I Wouldn't Want To Live In A World Without Grudges

Chance Caccia was born on July 7th, 2007. 18 years old. At a young age, he, his mother, and his older sister were abandoned by their father. They made a promise that they couldn't keep. This was the first lie ever told to Chance. He grew up around lies, whether it be through comforting words of reinforcement or from those of malicious intent. This was due to his involvement in gangs at an early age.

Due to his adeptness at stealing things, he was found useful by various illegal groups. He originally only stole to assist his family in paying for food and maybe rent. He just wanted to live comfortably at the time, after all. Then, he stole from the wrong person, a Capo of the Dios es Estado, earning himself a contracting job through his bold attitude and shockingly cold demeanor for a kid.

His family attempted to dissuade him from this life, but failed, his mother never giving up, whilst his sister eventually began to approve of his activities out of their selfishness.

At 15 Years Old, Chance got into gambling. It started small at first, borrowing money from others in an attempt to win, before slowly spiraling into an addiction. Emotions that Chance had never felt before shot through his frontal lobe, changing the trajectory of his life forever. Those were the only times he had ever felt "normal."

At the age of 17, Chance's mother had passed away due to a stroke, leaving him and his sister on their own, practically keeping themselves afloat through Chance's reckless antics alone. Chance's sister still worked, but he was lifting most of the weight, not that he minded, nor did he know how to mind it. He took it as a challenge rather. It led to him risking his life more and more, not that he was alone, with Starboy being at his side since he was 8 years old.

Narcissa Esmerel Caccia, born on February 10th, 2005. 20 years old. Her appearance leaned more toward her mother's side of the family, who originated from Haiti. The Caccia genes were strong, though, retaining those deep Sapphire eyes they were known for, along with her long curly black locks, contrasted against her caramel-colored skin. She held a lot of self-confidence in herself, but knew not to overstep her bounds. She wasn't infallible, but she was someone more above average than ordinary, and she took pride in that.

If given the opportunity, of course, she'd push herself towards the top, but that opportunity hasn't presented itself, and she is less than willing to sacrifice her self-worth to do it. She is content with just living comfortably with her little brother, not having a care in the world about the moral implications of her brother's hobbies, or the general attitude she has around relationships and the like.

All she needs to know about herself, if that to herself, she is superior, or on the level to whoever she interacts with. If someone is better than her, then so be it; leave them be. It isn't her place to get involved with that person.

It had annoyed her seeing the jealous, prying eyes of many on those who were superior to them. She had no reason to be jealous, they weren't even on the same plane of existence in her eyes. If the status quo is breached, though, it does cause frustrations, but she isn't so uncouth as to let her anger get the best of her unless it is warranted, for example, if people talk badly about her family.

The one similarity the siblings had to each other was that, when it involved family, they were violent and prone to anger. Chance was more vulnerable to their emotions, struggling with basic regulation around other people while Narcissa didn't, wearing a thick metal mask that no one could see past, no matter how much they tried... unless it involved family.

In college, Narcissa was not only popular but was feared due to this attitude of hers surrounding her family, and on the rare chance her rage is directed at someone and it doesn't involve family, well, the rumors suggest that it's better to play dead, as if she were some sort of wild animal.

Narcissa is sitting at home, scrolling listlessly through her phone, a palpable boredom creating a near-visible stagnation in the room. Suddenly, Chance storms into the apartment, closing the door behind him. "I have good news, and possibly bad news."

"What's the good news?"

Chance set down the case, wrapped in a black velvety bag, opening it up to reveal it to his sister. "So... I found a way to get us filthy rich."

Narcissa blinked, getting up and crossing over to Chance. "For real?"

"Yeah, we just need to bring this thing to Brazil."

Narcissa cocked a brow, scanning the room for a moment before inching closer to her Brother. "W-What do you mean?"

"And that's the bad news. No way people know where this shit is unless it's tracked or somethin', but, we'll inevitably be found out eventually, and if we have, then there wouldn't be a point in avoidin' the apartment, right? But... the case, Guillermo's death-- this is the case, I'm pretty sure of it."

"Oh shit... are we wanted? What about my college?" Narcissa sighed.

"Well, if we fuckin' get this to Brazil, you won't have to worry about that shitty college."

"Well, I'm so far into my classes..." Narcissa rubbed her temples. "Are you sure that this is what it is?"

"Risked my life for it, so... plus, Victor, he's dead. I think it's legit."

"Victor's dead?"

"Shot in the head, god rest his soul. I dunno if I got followed or anythin' but anyone else who was there, when I got back wasn't alive, so... if we're lucky, we have about a week before we have to get outta dodge."

Narcissa sighed, using one hand to rub both of her temples, brow knitted tightly as she attempted to think of a way to make it easier for them. She shook her head, "Alright... I'll... I'll get ready to head out then before the week is up."

"If we are found out before this week, though, what will you do?"

"I'll start packing now, god." Narcissa groaned to herself as she crossed over to her room, leaving Chance on his lonesome.

Some time later, both stood before the case.

"Have you tried opening it?"

"Well... that guy, Guillermo said not to in his recording, so... I didn't bother?"

"But... I'm so curious, it's... is it the same case? Is there any way for us to confirm, or...?"

"The only way to confirm is to open it... huh?" Chance paused, "The problem is, we don't know what it'll do. Like..." Chance started mumbling to himself. "Only the person required to open it can open it; no one else is allowed to..." Chance scanned the box, checking if it had a camera, gliding his thumb along the surface as Starboy, his ability, searched with him.

"What're you doin'?"

"--Looking for a camera. Maybe there's some sort of face recognition-- No... it requires a game if you don't want to kill someone, so why... the implications... they would still want the case intact."

"Let's just not."

"Well, durin' this week, I'm gonna try gettin' us enough cash to make our way to Brazil."

"Are we taking a plane?"

"Nah, that's too dangerous, methinks."

"What? Why? How would it? Wouldn't the long route be just as dangerous?"

"Yeah, but we're dealin' with criminals. Do you wanna have a fightin' chance, or do you want them to take out a whole ass plane just to get one case-- that's how bad it is."

"Then... what do we do?"

"We could probably try taking a flight to Mexico first and take a straight path down south."

"What's stoppin' us from gettin' taken down then?"

Chance sighed, "I'll try looking for a flight to Brazil, straight path. First, I'm gonna look for some cash for us." Chance left the case behind as he left the house, leaving Narcissa by herself.

Chance left the building, going out back into the streets for some new money-making opportunities. He went out to his usual hangout spot-- that underground joint a little ways out of the more populated sections of the city that typically hosts various bands, along with housing many of the criminally minded due to its confidentiality clause.

Back at the apartment, Narcissa looked at the case set out on the table with curiosity. She had closed all of the curtains and blinds in their home, making sure no one could see in or out of the apartment. She stood there, a speculative glare directed straight toward what could be what Chance would refer to as their "way to get filthy rich." Narcissa, overwhelmed with curiosity, grabbed the case, her thumbs gliding across the latches for a moment before flicking them open.

Nothing happened, she blinked, surprised, and then slowly began opening up the case. Before she could even see what was inside, something ran up her arm, causing her to instinctively close the box, jumping back in fear as she saw a black line forming up her arm swiftly and violently, cutting it open.

Blood spilled out from the gash, causing her to audibly scream, grabbing at the open black line forming across her arm in an attempt to stop it, growing thinner and thinner the longer the case remained close until reaching her heart, stopping just before it could reach it. She gasped for air, blood staining her clothes, the wounds somehow disappearing just as fast as they had appeared. "W-What was tha--" She was cut off by a sharp pain shooting through her chest, causing her to writhe on the floor, tears in her eyes.

The pain was so extreme that her eyes rolled into the back of her head, foaming at the mouth, veins bulging out from her neck as an unknown infection spread throughout her body before dissipating in a radiant golden light.

As the infection was purged suddenly from her body, a long sigh of relief left her mouth, eyes confused as to what had just happened to her. Behind her, a known silhouette formed, slowly wrapping its arms around her in a warm embrace.

Similar to the day before, Chance sat himself at the bar, "Anybody lookin' for anyone to do any snatch jobs? Maybe a game?"

The Bartender sighed, "You need an official card, Chance, at this rate..." 

"For what?"

"Games."

"Oh... you're talkin' about those guys."

"Anyway, you're looking for a job so soon? Didn't you have one with Victor?"

"Victor's dead."

"What!?

"He was shot in the head during a game. So, I'm lookin' for a job now as the last job was a big 'ole dud."

"Victor's fuckin' dead." The Bartender was shocked, but blinked, bringing their attention back to Chance. "Alright, well... a job... what jobs are you looking for?"

"I dunno, Dealer job, Snatch job, maybe playin' the shark."

The Bartender thought on it, trying to remember if there was anything left available for Chance. Chance noticed a slight commotion at the entrance between a few bouncers and what looked to be some random guy before turning back toward the Bartender, who was still deep in thought. The Bartender sighed, "Honestly, we don't got shit today either."

"Shit that cleared cause of what happened?"

"Yep."

A gunshot was fired off, immediately silencing the crowd, the man from before standing amongst them. "Now that I have your attention! Can anyone here tell me the location of--" A couple of guys jumped onto the man, attempting to wrestle the gun away from them, the crowd quickly beginning to circle, some people attempting to make their way out.

"Shit, what the hell?" The Bartender leaned over the counter to get a better look. "Wild someone was brave and stupid enough to do that, huh?'

"Yeah, but..." Chance blinked, leaning in closer to get a better look at what he was looking at as the skin of the two men began to bubble and rot, both screaming in agony as the rest of the partygoers recoiled in fear.

"As I was saying! Do any of you know where Guillermo's Case is!? Or have any information surrounding its location!?" They were disheveled, almost homeless-looking with grimey brown hair, a coat thrown over their shoulders, eyes crazed, with their mouth agape. "Anyone!?"

The Civilians in the crowd began moving to the corners of the room as the gang-affiliated characters began revealing themselves, slowly approaching the man. "Hey," one spoke, "Put the gun down, alright?"

"Huh!?" The man groaned mockingly to the gang member before pointing their gun at them. Chance jumped over the bar counter, and the crowd dispersed in a panic as bullets started flying. The bullets collided against what looked to be an invisible forcefield around the man as he shot back, emptying the magazine of his pistol into the two men firing at him, a couple of bullets getting caught in the crowd, causing some civilians to stumble over themselves. "My Atomic Vomit is a blessing from God!" A wicked smile spread across his lips, "And God had blessed me with this ability to take the riches for myself~!"

Chance took out the pistol from the other night, poking his head out from the bar before firing onto the man in front of him, the glowing bullets that exited out from the weapon colliding against the barrier created by whatever this man's ability was, but his eyes widened in shock as these ethereal projectiles broke into various pieces of debris against his defenses, grazing him slightly. He recoiled, running to cover.

"O-OW! That hurt! How... How did he hurt me!?"

Chance observed the two men on the ground, originally still alive on the floor, clutching their wounds, now killed by an unknown radioactive energy permeating from the man hiding in front of him. "What the hell is your problem, man!? Comin' up in a neutral zone like this and gettin' civvies, involved!? Not very professional!?"

"God gave me the ability to change my life! I'll never make a waste of the blessings provided to me."

"Guess I'm God's messenger to chill the fuck out, huh!?"

"What are you even saying to me!?"

"Starboy; Shark! He has a debt, a blood debt!"

Starboy lifted themselves out from behind the bar, looming as they began to step forward, approaching the bar's assailant.

Narcissa had regained her bearings, yet her vision seemed to have remained blurred. She blinked hard, attempting to keep herself conscious and sane. Soon enough, her vision returned to normal. Before she had a moment to relax, though, a violent slamming at the door caused her to jump, whipping her head around to the source of the noise.

"Hey, you okay in there? I heard someone take quite the tumble."

Narcissa shook her head, "What's it to you!? What do you even want!?"

"Just a concerned neighbor. I live downstairs, I don't appreciate the noise, but I ain't a dick and know that, sometimes, things aren't that convenient for people and that something may have truly happened, so... I ask, are you okay?"

"Nah, cause you're suspicious as fuck, that's what. A normal neighbor would mind their own fuckin' business, especially since I ain't even been doin' all that much, so why don't you take your nosey ass back downstairs into yer own fuckin' room, alright!?"

A moment of silence. "Wanted to be nice and cordial about this, ma'am. But if I have to go about this the hard way, I will." A hand goes through the door, the wood not even catching fire but rather melting against this person's touch. They reached their hand over to the handle, melting through a chunk of the door before pushing it open. "Y'know, I have a sister, blind. I'd rather she have to live comfortably than live in a shithole like this any longer so... You don't mind if I take that case that everyone's been pinin' for, right?"

"Yeah, I have a younger sibling as well, a little brother of mine who's more trouble than he's worth, but he risked his fuckin' life and he never tells a lie. Sorry... can't hand over the ca--"

They both stand in stunned silence as the case that was there previously is now suddenly gone, disappearing.

The man cackled as Starboy approached, and as it entered their range, its body began to react violently against the irradiated surroundings of the man before them, forcing Starboy to step back, it's hand covered in blisters and boils, blood from inside the creature spilling out to the floor as the boils popped violently.

Chance ducked behind cover, recoiling in response as his hand violently reacted to the man's presence as well. "Starboy! B--" Chance paused, the case now set atop the bar counter, displayed right in front of him as he stood up. Both stood still like deer in headlights.

"When did that get there?"

Chance broke into a cold sweat, Starboy circling the man like a shark in water, attempting to find a way into their defenses as they slowly rose up from the ground.

"Is-Is that it!? Is that it!?" They broke into hysterics, Chance breaking into a wild panic in his mind, eyes wide.