Chapter 1

    Savio Falco lurked in the shadows of an alleyway, leaning against the door to the abandoned cellar which was used as a hideout for the orphans. Savio checked his watch: 10:36. Joshua was supposed to have come back by 10:00.

    Savio climbed down the dark stairs to the cellar. Jeni was sitting cross-legged on her mattress in the corner, reading a book she had probably stolen from the nearby library. A dim lamp sat next to her mattress, illuminating the cellar just enough to see across the small space.

    “Jeni,” Savio called softly.

    “What’s up?” Jeni responded, not even looking up from her book.

    “Joshua’s not back yet. I’m gonna go look for him. So… just stay here and don’t get into trouble,” Savio said distractedly.

    Jeni nodded and Savio went back up the stairs silently. He locked the cellar door behind him with the rusting padlock.

    He crept down the alleyway, always vigilant. He peered out to make sure the coast was clear, and then he turned left and stealthily made his way towards the small garage where Joshua worked, fixing cars and building machines. He got paid a small amount by the man who owned the car repair shop.

    The man who owned the shop, Mr. Hudnall, was a shady guy who gambled and smuggled illegal drugs across the border. He was not exactly the most trustworthy man to be working for. That’s why Joshua was also working on building a battery-powered race car to market and sell to make extra money for their orphan trio.

    Not that they could really have extra money, not when they were kids without parents, education, or much of a job.

    Savio finally approached the garage. The lights were out and no one appeared to be nearby. Usually Joshua worked late, long after Mr. Hudnall had gone, to work on building his car. But Joshua had told Savio and Jeni that he would always be back at their hideout by 10:00.

    Something must have happened, Savio thought, and it can’t be good. He called out as loudly as he dared, “Joshua!”

    No response. Savio’s voice mockingly echoed through the blackness and suspicious stillness of the night.

    Savio searched around the garage and tried the back door; it was locked.

    Savio’s heart was now pounding. He was very scared that someone had kidnapped Joshua or hurt him badly. No, he’s too strong, Savio tried to reassure himself.

    He sprinted back towards the center of the city, where the worst of the gangs lurked, waiting to knock you out and beat you up and taunt you until you wished they would just finish you off.

    Luckily, Savio had never had first-hand experience with any of those gangs. He really hoped he never had to.

    Savio could feel the darkness getting darker and he could sense danger all around him. As he ran, his beat-up running shoes treading silently on the pavement, he was constantly on guard, trying to keep watch in all directions at the same time.

    The silence was eerie, and Savio almost wished that someone would shout or make some noise. He was tempted to break the silence with a yell, even if it would give him away. But he didn’t. He remained perfectly silent, and he ducked into an alleyway that he didn’t immediately sense was dangerous.

    Suddenly, a car alarm went off somewhere in the distance, startling Savio and making him jump.