Aban was limping. He lost his left arm to a failed deal; this was supposed to be a safe city in this world. Sadly, this was not the case in the outskirts of the city. Aban was homeless and lost his designated alley in another deal. His mother and father were gone; he was told he had siblings but had no idea where they were
He was tired... so tired. The blood coming from his arm which was severed between the shoulder and elbow. He kept walking till he found something that felt like a bench.
His eyes, black hair, and beige skin were all covered in blood because someone had hit him in the head to confirm that he wouldn't squirm when they sawed his arm off. He got betrayed by his best friend as he held him down when he got beaten over the head. Jake was his name, the traitor.
Aban didn't have to worry anymore he would soon bleed out. All his blood was probably all over the bench. What was the reason to continue? Would there be anyone who would appreciate him? Did he deserve to take anyone else's resources in these outskirts?
Aban had enough so he closed his eyes and waited to die.
"So, your name is Aban."
Aban opened his eyes and turned his head, while still laying down. He could see because the blood had already drooped down from his eyes. What he saw was something he was surprised to see.
A man with red hair, a suit, and a black mask, sitting down on a bench opposite of him. Behind the man was a few trees, it seemed they were in some national park. The trees were a little run down, as expected from something in the outskirts.
The man's mask seemed to have no expression besides his eyes which seemed to have darkness behind them. He seemed to have his legs crossed in a position to make a deal. Aban was all too familiar with deals. He hated them, why wouldn't he? Aban tried to say something but felt too much blood bubbling up in his throat to say anything.
'Damn it, is this guy just here to appreciate my death?'
Aban didn't wish to die but was going to. His eyes were making everything blurry already. The man was looking further and further as time went on. Aban was cursing him out in his head; it was probably someone who was pampered, with a suit like that he most likely never experiences anywhere near the hardships Aban did.
Still Aban was hopeful he would strike some deal before he died. That mask looked powerful, and it exuded something out of it that told him that the man in front of him was strong, probably the strongest person he has ever seen.
"Do you want to be saved?"
Of course, who wouldn't want to be saved, but how was he supposed to answer? He was thinking about his life so far, if he could survive, he would get back at Jake, and the original debtor, whatever his name was.
He noticed the man start standing up, every movement was a blurry motion in Aban's eyes. He walked up to Aban, and he conjured something in his hands. It looked like a liquid of an unknown color, actually just looking at it hurt. The liquid seemed to squirm, acting as if it had a life of its own. It was a lie though because it would seem to be trapped in an invisible sphere.
Though Aban wasn't deterred at the brink of death, the only thing he could think of was his answer to that question. Spitting blood he said...
"Yes."
The liquid shot into Aban's mouth going throughout his body. Aban was feeling a sense of pain, anguish, and even more pain. He yelled and screamed. His limp body attempted to move in sync with the sounds, but to no avail.
Then everything turned black. Aban's eyes seemed to have closed. When he opened them, he opened them in shock.