Chapter 6: Rin
The air was heavy with the smell of decay and rust, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere in the sewer tunnels. Rin huddled low, wrapping her old, worn-out coat tightly around herself for warmth against the chill. A flickering lamp provided the only light, casting long, dancing shadows on the grimy concrete. She splashed through the ankle-deep sewage, the water thick and stagnant, but she didn't mind the occasional rat scurrying by; they were simply a part of life down here.
With careful steps, she navigated the twisting tunnels, staying aware of every sound around her. The rats moved quickly, their tiny eyes reflecting the faint light before disappearing into cracks in the walls. The silence, however, was what really made her uneasy.
These tunnels formed a confusing maze, with random twists and turns. Sometimes, she found herself at a dead-end alcove, surrounded by rusted pipes. Here and there, vagrants had crafted makeshift shelters, some living snugly inside pipes, while others huddled in small alcoves, using scraps of fabric and plastic to create cozy walls. Each corner harbored someone seeking refuge.
Rin's stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten in hours. That nagging hunger was hard to ignore and clouded her thoughts. But even more pressing than her hunger were the worries swirling in her mind about Rook, her twin brother, who had been missing for three days now, and the troubling rumors Nick had shared with her.
Nick had mentioned that Rook might have crossed the Joker gang and could be in trouble. Of course, Rin couldn't help but feel a wave of anxiety wash over her at the thought of her brother in danger.
"That Rook, why does he always have to take unnecessary risk?" Softly muttered Rin through gritted teeth.
As she walked past another rusted pipe, where a family of four vagrants, a couple and their two children were gathered, she could hear their soft, muffled voices.
This family was the only vagrant family found in the sewers. Given the fact that life of a vagrant was always filled with poverty, people like rarely committed to making family, given that families brought more mouths to feed.
So given that the family of four had been able to survive on their own as a family was quite an achievement.
It made them popular even among the vagrants.
While in midst of her thoughts, Rin suddenly heard a loud crash echoeing through the tunnel, followed by some choice words. Rin froze, her heart racing. She peeked around the corner just in time to see a young man tumble out from one of the alcoves. His face was bruised, and his clothes were in tatters. When he spotted Rin, his eyes widened with worry for a moment before he swiftly took off sprinting down the passage. Moments later, a few other vagrants appeared, rushing in the same direction.
"Nick!" Rin gasped, filled with concern. The young man she had seen was Nick, her brother's trusted partner. Like Rook, Nick had always been there for her, looking out for her whenever Rook went off on his food missions.
Her heart raced as she recalled how battered Nick looked. The thought that someone had dared to attack him in these tunnels worried her deeply. Everyone knew that those who lived in these parts were under Gloria's protection, especially Nick, Rook, and Rin herself, all of whom had a close bond with the fearsome Gloria.
"Could something have happened to Gloria?" Rin pondered, an uneasy thought settling in. This was the only logical reasoning, given the fact that someone harmed Gloria's people in her territory.
This only indicated that something might have happened to her.
Leaning against a pipe, Rin briefly closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the situation. If something had indeed happened to Gloria, it couldn't just be bad for her people; it would be particularly concerning for Rin. After all, the only reason a girl like her had been able to safely navigate the sewers, even without Nick and Rook around, was because of Gloria's influence.
And without the influence of the fearsome lady, Rin didn't even know if she would be able to survive.
The distant sound of rushing water echoed through the walls, reminding her of the continual flow of the sewage.
As the unsettling realization of Gloria's possible predicament sank in, Rin suddenly didn't feel safe anymore. She hurried toward the alcove where she lived.
Upon entering, she took a spot in a dark corner where the flickering candlelight couldn't reach. For a while, the alcove was filled with silence. Rin could only pray that it would remain that way, which she knew was highly unlikely. After all, Nick and Rook, especially, weren't well-liked by many in these sewers. And if Gloria was in a dire situation, there was little hope for both Rook and Nick.
One might wonder why Rin would risk hiding in this alcove despite knowing it would be the first place their enemies would search. The answer was simple: she had considered the danger but felt it was her only option. Every other part of the sewers was occupied by vagrants, and the surface was an even more dangerous place for girls like her, so she could only remain there, hoping Nick or even Rook might return, even though she found the likelihood of that happening slim.
Especially Rook, who she already suspected that he was dead already.
Based on what she knew about the Joker gang, they were very vindictive, and anyone who crossed paths with them rarely survived the encounter. Releasing a dejected sigh, Rin muttered softly, "I guess I can only pin my hopes on Nick."
"Nick." As she thought of her brother's friend, who always treated her like his own sister, she suddenly remembered someone who might be in an even more precarious situation than she was.
"Melissa." Nick's fifteen-year-old little sister must have been having a rough time. Given Nick's current state, he was definitely not in a position to protect her.
And surely those who were coming after Nick, would attack the girl too.
Rin's heart raced as she imagined what kind of terrible situation little Melissa must have been experiencing. She couldn't help but curse her helplessness. Despite everything Nick had done for her and Rook, she wasn't able to save his little sister when she needed help.
As she cursed under her breath, Rin's helpless expression suddenly shifted to one of determination. "No, I'm just making excuses. How can I know that I can't help her if I don't try?" With that thought in mind, Rin made the choice to save Melissa.
As she stood up from the dark corner, Rin suddenly paused. A faint noise reached her ears, footsteps at the entrance. She tensed, straightening up, her eyes darting toward the shadows.
The footsteps grew louder and closer, and then a figure emerged from the tunnel ahead a boy of average height and thin build. His face was partially obscured by shadows, but through the dim light, Rin could make out his features.
For a heartbeat, the world seemed to turn still. Rin's mouth fell open as she realized the identity of the newcomer. The stranger didn't move immediately, studying the place as if it were foreign to him. It seemed he hadn't noticed Rin yet.
Rin let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, her tense muscles relaxing with relief. "Brother," she whispered softly, still not believing what she was seeing. "I thought you were dead."