Chapter 1: The Hollow Clink

Stepping on an empty ammunition shell, its hollow clink echoing through the wasteland, blending with the distant explosions caused by the extermination squad. Falco had just finished his work and was trekking through the desolate wasteland bit by bit, the odor of oil and gun powder sticking to him like glue. Each stride crunched rubble left behind by a battle fought days ago. His mind churned with turmoil, agonizing over what gift he should get his sister for her 16th birthday—now just a day away. 

The broken and desolate buildings reminded him that he lived in the slums; a place designated as the cattle of the new regime, full of criminals, the impoverished, debt-stricken and people like him, the abandoned. Even if people roamed the streets and stores, it felt lifeless and cold. It felt as if all the colour and prosperity was drained from the people and their surroundings. 

As he walked, he saw many stores, some for everyday needs and some for the more… tantalizing experiences, none truly piquing his interest. He travelled at a steady pace, not too fast yet not too slow, he was truly trying to solve his dilemma. He traversed through alleyways and abandoned buildings with no worries over his head. He had made sure beforehand that the path was clear. All that was left was to make sure no one would see him walk through the dilapidated buildings. 

Even in the comfort of the lonely shadows of back passages, he still saw and took notice of the "protectors" who were stationed everywhere. While they were officially known as the good guys up in the New World, for the slum folk, they were the predators of the streets, harassing and extorting all. They were ready to attack on a moment's notice, ready to dispatch all who could be found on these gray streets. 

Before all of this, Falco had seen the High World, he still vividly remembered the green grass and the clean air that was found over the clouds. When he still had the chance to see his father and mother. He remembered his friends and how he used to be happy. But now, he was traversing the treacherous path that the slums had created for him and his sister. 

The rumbling of the distant explosions grew dimmer and dimmer, the extermination squad was almost finished with their task, which was usually to locate and exterminate the true criminals of the slums, those who have either assaulted a ''protector" or bad-mouthed the regime. The worst offenders, however, were those who joined the little rebellion that the slums had going; it was growing in power steadily and in a year or two could pose a threat to the "protectors" of the streets, this is why they had decided to crack down on all who joined the "cult" by either executing them or imprisoning them. 

The extermination squad was also used for many other things but, the killing and murder of the defectors was their main purpose. 

Leaving the commercial sector and arriving near the housing sector, Falco was getting closer to his house. His sister was probably waiting for him with dinner ready, anticipating the return of her big brother. 

Here in the bustees, there were only 2 districts, the housing and the commercial. They were created and built by the settlers long ago, when the city was first being built. The original criminals and outlaws of society built the home that Falco and his sister knew today. The commercial district only held one fourth of the total territory and the remaining went to the housing district; the people here were more preoccupied getting their wealth through illegal or immoral ways like robbing and extortion than the just and righteous way like opening a store or selling their specialties to the people. That was why the proportion of territory was distributed so strangely. Yet to be fair, compared to the high-class society above, the territory designated to the "cattle" was just a small drip in a larger stream of water. 

As Falco began navigating the labyrinths of the streets and alleyways, Falco took care of his position, making sure to avoid the most dangerous paths. In a district ruled by crime and violence, not all roads were safe, especially when survival depended on knowing whom and what to steer clear of. Still, for someone who had only lived here for 5 years, Falco had become used to the strenuous habit of surveying his surroundings. 

Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, Falco moved from one abandoned building to another, slipping through broken windows to cover his tracks. Now nearing his home, he crept into the last building on his route. From the second floor to the first, he descended the stairs quietly, making sure no one could hear him, kicking up the dust and grime littering the floor in the process. 

It was then that he saw it. 

In the middle of a room, on the first floor, he noticed a little red and blue flower growing under the light of the sun. A part of the ceiling had fallen due to time and corrosion, letting the little flowers have a source of nutrition. Typically, one wouldn't feel anything but fear looking at vegetation due to its bad history with death here in the city, but Falco was happy. In the high world, there was vegetation everywhere causing the air there to be pristine and clean. But sadly, even if he was reluctant, he still had to snuff out the life of these little flowers. 

Advancing forward, Falco had kicked up the grime and dust that was littering the building once more, making it harder to breathe. Thankfully, there was a piece of cloth protecting his airways from any unneeded dust. Coming to a stop at the base of the flowers, he stomped on them vigorously, making sure they weren't able to survive. After he was done, he bent down and dispersed the dirt that they had once stood on, making sure nothing could grow there once more. The scary thoughts of what could happen to him didn't deter him from protecting himself from the harsh reality of the "flower cough." 

He had learned of the consequences of vegetation the hard way. It was about 3 years ago that a newcomer to the slums had made a fatal mistake. As she walked back to her house, she had found a cluster of wildflowers growing in the cracks of a broken railroad. Absorbed by their beauty, she had decided to keep and place them in a vase by the side of her bed. That night, the flowers had released a toxic gas—a silent killer that seeped into her lungs, causing her body to be covered in black, oozing blisters. Lacking air, she ran through the neighbourhood, begging for help, unknowingly spreading the disease. By morning, hundreds were laid to waste in their own homes. The incident became known as the "Vase Tragedy," a grim reminder of the "flower cough" and its devastating consequences. 

With the tragedy still fresh in everyone's mind, the "peacekeepers" took this as an opportunity to tighten their grip. They plastered the slums with signs and posters, reminding all that flora and vegetation must be destroyed on sight. Failure to comply would result in imprisonment—or worse. The fear of the "flower cough" became a tool of control, ensuring that even the smallest hint of rebellion was crushed before it could take root. 

Standing up, Falco finally noticed, through the skylight, that the day was finally coming to a close. The bright daylight was turning into an ember of what it once was, as it inched closer to its horizon. The golden color of the sky wasn't a sign of happiness for the people here, it was a reminder that things were going to get tougher. With the protection of the somber sky, criminals took the reins of the city, ready to kill and take whatever they wanted. 

Especially that now, the power suppliers from above decided to cut down on their spending, limiting the access of electricity that the people had. Only about 1/3 of the city was powered, most going towards the commercial district. Without energy, there wasn't anything deterring the crooks of the city. Most lampposts and security cameras were rusted by time, installed hundreds of years ago, any working ones would be considered a relic of their own, cementing themselves to the passage of time. 

Standing up from the dead flowers and dispersed dirt, Falco traced back his steps and was about to leave the room before he noticed one small detail. Behind the broken door of the room laid a rebellion insignia, signifying their disobedience and free will. Having no time left to investigate the peculiar sight, he got out of the room and upped his pace as he left the building, promising to himself that we would revisit this marvelous discovery. Reaching the front door, he finally set his sights on his abode, which was only a few hundred meters away from him. Nothing was out of the ordinary, all seemed to be in order. No crooks were close to his house, and it didn't seem that there was a forced entry. Even if there was gunfire in the distance and even if he could hear the cries and pleas of the people nearby. All was good with him and his family, he thought. 

Noticing the darkness approaching, he was reminded of how lucky he was to have a residence powered by the people above, even if that meant he had to work more hours at the extermination site. As he crept closer to his doorstep, he noticed the signature smell of his sister's cooking, a strong aroma of spice and meat permeated the extremities of his homestead. Knowing that she was preparing for her big day tomorrow, he didn't mind that she used the more lavish and expensive ingredients and pieces of meat. It would be a waste not to use these ingredients for this joyous occasion, even if it had taken him more than a month's savings to gather all the funds to buy them. 

Diving into his pocket, he took his key ring and found the main key. But before he opened it, he gave 3 fast knocks and 1 slower knock, thus indicating that he wasn't an intruder. He had taught his family how to survive in the wasteland, from teaching self-defense to the way she thought while on the outskirts, making sure he announced himself before entering the house was one of the many lessons he had educated her about. 

Opening the door, he was greeted by the contagious smile of his sibling and her pesky voice, "how was your day Falco? I hope that it wasn't too hard at the extermination site, unlike how it was yesterday." 

Closing the door behind him, Falco turned to his sister and told her, "Whoa, take it easy, I just got inside. Let me at least take off my coat and wash my hands before the interrogation starts." 

"I'll just take this chance to talk about my day then, you snooze, you lose!" 

Happily, and without remorse, his sister Mia started talking about the little things about her day, how she had been complimented and on how she found the perfect replacement for her hair tie that she had lost. In the meantime, her big brother was taking off his outwear and was getting ready for dinner by washing his hands and face. 

Still listening to her, Falco then took a seat at the table and it was then when she truly started talking about her true feelings, "Well, after you left home, I met up with a few of my friends, Linda and Ashley, and we went by Arthurs to get some spices for tomorrow. After we went our separate ways, I went straight to work at Denny's and washed some dishes. After I finished work at 5, I then ran back to the house and started cooking dinner, just like you had taught me. Not that exciting, I'm guessing? " 

"Not at all," Falco said as he pushed his back against his seat for comfort, "At least it was way more peaceful than mine. Today, the exterminators came and killed a few of my coworkers, thankfully I was already gone by then and only heard the distant explosions, but to be fair I feel like they went overkill this time." 

He truly felt that something was wrong, intuition was something to be taken very seriously, especially in a case like so. He was certain that they were up to no good ganging up on the poor of the streets. It had happened before and it will happen again, how they had taken advantage of the people by forcing them to give them hush money or how they forced some businesses of the commercial district to pay protection fees. From what Falco understood, there was currently a dispute between a few of the slum communities and the "protectors." Even if he and his sister had been able to live a semi peaceful life due to luck, intuition and good decisions, things seemed to be escalating quickly. Falco could barely predict how his day would go, let alone the distant future. Truthfully, he was scared, but he couldn't possibly show any signs of weakness in front of his sister, he had to be strong for her and the future that they would both lead. 

Mouth gaping, "Are you kidding me? You could have been seriously injured and even killed, who knows how they could have hurt you. Thankfully, you had left before anything bad happened, or else things could have really turned for the worse." Worry was plastered on her face and the faint feeling of frustration could be heard in Mia's voice. It was only normal after all—to worry for your sibling… 

It had been a long time since she had worried about losing a family member, but it still stung. She still had nightmares and ephialtes from the sombre day 6 years ago. How she had lost both her mom and dad in tragic accidents up in the New World. 

It was raining when her brother came to pick her up from school. She vividly remembered the face he wore as he walked along the pavement. They didn't talk much, they were just listening to the rain hitting the sidewalk, they were watching the levitating cars moving along the buildings, roads and sky. She remembered how they had the futuristic buildings slowly move places before their eyes, changing their places in a moment's notice. She mostly looked at her surroundings while they walked, but, at one point she turned a glance towards her brother. The jubilant energy that her brother once had seemed to vanish, all that was left was the stoic and uncaring figure of her brother. Even the colour of his beautiful brown eyes had seemed to disappear, all that was left was the bleak reflection of the gray sky that the rain had evoked. Mia didn't understand why he was so sad then, but she knew that he wasn't in the best of moods and didn't want to bother him. 

Later finishing their walk to their apartment, Falco had told her that their father and mother had passed away during 2 horrible accidents. Their father had died during an exploration of a newly discovered ruin and the mother died during an accident of some sort. She had been heartbroken and torn apart at that moment, scared for what's to come. But at least she had her big brother to rely on. 

Taking the glass of boiled water from the table, Mia put a nutrition packet and whisked it gently with a soft frown on her face. 

Occurrences like these weren't uncommon, but it still stirred up negative emotions in her. Thinking of her only living family dying or getting hurt was a sure way to sombre the mood after all… 

"Thankfully, you weren't hurt," she said as she stood up from the table, cup of nutrition water in toe. Before she headed to bed, she had decided to go and hug Falco, for some comfort of some sort… 

Coming closer to her big brother, Mia hugged Falco, making sure the water cup wouldn't spill. 

"You shouldn't worry yourself too much, I'm not going anywhere, you already know that don't you?" 

"Yeah, I do but still, I can't just let this pass over my head like nothing happened. You're my brother, after all." 

"I know, I know. You won't get rid of me that easily." 

"Whatever" 

Abruptly finishing their comfort session by hitting his shoulder, she turned her back to her brother and went to get ready for bed. Now, turning his body around in his chair, Mia had the chance to change and go to the bedroom. 

As the back of Mia vanished by entering their room, Falco was reminiscent of the life they had led up until now. How he had protected her from the treacherous streets by getting a house with electricity and a job that would pay well in relation to how dangerous it was. Had he picked himself over her sister, he was sure that he would have led a better life overflowing with opportunities, but he couldn't abandon his small sister, could he? A girl her age couldn't even defend herself from a cockroach let alone the wastelands of this cruel world… Or could she? 

The realization hit him like a truck, or whatever a truck was, he had never laid his eyes on one of those pieces of metal. It was painful, yet he was blinded by happiness. He never had the chance to truly think about it, he was so preoccupied scraping by a living that he couldn't even think about the future of Mia's life. She was finally getting old enough that he wouldn't need to baby her as much as he was. Just from the thought alone he was getting pale and queasy. It was at that very moment, for reasons unrelated to his previous thoughts, of course, that he needed to eat or drink something, 

Looking down on the dinner table, he looked at his food, cooked and made by his sister. He took the spoon and dove right into the beans and ate them. Perhaps he was overreacting, but he was still worried about the future and what it would hold for them both. Trepidation was ruling him, but he was still under control. Looking to his right side, he saw the window covered by the veil of blue darkness that the moon provided. It was at that point that he decided to bury his regrets, doubts. It was also at this moment that he had vowed to help and support his kin in any way that he could. 

Taking the empty bowl away from the table, he put it in the sink and made his way to his bedroom. The house wasn't that big, it only had 1 story and held 3 rooms, but you couldn't be frugal when it came to your living conditions, especially when most people out in the magnificent city of Rosehold lived out in the streets, getting mugged or worse… 

The door was slowly creaking as he walked in, the room wasn't grandiose or magnificent, in the contrary, it was small and unstable, full of dust and dirt. 2 sleeping bags were placed near a heat generator, 1 was already taken by the sleeping beauty and the other would be shortly taken by Falco. Before he did, though, he made sure that the windows were properly closed. He had to be sure that nobody would be trying to enter his domicile at night, disrupting his well-deserved rest. Checking the locks, he found that one was open, which would typically never happen. 

Concerned, he went around the room quietly, making sure not to wake up Mia. Nothing looked out of place. There were no footprints, nothing was moved and most importantly, nothing was stolen. Thinking of what could have caused this, he thought of his sister. This had had happened before, she sometimes opened the lock of the window by mistake, either by falling or tripping over it. Chalking this to a mistake, he felt calmer, his heartbeat calming down. Coming back to his senses, he went towards the window and fastened the lock, leading himself to his cozy sleeping bag afterwards. 

Sitting down and getting comfortable, he wished Mia a good night's rest and closed his eyes. Drifting to the outer edges of consciousness, he thought of his sister one last time before he fell asleep, praying that tomorrow would be a prosperous and easy day. 

Having no alarms to wake him up, Falco had only his mind to set him straight. His internal clock, at this point, was tailored for a man of his stature, getting up when the sun had yet to rise. It was difficult but very manageable, had he not gotten up at this time of hour, he would be late for work, and being late for work would be dancing with death at that point. Yet personally, Falco enjoyed this time of day. For him, this fleeting moment of peace before the city woke meant a lot. Even if there weren't any birds chirping or venders coming to sell you morning goods to get your day started, he truly felt at peace during the morning. The criminals who had taken reign over the district at night slowly receded back into the dark alleyways they lived in, in forth leasing the eloquent workers of the commercial district free passage to their workstations. Either be it culinary tasks, construction, gutter cleaning and monster disposal. They were happy to let them pass and work, letting them have more money to steal in the end. 

Groggily, he got out of his hot sleeping bad, indulging himself in the cold air of his household. Turning his head around, he noticed the birthday girl sleeping soundly. Deciding to let her be, he walked quietly out of the bedroom and then led himself towards the kitchen. After getting his nutrition paste, which had the taste of an amalgamation of the worst possible flavors to exist on the planet, he then directed himself towards the living room. 

Entering the room, he noticed the clothes that he and his sister had laid there the day before. The clothes were hanging on the rack, drying out in the coldly unbearable air, begging to be used. Getting closer to the stand, he began replacing his innerwear with his outerwear which comprised of a black coat sown together with broken bits of fabric, a cloth bandana, a pair of boots, jeans and a ripped pair of gloves. 

Checking the time by looking at a rusty clock on the living room wall, he noticed that he had overslept due to how tired he was. Picking up the pace, he reached the door and planned to open it. But, before he did, he decided to write a small message to his sister. Using a pen and paper, he wrote to her only 2 words. Written on the note was "Happy birthday." He had simply wanted to wish her a happy birthday when he wrote the small note, not wanting her to feel abandoned if he had said nothing. 

Finally ready to go, he left the note on the kitchen counter and went straight for the door, using it's handle in the process. 

As he extended the door, the biting cold air tore through him like claws, even breathing came to possess its own challenges in the mornings. With flat terrain as far as the eye can see, the city had no natural windbreakers making sure the air currents stayed normal. Knowing the living conditions of the city of Rosehold, the harsh nature of this reality didn't bother him much knowing that the wind speed was one of their last worries, but that didn't mean it made their lives easier, though… Even with the body suit he wore while he traversed the land, the harsh temperatures and the stormy sky's left much to be desired when it came to staying warm. 

Going down the stairs of the entrance and reaching the dirt road, Falco started jogging. Letting himself stay warm and enabling him to reach his workplace faster, he was late after all… 

This time, without needing to be discreet, he was much more effective with his running. Instead of going through windows and alleyways, all he needed to do was run through a desolate, windy and cold dirt path, which he would completely avoid if it wasn't for this occasion. Even if the roads seemed empty, they usually weren't… The neighbourhood gangs could have been watching him as he ran, waiting to kill him at any moment if provoked. The "protectors" weren't too far away either, if he was unlucky, he might be stopped by one of them, making him late to work. 

Cutting through corners and taking short cuts, Falco wasn't too far away from his site. He could already hear and see the heavy machinery far in the distance, he would make it right on time. 

Out of breath and coming up on the plot, he gave a hand wave to his colleagues, showing them that he made it on time. Putting on his work gear, he started working on his task almost immediately. With the local police watching him, he wasn't allowed to slack off, he didn't want to give himself any more attention than he already had. 

His work depended on what the boss wanted to do. It was alternating between monster meat cutting, human disposal and construction. Each with his ups and downs, he didn't much prefer one over the other. Today, the head of the site had a construction order sent down by the High World, they needed to build a relay station between the two cities, making sure they could send things between the two without a problem. 

Falco's work was simple, all he had to do was carry stone blocks between the area, making sure that the heavy operating systems could pick up the blocks and deliver them on a higher story. Even if it was straightforward, it didn't mean it was easy on the body. On the contrary, it was very exhausting. Motivating him was the thought of the higher salary he would be getting. 

Time was flying by, the cold wind was turning into a warm breeze, the desolate wasteland was bathed in light as the sun rose steadily. 

By the time the sun had reached its peak, the building was almost done. He and his coworkers were worked to the bone, they were all so exhausted, yet they kept going. One last push was needed before they could finish and get on their way. They'll be damned if they were going to give up now. 

Trekking with the heavy stone on his back, Falco was about to deliver his last cargo. Watching the men above giving their instructions, he laid the stone on the ground, ready to be taken by the large machinery. Backing up, he watched as the crane made by the Titanis Industries took the heavy boulder and delivering it up on a higher floor. Falco's shift was officially done. 

Back aching and exhausted, he saluted his coworkers and put in his time, taking off his work gear in the meantime. Having finished his work, he was allowed to run off whenever he wanted, but before he did, he needed to buy his sister a gift. 

Leaving the construction site, he directed himself towards the commercial district. His gift idea already realized from exploring shops the day before. Hurrying between the crowd of people walking, he prayed that the gift he chose wouldn't have been taken by another. 

The crowd of people became more abundant as he grew closer to the heart of the market. Observing his surroundings as he walked, he dodged several pickpockets and many trifling hands that were all trying to steal his hard-earned Kredits. Turning his last corner, he finally laid his eyes on the store—he had finally arrived. 

Entering the shop, he saw an old man standing by the counter with some customers roaming the store. Walking slowly, he went towards the man, nodding his head in respect. Leading the conversation, Falco first asked the clerk, "Do you by chance sell necklaces?". 

Unbothered, "Sure we do, what kind are you looking for?" 

After making sure no one was around to listen, "I am looking to buy a golden necklace, not the fake gold but the real stuff." 

"Are you kidding me, what kind of fool do you take me for? Are you trying to rob me or something, you think I'm stupid kid?" Visible anger could be seen on his face. 

"I think I just saw a vein pop and no I'm not joking. I can even show proof that I can buy the product." 

The other customers, now curious, started watching them like hawks. If things broke out in a fight, they could go report them for some profit or, if they took the opportunity, they could rob the man for all he had. 

"You can seriously show me proof?" His anger subsiding with every word he spoke. 

"Yes, I can, just tell me if you have a golden necklace for sale and I'll show you. If you don't, I can always do my business elsewhere." 

"No, no! That won't be necessary." He said as he took a box from behind the counter and putting it in front of Falco. Inside the box, he could view rings and necklaces alike, all made of gold. 

"Now show me proof that you can buy them!" The small old man ordered. 

Opening his coat, the old man saw a sight he hadn't seen in years. There were stacks and stacks of money, waiting to be given. He almost started jumping in joy when he saw the small fortune, but he had to keep his composure. 

With a smug face, "Will this be enough?" 

"Are you really willing to spend this much for a gold necklace? If so, be my guest." 

Taking out all the jewelry from the box, the man began showing off to Falco. On the tabletop were 3 necklaces, all in pristine condition, showing the skills of the craftsmen. 

"How much do they cost?" Falco asked in a speculative tone. 

"They all cost about 1500 Kreds give or take." 

"I'll take this one then." Falco had picked up a small yet elegant necklace, he thought it would be the perfect gift for her small sibling, one that would make the smile of his sister shine brighter, like it had once done far in the past. 

"Great then that will cost you 1500 Kreds." 

"You know, you almost made them call the watchers on us because of your loud screaming, I am not buying this with 1500. Give me a discount." He said to the owner as he pointed at the people watching them. 

"There's no way I can do that! T—that right there can feed a family for months if sold!" 

"You can't expect me to buy this at that price, you probably haven't even opened that box in a year. C'mon old man, stop being stubborn, you almost cost me a visit with 'them.' 

"1200, that's the lowest I can go! But that face of yours, I never want to see it after today—got it!" 

"Deal!" Falco said with a bright smile on his face, his negotiations working. 

Taking out the 1200 Kreds he owed the man; he placed the amount on the counter, waiting to be counted. 

"That's the 1200 I owed you, are you satisfied?" 

"Let me count." The old man said with a hoarse breath. 

After taking his time counting, he verified that Falco had truly given him the right amount. Now, on the limits of his patience, he told Falco to leave. 

"Have a good d—" 

"I never want to see your face here again, get out!" 

Finally leaving the store, Falco was on high alert. He had a small fortune on him, ready to be stolen. The golden necklace felt heavy in his pocket, not just in weight but also in significance. It was more than a gift; it was a promise—a reminder that even in a world as lifeless as his, he could still bring a smile to his sister's face. As he navigated the crowded streets, his hand instinctively brushed against the hidden knife in his coat. The slums were unforgiving, but Falco had learned to survive. For Mia, he would do more than survive. He would thrive.