Warning: gun violence, blood, robbery, implications of self-harm, slight masochism, and no guarantee of a happy ending.

A boy of about 19 years of age was running through the alleys of Aroman City, carrying large fabric bags.

The boy had purple hair and was wearing a black hoodie, mask, and jeans.

As he twisted through the alleyways of the metropolis, passing dumpsters and graffiti, a bullet soared through the air, hitting his right arm.

He stumbled with tears pricking the corners of his eyes.

But he couldn't stop here. He had to keep going. His friends needed him. His friends needed the bags he was carrying.

With a new determination, he ran faster, bullets being shot, and barely missing him. Twisting and turning through the alleys, hoping to shake off the gang on his tail.

He hoped he wasn't spilling too much blood, and he hoped the gang following him wasn't smart enough to look for a blood trail.

Because if they were..

His whole base would be compromised.

He can't let that happen.

He stopped and hid behind a green-turning-brown dumpster with a blue spraypainted wave on it, and sat down, wincing.

He took off his mask, showing his still young face. He did need to breathe. Unlike Intrusion, Nightmare couldn't control blood.

Young Nightmare took off his hoodie, revealing a ripped purple shirt and scar littered arms, and tore the sleeve off, tying it above the bullet wound.

He put his one-sleeved hoodie back on, and slowly stood up. The pain was almost intoxicating.

He loved it.

He looked the way he came, happy to see there was not a blood trail, and very glad to see he wasn't followed. He can't have the location of Haven disclosed to the gangs or the "heroes".

He opened the dumpster, only to show that it was empty. Except, of course, a lever covered with an old rotting blanket.

He removed the blanket, trying to not breathe through his nose, and pulled the lever.

The bottom and sides of the dumpster opened, to reveal a staircase.

Putting his mask back on, and picking up the bags, he ventured down into Haven, or as the heroes call it: the Underworld.

Word Count: 354

(I had to edit this chapter a little bit, sorry for the re-upload)