The man stands at 6 feet tall, brown skin, dark blue eyes and black fuzzy hair. He is wearing a navy blue suit and black tie.
Kassius stands up and runs off out of the alley.
Man: "Hey! Where are you going?!"
Kassius runs on the street and bumps into a person. He hits the floor and looks up.
Man: "Did the fall knock your sense of hearing? Anyways, I'm gonna need my wallet back."
Kassius: "All right, all right. You got me. Here, take it."
Kassius hands him his wallet and tries to walk away but the man grabs his head.
Man: "Hold it."
Kassius (in head): "Dammit! Did he notice?"
Man: "Don't jump off buildings. You can get hurt real bad."
The man lets go of Kassius's head and Kassius walks the opposite way.
Kassius (in head): "He was carrying a lot of money. I can finally pay for it."
Kassius pockets the money and starts rushing off. The man looks at Kassius running off.
Man (in head): "Hmm..."
Kassius arrives in the outskirts of the city. He runs into a shop and rushes to the counter.
Clerk: "You got the rest of the money?"
Kassius: "Yes. You got the medicine?"
Clerk: "Of course."
He slams the bag of medicine on the front counter.
Clerk: "See? That'll be $1,000 as promised."
Kassius hands him the $1000 and takes the medicine bag, running out of the shop and speeding through the streets as fast as he can. He reaches a store and buys a small cake and candles. He leaves the store and starts running again.
Kassius (in head): "I hope it's not too la-"
Kassius bumps into someone and falls onto the ground. His cake falls to the ground and splatters a bit. The medicine bag falls to the ground as well. A group of kids surround him and one picks up his bag.
Kid 1: "What is this?"
Kassius: "Nothing, now can you guys mug me tomorrow instead? I promise I'll walk back here."
Kid 1: "Jokes now? Ayy, check if he's got some extra stuff on him."
Two of them grab him and another two search him.
Kid 2: "Oh shit. Look at this. Jackpot. That's like, eight thousand."
Kassius: "Give it back."
Kid 1: "Or what? You're gonna cry?"
Kassius: "I'm not a baby, I don't cry."
Kid 1: "So you're gonna try fight us like last time?"
Kassius spits near Kid 1's shoe.
Kassius: "Maybe."
Kid 1 swings at Kassius and punches him to the ground, causing his nose to bleed.
Kid 1: "How's that feel?"
Kassius looks up at him, holding his nose.
Kassius: "That wasn't as weak as it was last time, hehe."
Kid 1 punches him again and they all start attacking him, constantly punching and kicking him for a while.
Kid 1: "Say that again!"
Man: "Hey!"
They stop immediately and run away. The kid tries to grab the bag but Kassius holds onto it.
Kassius: "Leave the b-"
Kid 1 stomps on his hand, loosening Kassius' grip. He pulls the bag and runs away. Kassius looks up and stares for a bit. He stands up and wipes his nose, picking up the cake and reaches into his pocket.
Kassius (in head): "At least... I have one left."
He continues walking. As the sun sets, Kassius reaches a bridge and climbs down under it to a floodplain where there is a person in a sleeping bag, a campfire and some water.
Kassius: "Mom, are you awake?"
Mom: "Who's there?"
Kassius: "Mom, it's me, Kassius, your son."
Mom: "I have a son?"
He walks up to her and kisses her forehead.
Kassius: "Yes Mom. I got you the medicine I said I'd get."
Mom: "Medicine? Am I sick?"
Kassius: "Yes, but it's OK. Here... Drink up."
Kassius assists his mom and feeds her medicine and water. He helps her lie back down. She holds his arm and looks him in his eye.
Mom: "Who are you?"
Kassius: "It's me, Kassius, your son."
Mom: "I have a son?"
Kassius: "Yeah..."
Mom: "I'm so sorry, I can't remember."
Kassius: "Then just sleep for now. You'll feel better tomorrow."
Kassius leaves his mom and sits a bit away from her. She turns to her side.
Mom: "Why... why did you leave me... all alone..."
After a few minutes, Kassius walks back to his mom. He tries to hold the tears back but they fall.
Kassius cries at the top of his lungs in the cold night but not a single soul hears him. After a while, not knowing what to do, Kassius sits the cake near the thin river and lights a candle.
Kassius: "It's my turn."
Kassius crushes the medicine and sprinkles it onto his cake. Rain starts to fall as the sun starts to rise.
Kassius: "I made it to eleven. Time for the birthday song. Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! H-"
Mom: "Happy birthday dear Kassius, hap...py birth...day t..."
Kassius: "Mom!"
Kassius turns back only to see his mother still lifeless on the ground. He turns back to his cake and stares at it. Tears start pouring on the cake but he still manages to maintain a smile on his face.
Kassius: "Happy... birthday."
He eats the cake. After a short while of sleeping, he wakes up in a jolt and starts puking.
Man: "There we go. Let it out."
As he slowly starts opening his eyes, he sees a shadowy figure looming over him.
Man: "Yo!"
Kassius: "Ahh!"
Kassius jumps back and stands up, staring at the figure.
Kassius: "It's... Wha-"
Man: "Hopefully I got here in time."
Kassius: "Why?! Why, why, why?!"
Man: "Why? I jus-"
Kassius: "Leave me alone!"
Man: "Believe me, I would, but you stole my last bit of cash which I need now."
Kassius looks to his mom, and in anger starts hitting the ground. He grabs his own neck and starts choking himself. The man grabs both of Kassius' hands and stops him.
Man: "Stop."
Kassius: "Let go!"
Man: "Not until you calm down."
Kassius fidgets but the man doesn't move. After a bit, Kassius cools down.
Man: "Is that your..."
Kassius: "..."
Man: "Do you have anyone I can contact?"
Kassius shakes his head.
Man: "I figured... Ok. I'm giving you a choice."
The man lets go of Kassius and steps back.
Man: "I have a challenge for you. I'm going to attack you. If you manage to avoid me hitting you for one minute, I'll forgive you for taking my money."
Kassius: "Attack me?"
Man: "Yes, attack you."
Kassius: "And if I refuse?"
Man: "I'll throw her body into the river."
Kassius looks at him angrily and gets on his feet.
Kassius: "I'll kill you if you touch her."
Man: "Well then, I guess we have a game, right?"
The man removes his tie and covers his eyes.
Kassius: "Um... What are you doing?"
Man: "Handicapping myself, obviously. This way, you actually have a chance. Now I'll spin... whoa!"
As he stops spinning he almost loses balance. He touches his watch.
Man: "Alright. You have one minute. Ready... Go!"
The man stands still and Kassius looks directly at him.
Kassius (in head): "What do I do? Do I just run around? Stand still? He's even facing the wr-"
The man lunges at Kassius but he dodges to the side at the last moment.
Kassius (in head): "How did he...? I didn't even mo-"
Man: "You're a heavy breather. You should probably be quieter."
Kassius (in head): "Maybe if I try running away, he won't catch me."
Kassius sees a rock near his side.
Kassius (in head): "Maybe..."
As Kassius bends slowly to reach for the rock,
Man: "You're quieter now. That's good."
Kassius picks up a rock and throws it to the side. The rock lands on the ground, causing the man to turn instantly.
Man: "There."
The man immediately lunges in its direction and taps the air. Kassius starts running the opposite way. The man runs towards Kassius.
Kassius (in head): "He's fast!"
Kassius, shocked, trips to the ground. The man reaches him and just as he touches him,
'Beep beep, beep beep, beep beep, beep beep'
Man: "I guess I win."
The man removes the tie from his eyes.
Kassius: "Why did you pretend?"
Man: "Hmm?"
Kassius: "I didn't trick you with that stone, you liar. I didn't..."
The man stares at Kassius.
Man: "What's your name?"
Kassius: "Kassius."
Man: "Kassius, do you believe in a higher power?"
Kassius looks at him confused.
Man: "I've won, so I get to claim my prize."
Kassius: "What?"
Man: "Hey, don't be a bad sport. I won. The prize I want is..."
The man points his thumb at Kassius' mom.
Man: "...to bury her."
Kassius: "What?..."
The man gets up off of Kassius.
Man: "Now that I've seen her here, I can't just leave her. Whoever she is, she deserves a place to rest."
Kassius fights to hold in his tears.
Man: "I know a decent spot if-"
Kassius: "Wait! I know... where to do it."
Man: "Hmm. I see. Then, let's go there."
Kassius and the man arrive at a small hill in the furthest point of the outskirts surrounded by trees that has a view of some of the main city. Kassius and the man dig a hole in front of a tree and the man helps Kassius place his mother's body in it. They cover the ground and place some flowers on top. Kassius sits in front of her grave.
Man: "If I may ask, why here?"
Kassius: "She always said she loved sunsets. So now she can see all the beautiful sunsets she wants."
The man smiles. Kassius and the man start walking away from the hill back to the outskirts.
Man: "For a little kid, I didn't expect you to be so rigid. Most would cry at the sight of blood."
Kassius: "Well, crying won't help me, right? So why should I? Only babies cry."
Man: "Crying sometimes isn't always a bad thing, you know. It's normal for people to cry in these situations... But I get it. You're more of a cry on your own person."
Kassius: "No I'm not!"
Man: "Hahaha! OK Kassius, do you want to go around the East side of the city?"
Kassius: "The east side? I don't know. It's a bit dangerous."
Man: "Don't worry about it. I want to show you something. Plus you're with me after all so...?"
Kassius: "I mean... I guess."
Man: "Alright, let's go."
After journeying, Kassius and the man arrive at the East side of the city.
Kassius: "So, what are we here for?"
Man: "I want to show you the best place to release pent up feelings. You see that huge tree over there?"
Kassius: "Whoa! It's so huge."
Man: "They call it the Diamond tree. Only two men have been able to leave a small hole of some sort through it; A man by the name Remus, and the legend Jento Subayai. This tree is super sturdy. They say when Jento first did it, a tradition for hitting the tree began, but nobody else could manage to even do nearly as much as him, and with that, everyone slowly began to stop. But recently, Remus revived the tradition. Out of the blue too. One day he came, hit the tree, and disappeared. Now, everybody keeps trying to do it, but nobody has. So what do you say? Wanna take a swing at it?"
Kassius: "Um... I don't know."
Man: "Don't be shy. Nobody's gonna judge you."
Kassius: "Alright..."
Kassius winds up and punches the tree.
Kassius "Ow ow ow ow! Dammit that hurt! Did I do it?"
Man: "Nope. Not even a scratch. You know, some say there is a cheat to this, but obviously rumors will be rumors. I've been trying since I was little but I couldn't do it."
The man removes his tie.
Man: "But I think I understand it now. Do you mind standing to the side a little bit?"
Kassius moves to the side.
Kassius (in head): "How did anybody leave a hole in it?"
The man gets into a stance and starts heavily exhaling and inhaling. After a bit, he looks up at the tree and starts walking forward slowly. He vanishes and in an instant, appears in front of the tree, punching it as hard as he can.
Kassius: "What?!"
Man: "I... finally did i..."
The man falls to the ground exhausted. Kassius runs towards him and looks up at the tree.
Kassius (in head): "He did it?!"
Kassius stares mesmerised, as the man left a dent in the tree.
Man: "I'm... pretty strong aren't I? Hahaha. I mean, it isn't a hole like the other two, but hey... it's something.
Kassius "That's amazing!"
Man: "What do you think? Should I sign it or leave it anonymous? I mean, it's just a dent so I don't think anybody would care much hahaha!"
Kassius (in head): "He actually did it..."
Kassius: "Who are you?"
Man: "Hmm? Who am I? I guess... the world's greatest thief, Mekai Ventra."