Pr = Cpt Ratchet

Chapter 1

Part 3

Books, tools created to register and teach the knowledge of a society. A tool that allows the next generations to learn from the past generation. But why is it that I can’t read a book which only I should be able to read? I really hate this world!

At some point during our childhood, most of us have been tempted, to use a book as a blunt weapon. Using one of those thick books about science to hit my teacher’s nape has always been my fantasy in my boring school days. I know that everyone has felt the need to do the same as it’s something everyone must carry in his veins. Now you can understand my frustration when I discovered I couldn't use my book to hit people!

This vehicle was full of people who deserved to be hit with an encyclopedia until they couldn’t breathe anymore. I couldn’t help but feel annoyed each time I saw their smiles, frowns and red eyes caused from being crying too much. I especially wanted to hit that little boy who was saying “so cool” with sparking eyes each time he saw something new through the window. I decided to bestow him with the nickname “Mr. Uncool” for now. I wasn’t allowed to move from my seat, so I couldn’t beat the crap out of him for now.

-Stop looking at my face, do you want to receive the mustached punishment?

I wasn’t even looking at his mustache, but the mustached soldier seems to be annoyed because of it. Perhaps he got some kind of complex with his mustache, not that I care anyway. I guess I should avoid looking in his direction from now on and everyone will be happy. A mustached soldier happy means more food for me. I’m starving!

- No, Sir. I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful – I tried to appeal to him with my most innocent smile.

He gave me a nod with his head and began to ignore me once again. Although I’m just a child who couldn’t have harmed him, I’m sure that he wouldn’t have minded to give me one or two good kicks. It’s better to avoid unfortunates accidents for the time being.

With that said, I turned my head to look through the window behind me. I could see a woman carrying a baby in her arms, and a group of men looking at her with lustful eyes. The driver seemed to want to stop the armored vehicle to help the woman. But the guy who was sitting in the front passenger seat, slapped his hand before he could touch the emergency breaker and shouted - This is not our job. Ignore it or you will be punished by the higher ups!

The driver frowned, but he didn’t complain and resumed our “little trip”.

According to what we have just seen, we were in the outer part of the city, the so-called “Red Zones”. In those zones, a woman being tailed by a group of men was a daily occurrence, so I didn’t feel the least bit sorry for her. Everyone knew that a woman shouldn’t go around those zones alone. But she was really lucky, having a baby with her had saved her. No touching a mother with her baby is a rule every man follows in this city, unless you want to take revenge against her husband. Although father said that he would teach me about that when I were an adult, I didn’t understand why they would want to touch her,.

-Kids, look on that side! That's what happens to the bad kids who bothers us. -The mustached soldier points to the other side of the street where a little girl is being beaten by an Empire’ soldier.

Evidently, the mustached soldier wanted to scare us, but I’ve seen far worse thing while I was living with my father. A little girl wouldn’t receive strong kicks or punches as she would sell nicely in the black market, so there was nothing to worry about.

- He will kill her! – the voice comes from a boy who is sitting to my right. Just across the aisle of the back seats. - You have to stop him, I’ll ask my dad to buy her if it’s necessary.

I gave him a glare as response and the mustached soldier do the same. This boy, seated in front of me, looks like four years older than me. His black hair that shined with the sunlight, and his brown arabian like skin gave the sensation that he was a spoiled child, one I’ve met somewhere in the past. His black eyes were filled of powerlessness as he looked at the silhouette of the little girl becoming smaller as our vehicle continued advancing.

In a moment like this my father would have slapped the little boy and asked him how many coins would cost to save the little girl and how many coins would cost his food. Even my father had some moments of prudence, but that had been mostly thanks to my sister. Thus he is a bastard without her by his side to scold him.

- Calm down! He is just giving her some light slaps, it won’t be anything serious. – I tried to calm him, having a hysterical child next to you is not fun, I don’t want to hear his whining throughout the trip. - He will not dare to cause a wound to a little girl who can be sold for a high amount of coins in the black market.

That didn’t sound as good as when I repeated it in my mind. I could see the boy’s head boiling as his face turned red from anger.

- As if I would allow them to sell her! – He shouts, his right hand trembling as he points to me. - You don’t know anything about the hell a slave has to endure to survive every day.

- Just what I needed, another self-proclaimed gentleman.

- You! – He exclaims with a voice as thick as an old man. - Are you even a human? You’re much younger than me and you are already acting like all those corrupted adults.

- And what do you know about? I just met you an hour ago.

I tried to retort with this. But I have to admit that it sounded pathetic with my little childlike voice.

- Save the innocent and you will be saved, that's what Mr. Jack said – He cried out with his eyes turning red - Mr. Jack gave us that single task and you all dare to ignore it. Disappointing! You people, who belongs to the Empire, are all disappointing. – His voice turns childlike again. - You’ll die a dog’s life if you continue with that kind of thought, you know.

I looked at him for a while, not knowing what to do with my eyes wide open. Although the mustached soldier was stunned like me at first, he reacted some seconds after and smacked the boy’s head with his palm. I can’t believe someone who believes in the heroes, like that Jack guy, is here with me. I mean, I stopped believing in the heroes since they haven’t come to save me after a full day of wait.