• tab Nighttime. The time where plants, animals, and all of Earth’s inhabitants are at liberty to rejuvenate their minds and bodies from the long day and heat from the sun. The glimmering moon replaces the glowing sun, dimming the bright, vibrant blue hue of the sky to a solemn navy, unveiling the billions of brilliant stars shimmering in the atmosphere above. Most nights, the stars and moon reflect their light onto the land below, illuminating the dark corners of the earth with their beautiful shine. However on this night, thick, gray clouds heavy with rain drifted above various cities, absorbing every radiant glimmer.

    tab Above one particular metropolis, the precipitation that was hinting to fall in other regions was pouring mercilessly on the sidewalks, flooding the asphalt with approximately five centimeters of water. With the rain, another pounding sound cushioned by the splash of water could be heard coming down the streets of the major, industrialized city on the eastern coast of the United States.

    tab The owner of the rapidly grinding footsteps emerged from around the corner of a tall, tenant building and down a deserted, dead-end alleyway; his soaked, worn-in shoes giving in under his lightweight. The owner, a young street urchin of about ten years, panted heavily as his breathes came out as small puffs of white vapor in the air as the rain drenched his filthy, torn shirt and holed, blue jean overalls, his light brown hair matted against his forehead. In his small, bruised fist he gripped a personal item of utmost importance to him.

    tab Through the sound of his gasps and the pounding of the rain, his ears registered two more pairs of feet growing increasingly louder and faster in his direction. He gulped, knowing that his pursuers would soon corner him . . . and he had nowhere else to flee. Swallowing his fear with a shiver, convincing himself that it was due to the cold, he turned and faced the two on-coming silhouettes, both quite a bit larger in stature compared to his, though he knew they were but twelve and thirteen.

    tab A bolt of lightning crashed against a lone, frail tree that was situated awkwardly in the flooded sidewalk near the three boys, illuminating the faces of the two cleaner dressed boys as the larger on opened his smirking mouth to remark, but was censored by the immediate clash of thunder. Lightning flashed again, shedding light upon the three boys as the older pair began to grab nearby objects to use as weapons upon their victim.

    tab Once cast in shadow, the street urchin took a deep breath, shoved his treasure into his chest pocket, and waited for the thunder to sound, his cue to run at his attackers and, hopefully, run past them to freedom. Unfortunately though, the slick ground thick with rain water gave way under him, causing him to come crashing down to the cold, hard asphalt as the other two charged at him. He landed with a hard splash and let out an annoyed, painful groan.

    tab He raised himself on all fours quickly but was immediately forced back to the ground from the crashing of a heavy stick colliding into the small of his back. The stick whipped against him several times, cutting through his poor overalls to his skin while rocks pelted his face. Growing increasingly annoyed and frightened he courageously turned and caught the weapon before it could be beaten against him again, surprising his attacker.

    tab A brief smirk of triumph came over the urchin’s lips as he ripped it out of his hands and knocked him to the ground. He climbed atop his assailant and began beating his face with tightly fisted punches. The pelting rocks had ceased as the second attacker ran to help his partner, clawing and pulling at the young boy to release his friend.

    tab With a mighty thrust, the urchin found himself flying into the alley wall, his back and head connecting with the gray bricks with an agonizing thud, dazing him. As he regained his senses about him, he looked up and saw the silhouette of both boys towering over him menacingly, lightning flashing to reveal their angry expressions. Synchronizing with the loud crack of thunder, their stick and fist came down. Helpless to do anything he closed his eyes and shifted his head, hoping desperately to avoid the attack.

    tab “NO!” A loud, high screeching protest wailed through the night as the light pounding of tiny feet splashed through the water. The tiny silhouette of a young girl, younger than the street urchin, came rushing at the two boys, knocking them both to the ground before they could connect their assault, falling on top of them as they collided.

    tab The urchin stood up unsteadily and watched stupidly for a brief moment as the two boys roughly threw the girl off of them, both now intending to prey on her. The rain muffled her loud screams as the boys crowded around her, forcing her back into the alley corner. She whimpered as their hands reached out and touched her body, exploring.

    tab Now angered beyond all restraint, the urchin grabbed the shorter of the two boys sharply off the girl and to the ground before kicking the taller one in the shin, sending him to the ground as well. He kicked him on to his back as he shouted to the girl to run to safety. She hesitated, not wanting to leave his side but decided quickly to obey him and started toward the exit quickly. She did not get two steps when she felt cold, wet hands clamp around her ankle, anchoring her to the ground while the laws of inertia proved true, sending her crashing to the road.

    tab As the street urchin straddled the taller boy’s legs, pummeling and clawing at his face and stomach, he briefly caught a glimpse of the girl to see if she had gone. However, he had forgotten about the other boy he felled and was disturbed to see him climbing on top of the girl. Her saw her struggling against his weight and went to help her but was punched in the face the moment he was completely distracted. He collided with the cold ground face first and was pinned to the road, his arms twisting behind his back involuntarily as his head was pinned to the flooded asphalt.

    tab He strained to see the girl’s status just as the boy’s fist clashed against her, silencing her screams. The urchin did his best to free himself but was only served a punch in the jaw for his efforts. Despite his current condition, he panicked when he saw the younger boy grab the girl by her long hair and drag her down the road and around the corner. He screamed in protest but his cries were painfully ignored as they disappeared. He struggled with all of his might to free himself, only to find his body being lugged up by the shirt collar and slammed against the hard brick wall. His stomach was pounded repeatedly with many wet punches, but he was numb to the pain and rain. The only things he was aware of were the warm salty tears that flowed out of his eyes and mixed in with the falling precipitation, grief and guilt consuming him in far worse pain than anything physical could possibly out-match.