Two weeks later.

  'Damn. I want to die.'

  'It's so boring.'

  'How much time has passed?'

  'It feels like forever.'

  The room felt like a prison. Fourteen days of the same walls. The same ceiling. The same silence pressing down until he started talking to himself just to hear something.

  He tried going outside a few times. And it didn't go well at all.

  He almost got caught so many times. Once, he spotted Borias himself—that giant—walking down a street Kael was about to cross. Lucky for him, he was already wearing a cloak Cole gave him. He bent his back, faked a limp, shuffled forward like a withered old hag.

  And it worked. Somehow.

  The moment he turned the corner, he took to his heels. Didn't stop until he was back at Cole's door, gasping, his heart pounding so hard.

  'Never again.'

  He swore it that day.

  But the boredom didn't stop. So he started observing. Learning about his roommate.

  First thing he noticed was that Cole left early every morning. Always before sunrise. And always came back before the sun went down. And every time he returned, he carried boxes of food with him.

  'Where does he get that?' Kael wondered, with some greed in his eyes.

  Second thing was that Cole had money. Not a lot, but enough. Enough to buy old books. Enough to have resources Kael never had in his life.

  Third thing was that Cole could read.

  Kael saw it before and didn't focus on it because he had other things in his head. Knowing how to read in this place wasn't common at all. Most people just heard of school as a name here.

  And the last thing he noticed was that Cole never asked for anything.

  No payment. No favors. No "you owe me."

  It made Kael uncomfortable. But who was he to complain? Free food. Free house. Free protection.

  'This is a dream. Don't question it.'

  He made sure to use it.

  The boredom got so bad that Kael actually asked Cole to teach him some letters. Convincing the guy wasn't hard at all. For some reason, he seemed cooperative.

  It was harder than Kael expected. His brain wasn't built for this. But after two weeks, he learned the main letters of the human domain. Enough to barely read basic kids' stories.

  Right now, he was reading one. A story about a rabbit and a turtle.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  '...Why did the rabbit lose? He was faster.'

  He threw the book aside and buried his face in the bed.

  'Booooooriiiiing.'

  Then suddenly, the door opened.

  Kael didn't turn his head. He already knew who it was.

  Cole walked in, looking a little tired but satisfied. He was holding his usual food box.

  "I'm back."

  Kael didn't move. His face still buried.

  "Whatever."

  Cole raised an eyebrow. Then smiled.

  "I have good news."

  Kael lifted his head slightly.

  "What? You have a new type of food or what?"

  Cole shook his head.

  "It's the gang. They're slowing down. They already stopped watching most of the usual spots. There's still a few here and there, but nothing like before."

  A laugh escaped Kael's lips. Quiet at first. Then louder. Then almost unhinged.

  Cole stared at him, concerned for a second.

  'Did he finally lose his mind? He's been acting strange for days. Started rating food. Talking to himself.'

  "Freedom!" Kael shot up. "Finally! Damn, I thought I'd lose my mind in here!"

  He turned to Cole with wild eyes.

  "Freedom! Do you hear that? Freedom! I'm gonna walk. I'm gonna breathe. I'm gonna—"

  Cole made a weird face. Then laughed.

  "...Gonna help you with your job. Right."

  Kael's face went pale.

  Cole continued, still grinning.

  "Freedom? There's no freedom. You've been eating my food and doing nothing for two weeks. Now you gonna help me with my job. And don't forget—you almost got us into big trouble because you couldn't stay inside."

  The spark in Kael's eyes died. They went back to their usual dullness. The average Sector Four citizen stare.

  'Damn it.'

  'But he's not lying.'

  He cursed in his head. Then nodded.

  "Fair. You have a point."

  Cole sat down across from him.

  "First, let's see what you got. Tell me. What can you do? Skills? Talents? Anything useful?"

  Kael thought for a second.

  "Theft. Oh, and scams too."

  Cole stared at him with a sad face.

  "...There's no hope for you."

  Kael frowned internally.

  'What's wrong with theft and fraud?'

  'Wait. I'm supposed to be the one saying that. Not him.'

  Cole sighed and stood up.

  "Be ready for tomorrow morning. We're leaving early."

  Kael shrugged.

  "Okay. I guess."

  ---

  The next morning.

  Kael woke up yawning. Rubbed his eyes. Stumbled out of bed and into the main room.

  Cole was already there. Already dressed. Already awake.

  'And there he is again.'

  "Good morning."

  Kael just nodded.

  They ate. Protein bars and processed bread. Not real bread, but better than what Kael was used to. Still, fourteen days of the same thing was wearing on him.

  'Although this is better than what I had, I'm starting to get really tired of it.'

  Cole finished first.

  "Ready?"

  Kael hesitated. Then asked.

  "Your job... it has nothing to do with burning alleys, right?"

  Cole looked at him. Pinched the bridge of his nose.

  "You still have these weird thoughts?"

  Kael's face stayed neutral.

  "And who's to blame for that?"

  Cole leaned back.

  "You could say I'm an intermediary between a provider and a seller."

  Kael tilted his head.

  "Intermediary? Provider?"

  He knew what a seller was. Stole from them enough. But the other two words? Nothing. Illiteracy was widespread in the Outer Circle. Reading wasn't survival. Sure, he'd learned a few things in two weeks, but all he could read was kids' stories.

  Cole slapped his own face. Sighed again.

  "What did I even expect?"

  For some reason, Kael felt insulted.

  'Wait. How many times has he said that? That was my phrase to begin with.'

  Cole cut through his thoughts.

  "Well. I think you'll learn by seeing it yourself."

  He stood.

  "First, cover yourself up. I don't want to deal with any thugs."

  Kael emerged from the bedroom wearing a black cloak draped from his head to past his knees.

  Cole whistled.

  "Woah. You look suspicious."

  Kael gritted his teeth.

  "It's not my fault this is all you have. And you're the last person who should say that."

  Cole smiled.

  "Maybe you don't know this, but I'm kind of trusted in the area."

  Kael wanted to respond. He couldn't.

  Because Cole was right.

  After two weeks of watching, Kael saw it clearly. Cole was trusted by Sector Four people. They actually kind of loved him. The way they looked at him. The way they greeted him.

  'He's even kinda famous between the girls here.'

  'Well. I'm loved too.'

  'A little.'

  'By a gang.'

  Cole interrupted his thoughts.

  "Just follow me. And oh—try to do nothing. Just watch and learn. Since it's your first day."