Sculven, the tiny city in which only 8536 people have either chosen to build a life or have not enough coins to change location. One of only 3 cities in the world, and just as dull as the rest. Tall stone boxes as homes for the people and the occasional well or bore, apart from the river winding through.

Breece Brooker walked alongside Linda Ways and Ava Stilton down the empty streets of Sculven. The bright sun skimming down the narrow, cobblestone walls to greet them.

The song from drunks drifting from nearby bars to their ears besides the time of midday.

Breece carried a sack of jingling coins at the belt, his hand ready to strike at anyone who dares to pinch at it.
The three friends joked and laughed, happy to be together again after finishing their chores.

Breece couldn't stop glancing at Ava in the corner of his eye when she laughed, the edge of her eyes wrinkling when she smiled.

He internally sighed and looked ahead.
With narrowed eyes he spotted four figures. All propped against the wall near the corner with their hands shoved in their pockets as if they owned the place. The corner they would have to pass to get to the market.

Linda, dressed as well as always with a clean white dress, softly tugs at his arm and sent him a look while Ava continues, her chin up stubbornly as she strolled ahead as if Lucifer's son wasn't surrounded by his minions, ten metres ahead and smirking at them.

Ava looked back and smiled at Linda, "S'okay Linda, Breece and I'll protect ya."

With steady foot falls continuing forward, the three friends approached the corner when an amused voice broke the silence.
"Well, well, if it ain't Brooker and his two hookers."

Breece faced the one who had spoken and scowled.
"Shut it, Berg!"

Cent Berg spat at the ground and pushed of the wall. "Or what, Brooker."
Cent's Minions, the three other figures, fell in place behind him, ready for a fight. Happy for a fight.

Ava moved from next to Breece, her dark brown hair flowing down her back, contrasting beautifully to the light grey colour of her sweater.
"Or I'll smack your bloody head in! That's what!"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!"
Before Linda or Breece could do anything, Ava's hand was colliding with Cent's face.

Cent pushed Ava away and swore.
As Cent was about to strike Ava, Breece punched him across the jaw. Again. And again.
He pushed Cent to the ground, only to be hauled back into a head lock by one of Berg's minions.
Breece saw Linda being shoved back and Ava biting a guys arm. Cent, muttering profanities, gripped his bruising jaw. He lifted off the ground and appeared in front of Breece only to smack him in the nose, in the jaw and stomach.
"Bastard!" Ava seethed from were she was being held against the wall.
Linda was standing there pathetically, unsure what do do as one guy held her back.
Breece's face throbbed from blood flow and he struggled against the tight head lock, his face growing an unattractive shade of red.

Grips loosened as they were suddenly soaked in cool, wet liquid.
"Oi! Darn kids, break it up! The child is trying to sleep, sort this out somewhere else, yeah?"
A elderly lady shouted crossly, holding a wooden bucket and hanging her upper body out of the window three stories up.

Breece shoved Cent and his minions away from him, wiping the blood from his nose. A enraged Ava and shaken up Linda joined him as they trudged in silence around the corner to the Market, boots crunching on the now half-gravelled path.
Ignoring the mention of 'cowards' from the gang behind them, they walked into the mass of pickpockets, merchants and noise.