Event!Tale- The path of the Damned

Part two Chapter 4 - Handshake

Keith' spent adolescence on the streets hardened his mind, and body, but shattered his spirit. With nobody willing to help, he had to manage by himself. The year was 2014, four years since he lost his dear Family, warm home, and his life. For the past four years he earned many names. The Ballinamore's eye savage , Butcher of Newtown Gore, Ballyheise's eye collector, And finally, the Dublin's Phantom.

He killed many, but he never wished to.

This night was cold, Keith, sat in an alley by a nearby SuperValu, looking at people doing their last shopping for the day. Lost in his thought he didn't notice a man sneaking up behind.
-Hey Kid, that's my spot.- the Bum he's been seeing for the last two months finally spoke to Keith, with his coarse voice probably caused by the alcohol abuse. That's exactly how the Kid imagined he'd sound like.
-How about I say...- Keith looked in his eyes with a bored expression.- Find yourself a new spot?- He lazily turned his head back to the convenience store's entrance. He saw a mother and her infant daughter enter the building, and through the glass door he saw the store clerk trying his best, to hide his irritation, as he moved the mop back to the facilities. He almost forgot about the drunken man that stood above him.
-Mooove your ass off!- Keith got nudged by the Hobo's foot, which perhaps attempted to kick him off the "spot". That immediately enraged Keith. He grabbed the leg that was loosely hanging in the air after the kick attempt and pushed it so hard, that the hobo lost his balance and landed head first on the concrete pavement. Then he pulled out his knife, caked in food bits and blood and placed the edge under the stunned man's eyelid. The man with a ginger beard looked like he was put in a cold shower. His eyes were sober, and gave away fear.
-You'll lose an eye for this...- Keith pressed the knife further, dislocating the eyeball. Confusion and fear turned into sheer panic, as the Bum realised who is he dealing with
-No..! Please!- His eyes were more lively than ever, it seemed that they want to escape by themselves. The hobo tried to hold and push away the armed hand of the kid, but his ruined body just couldn't resist. Eventually, Keith released the knife, and replaced it to the chest.
-Your pockets. Empty them.- Keith hasn't eaten anything for a day now, so any amount of cash or food could suffice him. The homeless guy quickly shook out his coat and managed to take out a 2 euro coin, Keith took it and got off the ground.
-Leave.- He examined carefully the coin, as he heard the defeated guy stomp away, as he tried to run.
He looked back at the closing SuperValu, and saw the little girl looking back at him, as her oblivious mother walked holding her child's hand. She couldn't be older than 6.

It was close to midnight, and Keith found himself outside of a gas station, with a pizza roll he managed to buy for the looted money. Another man approached him, the first glance sold out who he was. Skinny body, shaky hands, and eyes that just couldn't stop moving.
-Hey hey..!- The crackhead immediately got into a conversation with the young stranger - Listen, uhh... Do, do, do you have some spare change?- The thin man spoke quicker than his brain could record. -You know, Help your man out!- That wasn't a convincing way to ask for change.
-I have nothing.- Keith responded truthfully. That one cent in his pocket wouldn't really help the stranger out.
-Maan... Fuck you!- He pointed angrily at Keith and took a few steps back -You'll be asking me for some money next time!-He quickly backed off, turning his head around, like a bobbing chicken, Keith chuckled at that hilarious scene, and didn't pay further attention to it, ate his stuff and went back to his place.

The night was like any other, Keith had his resting "shack" in Philipsburg avenue's alley. As he was getting ready to sleep, a black S-Class Mercedes pulled over nearby. The boy looked at the lit up clock tower.
-Almost like in movies...- That should be a warning by itself. But Keith in boredom and plain curiosity forced himself out of bed, or as you prefer: an abandoned mattress covered in dumpster clothes. And peaked on a finely dressed gentleman.
Who the hell knows the reason why he stopped, and what was he doing here. But Keith didn't really care, as he saw a nice and thick wallet in the Tall gentleman's back pocket. He smoothly left the corner he was hiding in, casually approached the stranger. Now noticing that he's not quite as tall as he saw at first. Just that moment of Inattention made him completely miss two other guys, both with gorilla like physique.
-Hmpf..!-  Keith got quickly grabbed and shoved on the nearby wall. We're his intentions that readable?
-The nerve of people around here...- The fine gentleman said with disgust
-I didn't even get to Straighten my legs, and a smartass like you gets a brilliant idea to rob me... You know what to do.- The last sentence was said to the other two. Both towered over the robber. Instinctually Keith pulled out his nasty knife, and without a warning he jabbed the right one directly in his left eye, causing him to immediately curl in pain.
That bold move couldn't end well. The other tough guy knocked him off his shoes, Keith's knife fell next to his face
-Tommy! Are you okay?
-Urrgh..!
-Fucking hell... The blood's everywhere!
-Take him to the hospital...
-And what about the kid?
-That kid... -Keith's final moments of consciousness ended, he was at the mercy of his victims.