It’s just another night, like any other. The city is as desolate and sepulchral as yesterday. You can feel the chilling, but familiar, breeze that seems to be following along the empty streets. The currents create a hauntingly beautiful sound that feels oddly like the agonizing screams that this city once was known for. In the obscurity it looks like the vines growing on the sidewalk take the shape of people seeking sanctuary in the darkness. An odd flickering streetlight serves as our guiding star in this despairing atmosphere. Navigating the wide cracks in the road could prove troublesome for some, but I’ve walked this road a multitude of times before.

I always try to stay sane, but it saddens me to see this place in such state. I tend to ignore what this city symbolizes, or rather, what it has become. I still see it as my home. Is that too morbid? Many would probably argue that it is, but I won’t let others opinions overshadow my judgement.

Hayley is holding my arm as tight as she can as we walk over the terrace. She knows just as well as I do, that we’re being watched. In every window of every building, you can see their azure eyes following our every movement. I suppose it should worry me the same way it worries Hayley, but I can’t say that I mind walking around with a hypothetical bull’s eye on my back. Being the prey of a predator is my favourite blood sport. The reason why I’m carrying a leather pouch with gunpowder isn’t to use it for ammunition, but to lure out the beasts. They recognize the strong scent of the gunpowder and relate it to human flesh. Unfortunately, they’ll be disappointed.

- “Aren’t you worried that they’ll come for us?” She asked with a slight stutter on her voice.
- “Nah, don’t worry sis. Even if they do, you’re in good hands.”
- “I guess you’re right”

Hayley is a goodhearted girl. She deserves a home more than anyone. She’s far too graceful for this place. It’s demoralizing to think that I can fight off these disgusting beasts like they were nothing, just to protect her, but I can’t do anything to save her from this filthy hellhole. I’ve wanted to help her ever since I met her. Well, you could say that I did help her, but at this pace it looks like we’re going to be spending the rest of our existence as outlaws.

As we were getting closer to the plateau I felt Hayley’s excitement rising in form of painful pinches in my left arm. For now, I let her. It’s not every day I get to see her in such a good mood. It brings me joy to see that she still can find a shed of light in this, otherwise funereal city. There’s something about this girl that makes me want to keep on going. Maybe it’s the way she tries to convince me that no matter how bad we have it, it can’t get worse than her previous life. Before I liberated her from her father. Yeah, by “liberated” I mean dismembering him slowly limb by limb. If you still haven’t picked up on the fact that I’m not an elegant or courtly guy, that should do the job. Her father was nothing but a despicable vermin who didn’t deserve his life. This might seem slightly hypocritical coming from someone who kills people for a living, I know. I did it for her and she's thankful for it. I stopped walking for a brief moment and Hayley looked at me with a puzzled look.

- “You know, Hayley? Once I have enough money to buy you a better life, I will. I promise.”
- “You’re working too hard! You know that I’m happy as long as I can be with you.” She replied.