My name is Damien. My parents abandoned me at an orphanage when I was born. Doesn't bother me though. I ran away right on my 10th birthday. I've been living in the slums ever since but it beats having to follow all dem damn rules. If there's one thing I've learned since the year I've been here, it's that there is no such thing as love and trust will only get you killed. That's just how the world is
I walked into a store. The man at the counter eyes stayed on me the minute I stepped in. It's probably cuz of my clothes. If a kid with overgrown hair, a torn up blanket around him and got a coupla bruises don't scream thief, you're just a dumbass. But I ain't new to this. I went down an aisle to get out of his sight and to avoid the cameras. Each side was full of snacks. Without much thought I went to grab some chips but when I reached for'em, my hand stopped mid way. It felt like something grabbed it but there's nothing there. My arm lifted and out of nowhere a hand was grabbing mine.
"What do you think you're doing boy?" a voice asked behind me. I didn't have to turn around. I already knew it was the guy behind the counter.
Damien elbowed the man in the pelvis to free himself then bolted out of the store. How the hell did he sneak up on me? And how come I couldn't see him? I thought about it as I ran to where I usually stay. It's an abandoned store that the owner left after some dumbass threatened the store owner. It was such an easy lick. Some people just don't know how to treat good things. Once I made it there I heard some people speaking inside.
"Miguel said he'd be here." one of the voices said.
"Miguel? The hell does he want with me?" I thought to myself.
"Well obviously he ain't here" another voice said.
"There's a pillow. Maybe he's just out right now."
"He's a damn kid. Where the hell could a kid go"
If Miguel wants me then I'm basically dead. I gotta leave this city. That was my last thought before I completely blacked out. When I finally woke up I was tied to a chair in an abandoned warehouse. 2 men in business suits were on both sides of me and in front of me was a man wearing a black unbuttoned coat showing his pure white shirt, silk black pants, black church shoes, and one of dem mob specialty hats. He gotta be Miguel.
"So you the kid everyone talkin' bout'. Se dice en la calle que un niño está robando a mis hombres" Miguel said with an intimidating demeanor.
"I don't speak that shit. Talk English 'round me" Damien demanded.
Miguel burst into laughter.
"What's funny" Damien's tone was more like a threat than a question. Miguel's aggressive demeanor returned.
"You boy. You're interesting. Don't you know who I am."
"Yea, you're miguel. You basically control everything that happens in this city. So what do you want with me? Payback because I keep hitting your spots?
"You got somethin' I haven't seen in a while. Not a lot of men got the guts to hit my spots and they damn sure ain't stupid enough to admit it to my face. Yet you sit right here, knowing who I am and talking like you're on the same level as me…”
Each step rang across the room. Every second that passed in silence made it harder for Damien to even breathe.
“Since you wanna act like an adult I'll treat you like one. You've got 2 choices. Join my crew or.. "
Miguel lifted his hand and a cold metal grazed my throat. I knew what it was. But what's weird.. is that none of the men beside me moved. Was he already behind me and I didn't notice?
"Fine. I'll join it." I said like I really had a choice.
"Good. You might got pride but you aren't dumb."
Miguel walked towards the exit but just as he was about to leave, he came to abrupt stop
"Beat his ass for 5 minutes. No one gets away with disrespecting me." He said as he left.
I woke up but my vision is still pitch black. I could hear us speed pass cars on our way to wherever the hell I'm going. The moment I realized I was awake, I tried to move my hands but fell over on cold.. Plastic?
"You really know how to take an ass whoopin huh kid" the man in front of me said
"just shut up and keep drivin" I told'em
The man vein popped out of his head clearly vexed at Damien's remark
"you best be lucky boss man told me to bring you in or u would've left yo ass back in Lincin" the driver said
"Just do whatchu told, Miguel's bitch" I said while sitting myself up.
The car suddenly stopped and I hit my head on the seat in front of me.
"My bad. Traffic." The petty driver stated
"yeah right." I thought to myself
An hour later the car finally stopped.
To the surprise of the driver, Miguel, among 2 other men, were there waiting for them.
"What are you doing here boss?" He asked in disbelief
"Get the kid" Miguel ordered the 2 beside him. Completely ignoring the drivers question
The men helped Damien out of the car and guided him as he followed Miguel into a corporate building. Once they reached the entrance Miguel gave the command
"Vete"
The men released Damien and walked their separate ways. The automatic door opened, greeting them to the scene of people in white coats running around with stacks of paper, the sound of buttons being hit and paper flying sounded even busier than the highway. In the mist of this chaos a woman approached Miguel
"hello sir Bayardo"
"Never do that again, Lidia" Miguel demanded
"Is this him" she asked, looking at Damien
"Yeah, this the little punk" Miguel confirmed
"He's rather young… Are you sure about this?"
"It'll be fine" He says as they make their way inside an elevator.
Damien felt his body jerk
"W-what's happening!?"
"You never been on an elevator before?" Miguel asked almost tauntingly
"How the hell am I going up but I know I'm standing still" I thought to myself
The elevator soon comes to a halt to let out its passengers. Lidia gently grabbed Damien's shoulders to direct him around the complex hallway to Miguel's office
"Well, we're here. I'm surprised you haven't been more talkative. Where'd that bravado go niño? Don't tell me a lil beating was all it took to shut you up"
Lidia eyed Miguel
"I don't care what you say cause soon-or-later I'll be running this gang" I told him. I must have said something funny cuz he wouldn't stop laughin'
"You will huh? That's good. At least you have ambition. As of today you're a part of us but there's something your wrong about "future leader", this isn't a gang. It's an organization. The Phoenix Organization"
"The Phoenix gang? That's what the others were scared of? Bitches-" The moment I finished that word I was knocked on my ass. It couldn't have been him cuz he was too far and I'd be damned before I let a girl knock me flat.
"Watch your mouth around women." He told me.
"I'll talk however I want whenever I want" I mumbled to myself as I stood back up
"Your name is still lame. When I become the leader that's the first thing I'ma change."
"You don't like the name" he questioned me.
"It's lame" I snapped back.
"You'll learn to appreciate it one day. Anyway, now that you're one of us there are some things you gotta learn. I'm going to teach you magic, respect and how to survive.
"Magic? You expect me to believe that fairy tail shi-" this time I went flying into a wall before I could finish talking. Lidia calmly walked to Damien's side, checking his head for injuries.
"Didn't I tell you to watch your mouth around women" Miguel said in a strin tone.
Damien got back up holding back tears from the pain he left and the intense rage he knew would get him nowhere.
"Unchain thy by flame"
The cloth binding Damien burst into flames yet Damien himself remained unharmed. His watery and anger induced eyes where revealed. It took him a second but he realised what had just transpired
Damien's eyes widened as he looked around to find some evidence of an illusion.
"How..? How did you-?" The curious boy asked.
Miguel extended his arm and in the palm of it an orange circle housing 2 others with a small flame sat at the top.
"This is magic." Miguel informed.
"What… magic is.. Real?"
"It makes sense that you wouldn't know. The government likes to keep it under wraps." Miguel explained
Damien turned to look at the women behind him in shock.
"Can- can you do it too?" I asked her
"Mhm" she confirmed
"There are more than one way to cast magic and just like you've seen in tv, there are different kinds of magic. We'll start with the basic elements-"
"Wait, I'm really gonna learn magic!? I interrupted him.
"Bout time you started acting like a kid"
Miguel teased.
Damien looked away in embarrassment.
"Yeah. There's 2 ways to- you know let's just skip the boring stuff. Hold your hand out."
I did what he asked without a second thought
"Lidia, if you will" he asked
"Are you sure you want to just draw it out? It could be dangerous" She warned.
"He'll be fine" Miguel said in a casual voice.
She let out a sigh then held my hand. Now that I get a good look at her, she's beautiful.
Her long black hair, smooth skin amongst the uniform and glasses left Damien in a daze.
"Rihai mon" she said
A light green circle appeared on her hand but nothing happened.
"I knew it! I knew magic wasn't-" suddenly I felt something shoot up my body. It was sharp, like I was being stabbed over and over again. No, worse than that. Like.. my body was being dragged across razors and it felt like my body was on fire. My bones and skin felt heavy. It was so painful my mind went blank.
Miguel stared at the flames. He watched as red and orange tried to pierce through the thick black flames devouring the boy.
Lidia backed up quivering and sweating because of the pure horror she's witnessing while Miguel stood still, eyes wide, mouth open, in shock. The air in the room was so heavy, objects like pencils, staplers and the windows shattered. But were held together by the same pressure that destroyed them. This continued until Damien finally collapsed, passed out.
"I've never felt so much mana before and while it was out of control, it still stayed condensed." Miguel began to chuckle.
"Finally, this is what Phoenix was waiting for! Lidia, take him to his room." Miguel continued
Lidia took some time to collect herself before picking Damien up. Tried as she did, she couldn't stop shivering. I finally woke up.
"That magic stuff must have been some sort of nightmare." I thought. I looked around to find myself in a big room and a clean bed.
"Where am I?" I instinctively questioned. I stepped out of the bed and went for the door. Suddenly, it was kicked down and the windows bursted. People all masked up with guns came through wasting no time.
The only thing they said was
“open fire!”
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