My head whips violently from the impact of my fathers back hand coming across my face, knocking my whole body down to the ground. "Fuck!" he roars.

Barely enough time to reconcile what just happened before his foot collided with the side of my rib.

"You fucking shit, you imbecile, what do you mean she wasn't there." He screeches, pools of saliva fall like rain from his mouth.

Coughing out the pain, "I went there father, but she wasn't there."

"Liar!," he screams raising a palm and sharply bringing it down on my other cheek, knocking off my balance once again and I'm met with the ground for the second time, deeply wincing. My father's hands were thick and massive it's a surprise my whole head didn't come off with that slap.

"You liar!" Fingers glide through my hair roughly gripping patches at the scalp to raise my head high, out of fear of having my neck torn from my shoulders my body follows propping myself on my knees. Faint giggles of his whore in the background as she cheers on the abuse.

"I was clear wasn't I boy?" he growls, alcoholic breath fanning my face flying into my mouth.

My Teeth grits tightly as I force a nod, throat can't fathom any words.

"Was I not clear on the consequences?"

I cry nodding to the pain, few strands of hair plucking from my scalp.

"It seems I haven't been thorough with you hmm?" he threatens, tightening his grip. "Maybe you'll take me seriously if I pluck those teeth from your mouth,"

"Hurry and finish with him so we can have fun," the whore luckily whines from the couch.

Dark eyes suddenly light up to the statement, an idea too enticing for him to pass up on, I feel his grip loosening, eyes begin to haze with lust before clearing his throat. "You listen to me and listen good boy, you have until Friday to come up with something or I'll take matters into my own hands ridding of you first." He seethes throwing my head to the floor.

"Now get out of here" He spats, didn't even need to say anything more to me I was already hightailing up the steps, shriveling at the squeals and giggles of the whore. Slamming my bedroom door just as the sounds of kissing become apparent.

I sigh, planting my back against it allowing the cold of the wood to act as ice at the rising temperature of my skin, harsh slaps still stinging across my face, like alcohol to a fresh cut the tears only sharpening the pain. No time to cry, time to device plans on how I will keep this up whilst staying alive, but with every thought; she came to mind.

Is she still crying? how bad have I hurt her this time? the thought itself breaks me and I crumble to the floor bringing my knees to my chest. The saying of my brother was true; one day the light beams than the next it darkens I return back to my old life, just me with my old friend; darkness.

No more do I look forward to tomorrow, why bother? when she won't be there.

***

A couple of days have passed now and tomorrow was Friday, so far my father has been too busy and cooped up with his whore to notice me slip in and out of home, scouring the streets for food or any jewels that were left unattended. I have returned to my old ways, it's a shame, nothing to be proud of but this time survival is at hand.

It's keeping me alive and fed that is what matters, since no one will lend a hand, I must fight for survival.

Only challenge I faced was abstaining my legs from leading me out into the field or force my head not to look over at that room in the tallest tower. Easier said than done, but for now it's what's best, but best believe I'll go back for her in the future. That's a promise to myself.

New goal now is focusing on the old technique, and I have spotted one.

Just at the end of the pavement, a run down home worse than mine. A few women sit outside on rusty buckets, large pots sat before them on the ground with thick steam emanating from the source.

Famished and desperate, there was no way I could wait until the sun sets, but Whatever they were cooking they had it guarded. The wind blows to me bringing the smell of meat. It's like the aroma itself wrapped around my body with a hug, luring me to follow the heavenly scent. Unknown to me when I started to walk over, driven by the painful hunger in my gut, the closer I came, the more my mouth watered but yet something felt strange.

"I wouldn't get too close." A voice suddenly spoke out of nowhere starling me back into reality. A soft voice spoken with a slight squeak of a young girl. I stilled in my tracks frantically glancing around for the owner of the voice before she suddenly giggled.

"Your funny" she says still hidden from sight. A voice coward enough to be hidden isn't worth my time nor efforts in searching, never trust anyone. "Wait where are you going?"

"Home" I retort turning around.

"No, don't. Stay I'm bored" she whines irritably. High pitched voice sets off an annoyance in my blood.

"Not my problem" I don't mean to be a prude but one thing being in this town is to never be too nice, everyone will take advantage and you will still finish last in this messed up game called life.

"Is it because I told you not go over there?" she scoffs.

Despite taking a few steps away from where I was planted her voice still followed closely, almost as if she followed me. "Where are you?" I questioned furrowing my brows. "and who are you?"

An unsettling silence as a response before she giggles, "We have lived in the same streets for years and never have played together."

"I don't know who you are?" I urged, looking above to the cemented popcorn design of the homes, patches of dark green mold on the sides and corners, a few curtains jerks shut. It hadn't dawned on me until than that I was walking alone in the streets talking to to no one in particular.

Realizing the circumstance somehow that voice once again giggles, "Don't worry, people call my mother crazy all the time."

Discreetly I pretend to be occupied, not speaking to loudly. "Look either step out and speak to me or I'll leave and ignore you." A wind dramatically whistles by blowing at my clothing, but she remained silent.

"Hmm very well" I concluded taking a step.

"Wait" she sighs. "If you insist." The sudden sounds of what seems like feet planting to the ground drawing in closer and closer, my eyes divert to every corner and pathway until she steps out of the shadows just before me.

Ivory skin tainted with mud scuffs down her legs, red patches and scars on her knees filthy green shorts and a pink shirt, strands of her blonde hair disheveled and dry. A commonr at it's finest, puffy cheeks stained with mud, only true beauty she radiates were her eyes, as if staring at the bluest ocean itself. Shimmering and vibrant, she then smiles and I blink away.

"Surprise," she cheeses.

Unimpressed I nod, "Yea, so who are you?"

She scoffs, "I have been your neighbor for a long time and you never noticed me? I'm charlotte."

"Hi Charlotte, now why are you following me like a -"

"Shadowman?" she cuts in, my brows fuze together in question, how does she know that name? I've only ever said it to the Princess. Seeing my confusion she giggles.

"Uh yea?"

"I bet you're wondering how I know that name" she giggles. I had a feeling I'd be here all day and I wasn't blessed with the luxury of time. Something felt off about her and the more Indulged the more I'd regret it. a knot forms in my stomach pinching painfully until it growls out loud, I groaned in pain wrapping my arms around the ache in an attempt so soothe it.

"I have food," she blurts. Distastefully I peeked up to her suddenly disinterested in food especially if it's coming from her, instead I turned back to the women from before, though far away but they still sit outside surrounding the pot. Maybe there is still time, the sun has already started to descend.

"I wouldn't" The girl interrupts.

I roll my eyes, "What?"

"I wouldn't go past that line, or get too close to that side."

A wave of annoyance eating away at my common sense, yet peaks my interest. "What?" I questioned turning back to meet a half smirk stretched on her rosy lips. "What do you mean?"

Reassuringly she glances around keeping a guard up, her eyes linger on a building and she nudges for me to follow with her head. Thin white curtains but the silhouette of a figure could be made out thanks to the setting sun, we were being watched.

"Why don't we speak somewhere else?" she suggests and for the first time in this whole encounter I think I might actually agree.

Despite us moving away, the figure behind the curtain never moved.

Down a river bed we traveled, I noticed she too steers clear from dark shadows and pathways occasionally glancing around or pasung at the sudden movement and noises. So I wasn't the only one living in fear, that opened up a slight trust for her. However her dances and songs were still annoying, Perhaps I have not been to this side of town, but I don't remember these buildings being here, or ever built.

Strange it almost as if they were abandoned, tiny holes with blood stains on the outside, I wondered what happened.

"These are the Manors of the first generation." Charlotte's voice suddenly echoed startling me for the hundredth time. I hadn't noticed I paused to look at the buildings when she walked towards me.

"Huh?"

"These homes were built before we ever moved here my mother told me." blue eyes sparkling under the sun.

"What happened?" I question eagerly looking at the strange holes scattered around the walls. each hole had a blood stain.

"Something scary."

My brows furrow, "Like?"

"Well" she sighs, "My mom told me that there was an attack on everyone in these buildings, she told me that it used to be homes with very poor families."

Intently I listened.

"They were hungry, the kids were on the edge of dying and they couldn't live off the rats any longer. But one day while the father went out in search for rodents or anything he can find it was he was approached by the previous king but the king wasn't alone, he was with one of the men that lingers in the shadows with those big expensive cars."

"The king? and one of the shadow men?"

"Mhmmm."

"What did they say to him?"

"No one knows, but apparently that night a deal was struck. An offer so enchanting the man could not refuse, but soon after everyone in this town soon noticed the man and his wife were dressed in riches one day."

"The man and wife? what happened to the kids?"

"Exactly. None of their kids were ever found it was like they disappeared but one day they had a ball in celebration of the wife's birthday. An elder women needed some water and opened the freezer down stairs when she notices an immense amount of meat stuffed inside. The man and wife said that they were given deer and pig by the king for his services and no one ever questioned it again except a few people that were skeptical."

Goosebumps coat at my skin with a sudden chill down my spine. I can hear my staggering breath.

"Soon than on there were missing children and teens, not a hint of laughter or child anywhere but there was always festivals and feast, so much meat they invited the king and his wife at the time. It seemed like everything was going great until one day they were supposed to continue with their bargain but there were no kids in town, they were given a year to produce but none of the women could get pregnant. The king fell awfully ill and it made him angry, they had two days to come up with a child or the deals everyone had would tarnish."

"How do you know all of this?" I question slightly uneasy.

"My grandmother told my mom and she told me, but there is more."

I don't think I could handle any more but My interest peaked too high.

"When they could not pay the debt, the men were aligned in a row and one by one a man pressed a button and their heads exploded."

I turned to look at the walls with the holes and dried blood stains.

"The women were fearful but they didn't want to go down without a fight and they turned to Voodoo." she whispers. A wind dramatically brushes by us.

"Voodoo?"

"Dark magic" She blurts. "Blood of goats, cows and pigs they would gather outside during a full moon and slaughter the king and his queen ending the truce for a demon, but this one is a bit skeptical."

"Skeptical?"

"Mhmmm" she nods thinning out her lips. "No one knows for sure what happened, some say they awakened a blood thirsty demon but some say they were approached by a man, a tall man with my skin and a beard, drawings all over his arms and fingers, they made a deal with him instead, my grandmother told me and that was the end of a strange era. But It seems whatever deal they had is still active to this day."

"What deal was it?"

"No one knows" she shrugs. "But have you ever noticed a lot of disappearances around our town? and a lot of activity going on with the Palace? how even the oldest of old still run and play dodgeball as if they have no care or fear of death?"

I Nod distantly never recalling of seeing such a thing, all in all that information seemed strictly classified, I am still hungry, one question has been answered but why interrupt me from my activity and warn me? "What does this have to do with bringing me back here?"

"You smelt meat right?"

... "Yes?"

"What animals have you seen roaming around the neighborhood freely besides rats?"

It was like common sense hit me with a bat, "What?"

"How many boxes have you seen in front of doorsteps lately? and how many kids disappear the next day?"

I couldn't control my oxygen. It breaks uncontrollably leaving a heave in my chest, "What are you saying Charlotte?"

"Food is scarce Nasir and the black market runs high, the meat you craved isn't no ordinary meat, the witches from along time ago still live, even waking the dead to live again amongst us once again," stepping closer to me.

"Nasir, you and I at the black market run high, eating our organs is what keeps things afloat, or any of our body parts. I'm sorry but the meat you craved isn't what you think, Its children they are cooking.

The oxygen dissipates in my lungs and left me with a deafening ring in my ear drums, words can't solidify and I'm constantly trying to speak.

"Food is purchased at the black market" she continues. I didn't know until one day I bit into a burger and there was a thumb inside it."

Bile clawing at my throat, the battle to suppress it kept getting harder and harder just like the information I'm soaking in.

"I never told my mother, but since that day I swore away from purchased meat and turned to eating little mice and roaches."

Goodness this is sickening, an accusation like this could get us beheaded, why would she be comfortable to tell me such things? we barely even know each other but it's just like I said, trust no one. "Nice try Charlotte I'm going home now, do you even hear yourself you sound nuts".

"It's the truth I'm telling you I swear" she follows running after me.

"Look never talk to me again and -" I stilled at something, just as I turned around a shadow moves behind the building stepping forth into the golden hour light of the sun, following my gaze Charlotte squeals rushing behind me, both our necks cran upwards with the clicks of walking on the floor.

A silhouette of a man, dressed in royal attires arms folded behind his back, the golden crest of the palaces initials shimmers as he stepped closer into the light, until we were presented with an elder man.

"Good evening children" he smiles sinisterly, rows of ivory teeth with two unordinary long ones, "I hope I didn't interrupt anything."