K4

Prologue

                                                Prologue

In the Capital city, the long sidewalks were completely bare, save for the drones that hovered hungrily in the air, ready stand to shoot anything that came into their field of view. The tall buildings on the sides of the streets cast long shadows onto the pavement.   Rats scurried into sewer systems only to be eaten by the animals of the Elitists.

From within these shadows a lone figure appeared; a hunched body that moved cautiously, taking a step once certain that the drones were not watching. The figure quietly made its way out of the darkness until it was cast in the eerie glow of moonlight.

It was a boy, perhaps ten years old, with long brown hair held in a ponytail with a golden hair band. His eyes were penetrating black, like the coals that once heated the houses of the poor. Fearless. His black clothing clung to his body tightly, showing the muscles that lay beneath. He moved as discreetly as a cat, and he gave the impression of being far too dangerous for his years.

The boy crouched down now, like a cornered wolf baring its fangs, and with a leap jumped underneath the nearest drone. He smirked now, because he knew what many others did not: that he was safe as long as he stayed in their blind spot beneath – at least for the time being.  It would not be long before the drone sensed that something was amiss and call for help, so the boy set to work quickly. With the practiced movements that only the most skilled engineers could possess, the boy opened the bottom of the drone and removed its memory card. He delicately placed it in his pocket before putting a new card into the drone, and securing it closed once again.

Safe with the knowledge that this drone would do him no harm, the boy made his way to his original target: a tall building that’s bottom floor windows betrayed the slight presence of light. The boy now stood outside one of these windows with his back pressed against the wall, and his ear pressed to the opening in the window. From within a loud booming voice could be heard,

“Pass me the beer, won’t ya!”

“We need to get back to business, not drink more beer!”, a second voice responded with malice.

“Listen here, you… I don’t need to talk about no business! The deal is done! You gave your word and you can’t take it back now!”

“I didn’t know things would be taken that far! No one told me what would happen! If I had known that dropping-“

“Don’t you dare say to me that you didn’t know what you were doing! You were told enough…”

“Yes, but if you had warned me of the extent to the bombs destruction I would never have been involved! Now everyone is looking for me, do you realise what situation I have been put in?”

The boy’s eyes widened at the mention of the bomb. He turned his head just enough to look through the crack in the window. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the harshness of the light.

Meanwhile, the first man boomed,

“You are not in a more difficult situation than the rest of us, I can assure you.”

“Listen, you! If I were to reveal to the world your ways, you wouldn’t last a minute! So I would suggest that you smarten up and hand me the money that I was specified when I first signed up for this goddamn suicide mission!”

The room they were in was of modest proportions. Its walls were painted black, which gave it a claustrophobic feeling. The boys’ eyebrows scrunched up as he caught sight of the two men.  He took a mental note of what a contrast they were from each other.  Both in their thirties, one was fat to the point of obese while the other skinny and wiry in his early thirties. The boy watched intently as the skinny one stood up from his chair, made his way over to the other one and whispered in his chubby ear,

“You… will…never again address me in such a nonchalant manner. I am to be called sir, and sir ONLY. As for the money that you request, I am in the unfortunate position of informing you that I DO NOT FEEL like giving it to you.”

At this the skinny man took out a knife and pressed it to the other man’s throat,

“I hope that you will understand, and I offer my sincerest apologies. Now, let us enjoy some of that beer!”

The man's fat chin trembled as he replied, “Yes, sir.”

The boy watched as skinny sat down again. The boy could hardly believe what he was seeing. The two men that were sitting there, speaking about one of the world’s greatest horrors yet, were no other than-

“Oh, and I do believe we have a guest!” The skinny man laughed heartily, and within the same second threw the knife he was holding towards the window, where it easily pierced straight through the little boy’s skull.