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It's been a few days since they left the house. The place they were in was known as Pale City, there were alot of grown ups who either looked to the children with pity or contempt, Mono stuck close to Six out of fear of the people around them, he wished for his bag again with all of the stares they were getting. Six would pat his arm to reassure him that she wasn't going to go anywhere and leave him behind, it was a small comfort at least.
Teaching Mono about the world proved.... Difficult in shadows opinion, he was easily distracted by the things going on around him but they bit their tongue from any comments due to Six glaring at them if they were to make a remark. Mono fo7und out to get food, they would need money or to take it when no one is looking... Or rummage through trash if they were desperate. Adults didn't seem very interested in helping them which got him frustrated. Six had to hold him back from throwing a rock at another kid who tripped him and laughed. The second Six let go though he threw a small stone and hit the boy right on the head, the regret was instantaneous when the kid glared at them and was making his way over. Six grabbed his hand and they made a run for it, the kid yelling behind them as they ran, soon losing the brat in the crowd. Six pulled him to an alleyway and the first thing she did was glare at him as he says he's sorry at least four times before she huffs and pats his shoulder, when Six deemed it safe they left their hiding place in the alley and continued walking, Six was getting hungry and they had to find food somewhere.
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A young boy was running for his life, a bag of food in hand as an angry man shook his fist at the boy, yelling obscene words as the boy kept running. He was running out of breath but he couldn't stop now, not when he finally got something to eat tonight. When he thinks he's finally safe he bumps into someone, the other person yelped as he fell to the ground, the food he recently took strewn around them. He looked to see who he ran into and saw it was a boy with strange eyes. The girl standing next to him growled and looked ready to attack him, the other boy put a hand on the girls shoulder and she calmed for a moment. The thief mumbled an apology as he gathers the food in a bag.
Mono and Six watched him pick up the food before helping with the remaining pieced. Mono sees him freeze up when they hear a grown mans voice yelling for his bag back. Mono grabbed both Six and this new boy and ran, them quickly running with so they don't stumble or fall again, Mono looks around and they take a sharp turn down a street and run into an alleyway, there are large boxes strewn about so he motions they hide under them.
Once they hear the grumbling of the man pass them by Mono poked his head out of the box he was under, sighing in relief before saying a small "Hey"
Six and the new boy come out of their hiding places, the boy held the bag close to him, not wanting to lose what was inside. Six looks confused then made a hand gesture to mono. Mono looks to the boy and holds a hand to him and smiled. The kid looked at him suspiciously before taking his hand and shaking it.
The boy was known as RK and he had sat down with them to share the food he had, it consisted of mostly fruit, some smoked meat sticks, some bread and cheese. there were makeshift sandwiches made from the meat, cheese and the bread. The fruit could be eaten later, but at least they were able to fill their bellies for now. RK told the story about how he ran away from a place that sold children away, he can't remember what it was called but he knew children were conditioned to behave and do whatever an adult told them to. Even if it was something strange, he didn't want that life, didn't want to be someone's slave. He tried convincing the other kids to come with him but none seemed to wanna leave a place with a roof and food. to him they were already gone and couldn't be helped if they wanted to throw away their freedom
Six didn't tell her story about where she lived, or why an apparition was always by her side when RK pointed to the shadow, just that shadow has been by her side for the longest time it would feel weird without them.
Shadow provided no answers as they said things were very blurry if they try to remember things about their past, or if they were alive, only vaguely remembering something with screaming, and eyes staring them down before it all went blank. They could also remember smelling blood.
Mono couldn't tell his story as all he remembers is being left in that room, it always felt like he was either being kept away from the world.. Or the guardian he had was ashamed of his existence but still somehow cared enough to still feed him. Maybe it was something else he isn't sure, he just remembers hearing a sound that made his head hurt a lot before passing out, then having strange dreams about a television set and a massive eye staring at him.
RK looked at Mono and frowned, he can imagine Mono was very lonely until Six was around, they seemed to stick together like glue. RK suggested they stick together until they can find something or someone who would be willing to help them. Six rolled her eyes at the idea of someone helping them, seemed like anyone in the pale city are more invested in whatever is on the screen or themselves. Mono pondered the offer of sticking together, more people means more eyes, and with RK's skills as a thief they might have a better chance at food. While hesitant at this Six had to admit that it's not a bad idea.
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A week since RK joined them they had a higher chance of getting food, Six, Mono and Rk would sleep under boxes in alleyways to keep out of the elements when they continued their travels for safety they see someone arguing with a girl in a yellow raincoat similar to Six's, it looked like the girl was backed into a fencing over a bridge. Whatever was said the other person and their group of bullies didn't seem happy about it and shoved the girl off of the bridge, making her fall into the water below. RK reacted first and jumped into the water, having a good skill in swimming was a good thing. Mono wanted to jump in but he couldn't swim. Six was frustrated, whoever those kids were they'd live to regret it if she got her hands on them. Shadow motioned that it wasn't the time for that and they ran to the shallows to help RK pull the girl to shore.
The girl wasn't badly injured bit she inhaled some water and had a coughing fit. The girl looked at the group confused before asking who they were.
"So Let me get this straight" The girl in the yellow raincoat starts. "You guys are basically orphans now, and you're looking for a place to stay?" The group nod. " Count me in!"
"Wait, what??" Shadow looked at this girl in disbelief.
"Yea, I wanna tag along"
"But.. Why?"
The girl in the raincoat crossed her arms and grumbled. " I don't like where I live, there's a bunch of other kids there who have higher chances of finding a home than I do, and the other kids like to remind me of it..."
"...Orphan?" Mono asks, getting a nod in response, he looks to shadow and frowns.
Shadow looked at him, then to the others and sighs. "Well, we're a little ragtag group, so why not be with our ragtag group?"
The girls face lit up and she whoops in her excitement. "Name's Raine now lets go on an adventure!" She yells in her excitement.
Shadow snickered as they talked to one another. Maybe things won't be so bad with her coming along.
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Unknown to our kids, the one who was a guardian to Mono had taken notice that the boy was missing and hired someone to bring him back.