weak. coward. stupid.

This is what they called Ailith Gallow as they beat the daylight out of her and left her stranded helpless in the middle of the street. 'Wrong'. They were wrong. Someday she would show them her real strength. Someday, she would have them on their knees, begging for mercy as she beat the hell out of them.

But that day would have to wait as she did not yet have a death wish. So, slowly, she got up and rested a hand on her shoulder which was now burning with pain.

She had once heard that before the war, all people were treated with respect. That was bullshit. Made up by the brainless people of the suburbs, the lowest ranking tier. She cursed as she slid her shoulder back into place and heard a familiar "pop!".

Every step she took home hurt in different ways. From the new scars forming all over her to the pain of knowing that there would never be a day when she could fight back. She could of course, but not without getting a bullet embedded in her head. And finally, to the worst pain of all. Returning home every day hoping, hoping that they had finally come back for her, to take her away from this wretched, horrible place, only to find the house empty as it had been everyday since she was 7.

It was only as she limped home surveying the area for attackers that she noticed the posters. It looked rather new and with the government's emblem on it, no one had dared to vandalize it. 'The government's emblem'...Her heart stopped dead for several seconds as she read it over and over again. She swore under her breath as she stumbled the rest of the way home, the pain in her leg dulling to a small throb as she was flooded with questions and thoughts.

Why hadn't she noticed it earlier. Judging from the date, it had been several weeks since it was put up. And though she recalled glimpsing it several times, her foolish self hadn't considered sparing it another glance.

When she ran home, she burst through her door and tossed her keys onto her sad attempt at a shelf. Then it hit her, the door had been partially open. She quickly grabbed the closest thing to a weapon, her keys, and laced them between her fingers before rounding the wall to her living room. She was not at all surprised when she found Xavier lounging on her couch. If you could even call it a couch. It was several old shirts sewn together and stuffed with hardly any stuffing. It had cost her a broken arm when she stole what she could from the market. Sighing, she placed her keys back on the shelf and approached him.

"I was wondering when you'd come home. Out at the taverns again?

The suburbs, as poor as it was, was notorious for their taverns. That was the only place she was allowed to unleash herself and fight without restrictions. Authorities couldn't care less whether anyone was killed in the tavern. If anything, they were probably glad that they had less people to threaten and kill.

She glared at him.

He just shrugged.

He was a handsome thing and had it not been for his face, she would have knocked out several of his teeth and given him a nasty bruise, sure to last days. She was considering it when he said,

"My parents are fighting again."

He said this in an indifferent tone but having been his friend since they were young, she instantly recognized the pain that surged through his eyes for an instant. She froze. Having seen them once when she had sneaked over to his house had been enough. Ailith didn't allow herself to feel pity for him. That's not what he wanted. So she feigned ignorance and waved her hand.

"How many times have I told you not to pick my lock?"

"Many, I'm sure." His mask went up again and a look of amusement filled his eyes.

"Get out before I kick your ass out myself."

He raised an eyebrow.

Lords help her. A blush threatened to spread through her face. She pointed her finger at the door, motioning him out.

His grin turned devilish but he smirked and strode gracefully to the door.

She elbowed him in the ribs if only to rid his face of the victorious smile he now held.

He clutched his side with both hands in mock pain, laughter dancing in his eyes. "Was that really necessary?"

She seethed. "Get out."

Xavier held up his hands in surrender and made his way out the door.

Ailith knew that locking her door would be as useless as leaving it open in the suburbs, but if anything, it provided her with several seconds to prepare herself should a thief dare to attempt a break in. So she locked her door and made her way towards the kitchen. The food they had available in the suburbs was horrendous and reeked of unknown substances. Still she was grateful to at least have a molded piece of bread. It was better than nothing at all. Most weren't even able to obtain bread, much less any appetizing food. The ones that did were beat up and stripped of their food by 2.5s.

She sneered to herself. They thought they were so great. When in reality, they were just what the slightly smarter dossers would call themselves. She groaned with the memory of getting knocked just an hour ago and headed towards her room.

Then she remembered the posters. And she ran. She ran towards her room. She ran like the devil itself was chasing her. Up her stairs and into her room. Leaping two to three steps at a time. Ailith burst through her door.