Slum.

Everything appears dark and hollow when a person is never loved. Life plays tricks on them. Playing with their feelings and turn every of event against them. The person always tries to search for life itself. As if, life is something to ask for, something to search for. They never get it that it is them who have no life in them, instead of searching for it. Such person is always overlooked. Sometimes it drowns people into extreme dark abyss. Sometimes it is the family, and friends circle.  Everywhere such person exists. Unable to name the problem they have.

However, a place, if it ever exists, it should be the City O. There are lives in O where no one wants to stay. A place filled with suspicious and questionable people. The city is not governed with law. It is lawless and a place where children with no future are dumped. Life here is solely based on survival of the fittest. Additionally, also of luck. Still what luck will a person with broken heart even have?

At the deepest part of the city O. A group of new children were transported at night more frequently than ever. The city at night appears pitch black. Like no one stays here apart from the truck that arrived here just now. Some small cries could be heard from the truck. The driver came out with others and smoothly transferred the children one by one inside the cage. No one dared to rebel or shout. It was only when the truck vanished from their sight that the children found themselves staring at pitch black area only. 

The surrounding was chaotic. None of the people inside knew what is happening with them. They didn't wait for long though and soon a group of people came. They stopped their old beat-up cars and steps down. They appeared very solemn and crazy. Their face has terrible scars which added into more threatening vibe. The flash of the beat-up light up the section where the children are dropped. 

The leader with dark long hair pointer his gun and spat out disdainfully, "Go, take care of them." Then he shot once.

The children in the cage trembled and howled loudly. The group didn't care and walked towards the cage. Few men and women opened the cage and sort the group of children accordingly to their gender. They were so afraid that none of them could stand still. After all they are still children.

The leader coldly looked through the group and said darkly, "These are some useless goods."

The person beside him nodded, "They are. I shouldn't have expected anything from them."

It wasn't unexpected that they are delicate. Most are from upper class. They are no doubt beautiful but it's evident that they won't survive. Here in city O everything depends on survival of the fittest. Beauty has little of use here.

The lady beside them said, "Should we just send them to prostitute hall?"

The leader nodded and asked, "How many are here?"

The lady replied, "47 in total."

She smiled flirtiously and said, "Seems like the production is faster now." Everyone laughed aloud. 

It is no doubt the case since in City O the number of times the children being transported are growing. At first it used to be once a year but now it has turned into once a month. Surely, there are so many children to take care of for those rich and comfortably staying people. They just go around spreading seeds without any care. Life for them goes on but so in slums.

The leader turned around and waved, "Take care of it. I'm going back."

The others nodded and took the group of children into the tattered van just behind them. In short span of few minutes everyone departed from the area. The atmosphere around became quiet eerily like those in the graveyard. It could make one's hair stand due to vigilance. Soon there sounded a rustling sound. 

Under the moonlight a snow-white little hand clutched the handle of the cage. The knuckles were pale and seemed to exert quite energy. The group of people were long gone and so there was no one in sight. 

Nobody, from earlier had realized that someone was left into the cage. Since it was extremely dark no one noticed a deathly silent girl inside the cage with no emotions. The girl who is looking at the surrounding calmly. Her face is oval shape and those pairs of eyes where truly mesmerizing. It is no doubt that she will be a beauty. But there is no light in the girl's eyes. She is dull and gives off a depressing vibe. Her cherry-like lips dried and pursed tightly. 

With her movement stopped, soon the surrounding entered into terrifying serene. The girl looked left and right as if gaining understanding of the area. She slowly rose on her feet and walked out in the little light. She appeared to be of 8 years, and her body is covered in black jeans and a black windbreaker at the top. Her long hair also dark like night.

The moonlight shone on the area and slightly reflected on her. Her snow-white appearance glowing. She moved from that place and left without looking back. The darkness enveloped her. As if welcoming her into O City's hellhole.

She moved around for very long and sat down at a corner for rest. Like a doll lost in memories, she also got lost in thoughts. 

Her family is the richest in the City Z. Prior to coming here, she was still attending her school. She was picked up from her class suddenly and told that her mother died due to a disease. They didn't clarify what kind of disease though. She just attended her mother's funeral and was brought straight to this place.

Her heart was empty. She knew something was not right when she heard her mother's death. She inherited her mother's calm disposition. Although her life before was never harsh it wasn't good either. She was taught from the small that nothing in life is guaranteed. Like her life as a rich daughter. It was never a promise that she would stay like that. Her mother always exerted effort to make her heart cold so to never get hurt. 

She always used to tell her that nothing in life is yours, so never attach yourself with anyone. Not even to her. You will get hurt and life will teach you this lesson until it is carved into your bones.

She understood why her mother did so. Her mother was in poor health from the moment she gave birth to her. She was always on the edge knowing that her life may come to an abrupt end. Those cold words where the form of protection to her as her mother wanted her to know things beforehand and not feel despair when reality splash before her. She should not feel suicidal.

She looked around and saw a small house and walked towards it but stopped soon. The inside sounded with loud noises. Many guys and women moaning could be heard. With no second thought she turned to other side and left. It was not like she never heard it before. Her father had multiple affairs, and he never tried to cover it before her let alone to her mother. How did he wanted them to react? She does not know. It might be because it was destined to be like that. 

She gritted her teeth as her heart felt clenched as if trying to do something. But she does not know. Soon she walked to a broken hut at the corner. No one was around and she just stayed there. The feeling from before disappeared in the mist of confusion. 

She unknowingly fell asleep.  It is good that it is summer, otherwise she would have caught a cold.

By the time she woke up, there were countless noises. Once she opened her eyes, the bright light from outside penetrated straight into her eyes. It took some time to open her eyes and afterwards it widened in shock. Not far from her, a group of people surrounding a lady. She has her stomach bulge, apparently pregnant.

"It is too late! How can you even make mistakes like this?"

"I think the grace of this lord has left you feel like the master of your life."

One man smiled coldly and said, "You dared to get pregnant! Did you not take any contraceptive?"

The lady shivered. Tears fell down; it made her look more beautiful. But it was not the point. She begged, "I did take them. I don't know why it didn't effect on me."

The man however didn't believed her. He said, "Damn it! There is already a problem of food and shelter here in O. And now you are giving birth!?"

The other man also frowned, "There is no other way. We shall just abort it."

The lady trembled, she asked pursing her lips, "Can that be even done. The baby is already a few months now."

The man rolled his eyes, "So you know it's been a few months and yet you never noticed? Or you did noticed but still kept it?" The end of the sentence was very cold.

The lady shook her head in despair. She cried and said, "I didn't knew. If I knew why would I keep it. My own life is unknown here."

The men surrounding her nodded. That's true. In O no one needs more burdens since their own lives are unknown of its next second.

The man said, "Lets go. We will take you to the hospital."

Afterwards they dragged the woman from there.

They never found out someone hiding and looking at everything. After they left a girl slowly came out from the broken hut. She walked behind them. Since there is a hospital, she should as well try to go there. However not long after she lost them. The surrounding is very confusing. It has small turnings at every possible corners. 

She felt extremely unwilling but there is no lead anymore. She also forgot the way back and thus continued to walk. Every few corners are surrounded by groups of people. Like those are their territory.

And although she can hide from them, she also has problems. She has been without food and water for two days already. Her eyes are turning blurry. She walked for God knows how long and soon saw a tap to drink water.

She dragged her body and just as she opened the tap, it gushed out with dirty water. However, it's not the time to consider if it's dirty of not. She has to drink to survive. 

It was same the next day and day after that too. There was no one to help her out. Like she was alone in tis hell hole. If possible, she wished someone kind will find her here, but judging from people she encountered in these past days it was just a wishful dream. She might die faster than anyone if got in hands of those people. 

Days passed slowly. Extremely slow.

She lived for almost ten days drinking from the tap water. However, without food her body is nothing more than a pile of semi-movable skeleton.

On the eleventh day, she drank the same water but heard people coming. She left hurriedly.

The person said, "You sure?"

She froze at the same place before running to hide somewhere.

The other seemingly nodding, "Of course! I saw her thrice already. That girl must be around here. Her body was small and appeared to have not eaten for a long time."

The tap water was not closed properly. 

The person looked around and saw no one. But just as he moved to look in other side, he stopped as he interestingly looked at the small shoe at the corner. Although her body was not in sight, but the shoe was extremely eye-catching. It was o Nyke's latest design. Here in O, it is difficult to find even a piece of rag clothes, how can something so expensive be lost here. The man smirked and thought, 'Hiding herself.'

He waved at others, "Alright off you all go. I will search here myself."

The people around him didn't question and left one after another. It appeared that he is the group leader or at least have control over these people. After a long time when no one was around, he walked towards the place where she was hiding.

Just as he removed the broken door a shocking thing happened. The girl held a rusty and breakable knife and rushed forward with all her strength. The man was a bit stunned but soon laughed and dodged her attack with a simple tilt of his body. He was too amused and the glint in his eyes glowing in interest. 

The girl was super weak. It can be due to no food supplements. In no time she fell on the ground. The man smiled wickedly and just as he looked at her face he was delighted beyond words. Beauty although has no use here, it can't be said to be completely useless either. The men are vain. He is no different.

"The catch this time is super fruitful!" He laughed out aloud. 

The little girl is of many uses to him. It's good that she fainted. Her beautiful face is too eye-catching. He cannot help but take few more glances at her before happily picking her up and turned around. To his surprise, his eyes met with someone else's.

His body stiffened. The man opposite to him was coldly looking at him and the girl in his arms.

The man spat out coldly, "Leave her here."

Although extremely unwilling he did put the girl down. He said afterwards, seemingly trying his luck, "Senior can't I just take her. She has nowhere to go anyways. She hasn't eaten and drank tap water for a long time. I'm afraid she will get sick and die here."

"Heh" the other man chuckled coldly. He glanced at the girl and said, "No use of saying something that isn't true. She will die faster in your hands then here alone."

He added, "If you are so worried about her. I will take her with me."

He was left speechless and left with regret.

The other person smirked behind him, and he lowered his body as he coldly said, "Don't pretend. He is gone."

The girl very naturally opened her eyes slowly. She weakly stood up and studied the other man. He appears to be at his fifties and there are countless scars on his face and hands. It's unknown how many are in his body.

He asked with an indifferent attitude, "What's your name?"

The girl didn't answer for a long time. She pursed her lips. Just as he thought she won't say it, her reply came, "I don't have any."

The elderly man smiled a bit. His indifference is still there but his coldness depleted a lot. The girl is very clever. She knew her slim chance of survival if the earlier man knew she was awake. So she pretended to faint. Her acting also was extremely well done. Even he was almost fooled. She is sharp and has strong will to live. Such person will never be at disadvantage.

He carefully seized her up and said, "How many days you have been in here?"

The girl blinked without any emotions, "Today is eleventh."

The man was surprised internally. If it was others in general not to mention girls even boys won't survived this long without getting caught. Moreover, she hasn't eaten anything in these eleven days.

He nodded as deep in thought. The girl was still vigilant, and she looked around the surrounding. The other side of the road is completely blocked. And the two other side was blocked with houses. There is only one way to escape. It has nearly ninety percent chance to get caught in few steps.

She pursed her lips tightly and was extremely unwilling to die here. The man opposite to her noticed her movements and easily understood her thoughts. He was very satisfied how she could act calmly and think strategically.

He walked towards her, and she stepped back. Just as there was no way to step back, she glared at the elderly man.

The man amused asked, "Want to eat anything?"

The girl was stunned but she didn't dare to let her guards down. She shook her head slowly.

The man smiled kindly, "Don't worry, I won't do anything." As his words didn't make the girl less relax, he added, "Let's make a deal."

The girl blinked her eyes as if not understanding what he is saying. The man however said without waiting for her to ask questions, "I will provide you with food, water, and shelter for ten years. In return you will be trained here for five years and afterwards you will spend five years at University of O. It is a battlefield. A ground where strongest lives."

He continued, "It is a place where people kill. You will live there for five years and after you turn 18, you will enter the army." He thoughtfully added, " You don't have to worry about the admission and other things. This old man will retire and leave this area with you in five years."

The girl listened intently and asked, "Afterwards?"

She didn't fell into his trap. She is a smart girl. The man laughed a bit, "Afterwards you will look after me."

The girl was baffled. Her beautiful but cute eyes widened as if unable to believe. The man said, "In short and straightforward terms, I want to adopt you."

The girl didn't react for half a day. She understood that these could be lies to bring her willingly with him. But the glimmer of hope surged in her heart.

As she was thinking the man said very coldly, "Before you agree, you must be ready to be trained like a machine, you must be disciplined, you must be ready kill others and get killed, and at last you must be ready to look after me when I retire. Treat me as your grandfather."

She thought for a long time. It was a death end. Even if she was able to fool him and leave from his clutched, she won't live for long running here and there with no way to survive. She has no choice. It is a choice of life and death. This man is giving her a choice to live or die here. It was ultimate that she would choose to live. Even though it has a slim chance to be true, she nodded in agreement.

The man smiled gently and said, "Let's go. I will show you around and get you something to eat and drink."

The girl looked at his back. Maybe she won't regret this decision. Her life is already unknown. She might as well try her luck this time. It would be pretty good if what he said is true. There is no need to ask him anything though. Even if it's a lie or truth none of the answer is guaranteed.

The man looked back as he smiled. The girl followed him afterwards.

The future would entail-whatever is destined to. Nothing is certain. She is putting a huge gamble on this man.

Soon they left. The surrounding was silent.

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