to be in a place so dark and dangerous than locked up in chains where she can do as she pleases when she gets in the mood. So what do I do? I wait tables and occasionally clean bathrooms. It sucked, but it was good enough to keep me fed, because who knew that a humanoid needed to eat? I thought my creators made me eat simply because they wanted an excuse to sit around a table like a "normal" family. 

Today marks the one year anniversary of the day I escaped. It was weeks after I escaped that I realized that, to survive, I functioned on the most basic of human needs. I became certain when I nearly died of starvation on the side of a bakery while scavenging for leftovers in the trash. It wasn't a pretty picture to paint. That's when the lady tossing out old pastries saw me. She was nice enough to shelter me and feed me for a day or two. I was clueless to so many things at first, but I've slowly learned. I've learned to hide, run, and look after myself. Especially in this city. I figured a place filled with so many vile creatures I'd be well camouflaged. 

This city reeked of magic, dark and light. Creatures don't really show their true faces and the humans never know who they are really telling their secrets to. If I wasn't safe here, then there is nowhere else to go.  Don't get me wrong. Obviously, the city was not the safest in itself. There was one thing even worse than the vilest creature you could ever encounter here; The Dusk Family. Only second to my creators.

Trilogy City is run by the Dusk Family, the same family that built this place from the ground up. I haven't lived here long, but the history of this place is made known to all newcomers rather quickly. They weren't a bunch you'd want to mess with. They were to be feared and if you had the good sense to stay away, then you'd live to see another day. Despite the ruthlessness of the family, many praised them. I, for one, never cared for them, but most girls and grown women alike drooled over the leader. Robin Dusk was a force not to be trifled with, yet I'm a little more than sure that half the female population has slept with him. Whenever the family roamed the streets to make their presence known, a poor girl was dragged away, tucked under Robin's arm. It's a shame really, how they are easily fooled by his charm. I could honestly say I couldn't stand Robin or the rest of his family for following him so willingly. But that was none of my concern. I want to live, and that meant I kept to myself no matter what. 

The closer I got to the Underground entrance the fewer people I saw. The roads became darker, damper, and it already made me miss the little daylight Level One allowed. This city is composed of multiple levels stacked one over the other, held somewhat separate by a power that keeps them hovering. The only way of traveling between levels is a spiral construction at the heart of each level. Each level is massive, easily mistaken for a city all on their own. The higher up, the brighter it is and the wealthier you are. It just so happens that I live at the lowest level, but not by choice. People think we are the scum of the city. We live in the unclean underbelly of this "well-structured" system. I say the Dusk Family is just too lazy to invest a small piece of their wealth on the lowlifes. Underground and Level One residents alike are not allowed in Level Two. It is restricted and off limits for its luxuries.

A constant vibration annoyed me and I stopped beneath a dim lamp post that bends to the right. It must have gone crooked over the years and like a hopeless soul it bowed its head. I set the bag down and fished out my phone from the back pocket of my jeans, compliments of my boss. When I answered, an angry voice came from the other side. 

"Nilex! Hurry the hell up! I got starving costumers over here!" That was Benny. My boss for all purposes except for paying me. The old man owed me half the money I've worked for. I let it slide, though sometimes I have to remind him I'm not working for free. The guy can't even remember to bring his keys every morning, which is why we often open late.  

"I'm close. Don't fuzz, Benny. You'll damage something." I worked on tying my apron around my waist as Benny went on and on about how I'm so ungrateful and disrespectful. He wouldn't fire me though, I'm his only waitress. Hell, I'm his only employee.  

"Just get your ass over here."  

"On it, boss." I tucked the phone away and continued down the street with the bag against my chest. It was a short distance to the cafe. When I reached Level One exit, it always reminded me of a tunnel. But, it was more like a staircase that went down to the Underground. I began walking down the stairs, squinting my eyes as they adjusted to the dark. Level One had a fancy elevator guarded 24/7 by huge ass goons. That elevator took you up to Level Two, Level Three, and lastly the Upper Level, where royalty lives. Or so I've heard from rumors. I took the last step down the stairs where they cut off suddenly. No one bothered to finish it and right above me was the platform of Level One. The sun hit us from the side, but it was a faint, weak light there during the day. 

I walked the streets in silence for a little over 5 minutes then took a turn on the next intersection. I found myself at the mouth of an alley positioned between to run down buildings. Benny's was easy to get to. Mainly because everyone knew where it was. It was the number one food joint around the parts, regrettably, it was also just about the only one too. So we were forever busy.

Drops of cold rain began to fall and as one made its way into my shirt I picked up my pace. Deeper into the alley a door came into view. An old sign that read "Benny's Cafe" was falling from the left side, threatening to fall on the next poor soul that so much as looked at it wrong. The music was loud and the thundering voices were even louder. I reached the door and kicked it with a booted foot. I waited for the door to open and when it did the smell of alcohol filled my nostrils. It was a familiar scent that I've come to love. I remember when it used to make me dizzy. I'd get home and puke my guts out until there was nothing left in my stomach.  

"About damn time." Benny grabbed the bag from my arms and disappeared into the cluster of drunken men and women. There were few tables in the small joint, which made it a lot easier for me. Most came in here for the music and the alcohol. Also, for the pool. A good game of pool always got the men worked up, so much that brawls formed every now and then. I took a quick sweep of the place and started passing out beers and taking orders. The pin wheel Benny had on the small ordering window was pilling up. I could hear him already cursing at the slow cooking grill. The lighting in the place was low and shadowy, so I had to watch out for hidden hands. Some of them were rather grabby, but I warned Benny I'd kick the ass of whoever's hand I catch on me.  

Orders were finally being served and the angry costumers were turning back to the happy drunks they were when they came in. That's another thing. Men and women already came in drunk from the previous night and they end up vomiting all over the floor. It was my job to take care of that too. Thankfully, I spent the better part of the night serving beer and burgers until one idiot got handsy. 

"Hey, Sweetheart! Another one over here." Of course, that was a sentence I had to puzzle together since all the words were slurred. A man balancing himself on a chair and with more facial hair than I thought possible was calling me over, waving a limp hand at me to hurry up. He got his drink, but that wasn't enough to keep him at bay. After I turned his filthy hand ran across my ass and that got him a good kick to the grouin. He fell back from his chair and laughed as his hands flew down to his crotch. I shook my head and took off towards the kitchen.  

Benny was whistling the same tune, probably the only tune he knows, when I slammed my palms over the metal counter. He was across from me and I gave him a pointed look. "I've been here for hours. I'm always here every damn morning until seven or so, busting my ass to keep this place going," I told him. It meant something. It meant to pay up. But instead, I got dismissed.

"Fine. Take the rest of the night off. I only needed the groceries anyway. You better come in early tomorrow."  

"Like you care. I'm always early, Benny boy. Yet you're the one who's always late because you lose your keys. Oh! And you should really do something about that sign. It's going to hurt someone one day. And pay me maybe?"

"Yeah. That will be the day some bastard is going to sue me and I'm going to tell him just where he can shove it."  

I laughed. I couldn't help it. Benny was a grumpy man, but his sense of humor was flawless.  

"Here. So you can stop nagging me." Benny took out a roll of money from his pocket and tossed it my way. I caught it just in time before it hit my face. There was a lot here, probably most of what he owed me, but I knew he wouldn't pay it all back at once.  

"Thanks a lot," I told him, but he only waved the spatula in his hand. He wasn't much for gratitude, giving or receiving, so I nodded. After leaving the kitchen, I made my way behind the bar. Empty bottles of whiskey, rum, and vodka littered the floor and I had to kick them out of my way so I wouldn't trip and fall. Hidden under the counter, I kept my violin case. It wasn't much of a violin, but it played beautifully. I grabbed it and got out from behind the bar with only a few strands of hair sticking out. It was filled to the brim in there, so I had to push a lot of people, as well as guard my face from swinging hands and elbows, to get out. 

When I got out there was a light drizzle coming down. I started making my way deeper into the city level where the residence was few and far between. In the streets I watched as people worked up a ruckus. It got louder just as the sound of uniform marching thundered not too far from the street I was at. It could only mean one thing. The Dusk family were making their rare, but famous rounds. Everyone around scurried away into the "safety" of their homes. I tried to avoid the streets they usually roamed, so I doubled back into the alley and cut through the small space between two buildings. My figure was a rather tiny one, so I squeezed in easily. When I managed to get out the other end I was in a deserted street, the same streets people left their beat-up cars in. It was a wasteland not just for cars, but for anything that had no use. Anyone that lived here called it Junk Street. Not very creative if you ask me.

It was getting darker. Junk street was never patrolled, why would it? It was empty and the junk piled up for miles. It was not easy getting around the heaps of waste and rust. I was more or less safe here. I've never seen the Dusk family from too close, whenever they make a round I catch a glimpsed and do the smart thing and turn the other way. I climbed on a Chevy with flat tires and a faded red color that gave in to the rust. After settling on the hood I took out my violin and tuned the strings before positioning it against my shoulder. I tested it with the bow a few times before I began to play. It was a sad melody and I remember listening to it every night after a long day of torture. I don't understand how it's the one song that kept me sane for all these years, but I guess music seemed to have a power over me that even I couldn't understand. It was also the only melody I knew how to play to perfection. Something about it always calmed me despite its tragically sad nature and the circumstances I was in. 

Junk street was my favorite place to play and practice. The sound carried loud and beautifully as there were no other sounds to interrupt it. The tall buildings did a great job of keeping the sound concentrated within this street, which I thought was something magical. It's not the most luxurious stage, but it was good enough for me.

I  was playing for a long time. That usually happened. I would play and lose the complete notion of time. I also thought I had avoided the Dusk family, but it turns out I have the worst possible luck. While playing I noticed two figures jumping from roof to roof. They were headed my way and with the agile way, they moved it could only be two members of the Dusk Family. I closed my eyes, hoping that ignoring them would make them move on without noticing me. One of them stopped though, and I could feel a pair of eyes staring at me. The strokes of my bow slowed and though I tried not to look up at whoever was staring at me curiosity got the better of me. Whoever it was, he was looking at me quite intensely. I couldn't identify who it was, but then again I didn't want to know. His head jerked towards the direction of the other figure and that's when I put everything back in the case and jumped off the car. I ran. I ran as fast as I could, or at least as fast as my short legs could handle. I knew my way around here well enough and I took every short cut possible to lose the two figures and get home fast.

The abandoned manor. It wasn't far from Junk Street and it was located in the only graveyard the Underground had. No one came here anymore, not after people adopted the cremation of bodies, or so Benny says. In the months I've been here I've only seen one person come in, and it was to morn. I remember hearing the choked cries of a young lady, hoping and wishing her brother would come back. It was a sad sight really. The graveyard was dead and cold. The air was chilly and there was a feel to the graveyard that made it a lot less inviting. The small patches of green that were left were slowly turning brown and every tree that might have blossomed in the past was now twisted, dry, and lonely. There was a path marked on the ground that takes you to the manor, I followed it until it took me to a rusty gate that blocked another path made of cracked and broken stones. The gate screeched when I pushed it open and my boots thudded hard over the cracked cement. I thought about filling the cracks, but I didn't know how long I'd stay here.  

The manor had two floors and the inside was just as damaged, dank, and dark as the outside. Again, why bother fixing something I'll have to leave behind? The porch was no longer a porch as it was a piece of board that ran from one end of the manor to the other. The old wood the manor was built out of, felt cold and damp on the outside and most of the place was cast in shadows. I never really paid attention to the looks of the place. I didn't care if it was nice or not as long as it had a bathroom and a bed to sleep on. 

I felt ready to collapse on my bed, but a noise shook off any sleep that was settling in. I spun around to look out at the graveyard and saw nothing, only still tombstones. Fear seeped in and a shiver fixed its way down my spine. Had they found me? I felt cold fear seep through me as the thought of three figures waiting for me just inside paralyzed me just at the door. I jumped to the worst possible conclusion. My body reacted a lot faster than my brain did and I tried to make a run for it. I even dropped my violin case, but it was too late. I hit my head hard against something firm and unyielding. The old wood of the porch protested and the rumbling of whatever landed on it made itself be felt from my feet and all the way up to my head. I slowly, shakily looked up to face the worst.  

"Hi." It wasn't a very polite tone and it came off forced like this person wasn't used to being anywhere near nice. Standing before me was a tall man only inches from me, the night hiding his features. He was dressed in dark, long cargo pants, forest green shirt and a black coat that reached his knees. His hair was black and silky, falling down to his jaw. When he rose his chin I got a good look at him as moonlight lit up his face. His facial features were composed of an average nose, thick brows, thin lips, but none of that was what demanded my attention. It was his bright, fiery orange eyes. He was waiting for a reply, but I was struggling for words or even a reaction. I've seen him before, but never up close. Mason Dusk, I believe, raised a single eyebrow, his lip curving in question. I blinked, focusing while clearing my throat and finally gripping the keys inside my back pocket. 

"Hello," I said monotonously.  

"You're new" It sounded like he was stating a fact rather than asking. If only he knew I'd been hauled up here for two months now.

"What's your name?" His words were full of authority like he was demanding my name and I had no choice but to comply. That instantly pissed me off. He was a Dusk, sure. That didn't mean he had any sort of power or authority over me. But then again did I really want to piss off a Dusk and risk getting tossed out of the city and into the open? Would he do that if I refused to give him what he wanted? I wasn't willing to find out. So I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door. When I stepped aside for him to pass he wondered in cautiously and curiously. Did he expect something to come at him? Because I sure as hell did. I was expecting three, slender, angry as hell women attacking me from all directions until I was nothing but a bloody pulp. Regardless, I shook it off and went in after him, closing the door behind me. Right now? I was more interested in why Mason Dusk was in my home. 

"The invite is good and all but I just wanted to know your name." He snapped. Honestly, I didn't want him in my house any more than I wanted to be kicked out of the city. But my self-preservation kicked in and I acted before thinking. If there was anyone that could slow down my insane creators it would be a Dusk right? 

"Why are you here?" It was a simple question, yet he avoided answering it. His attention was elsewhere, everywhere, like he was trying to make sure the coast was clear. The way he acted made it seem like he was actually trying not to get caught. But caught by who? He was studying every inch of the place and his face gave off a hint of concern, but not for me. He eventually looked back at me, eyes narrowing, like he was trying to figure something out. Well, I'm a young lady living in an old, abandoned manor. I could sum up a few things he'd be curious about. 

"I saw you playing tonight," he said. Which, to be honest, took me by surprise. Out of all the things I expected to come out of his mouth, this was certainly not one of them. Now I'm not just sure, but I know that he was one of the figures I saw back at Junk Street. He was the one staring at me. He came closer and every step he took towards me I took back.

"Yeah? That still doesn't explain why you are here." 

He nodded but said nothing. A blue vial was now in his hand and he let it drop to the floor. It shattered and released a blue smoke that engulfed him completely. When it cleared away, he was gone. He hadn't even bothered getting my name again. I guess I wasn't that important. Fine by me. If he thought I was no longer of any concern all the better.