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A distant light can be seen flickering in the darkness. The night is still and quiet until the silence is interrupted by the sounds of two hissing cats. The scuffle quickly ends and once again silence resumes. The light appears to be closer, now larger in size. Thick dark shadows hide all surroundings. A car horn echoes from a distant street, while dripping water sounds nearby. A foul stench fills the air. As the distance to the light declines it becomes apparent that the light is that of a flame. Now closer, the radiating light illuminates the nearby area. Brick walls, tainted with graffiti, rest behind the stretch of pack filled dumpsters. Garbage flows onto the cold, wet, ground. The flame is now visibly in sight. It is a trash can with a fire emanating from its top.
Seated up against the wall nearby are two men. One is bundled from head to toe with a thick jacket and hood that covers his face. At first glance the other man appears to be an unfamiliar face. But with a closer look, the man hidden behind a dirty long beard is none other than Josiah Cross. He lifts a brown paper bag to his mouth and takes a drink.
Cross: Son of a bitch, you want some?
Cross hands the bag over to the man seated next to him.
Cross: God damn cats won’t let me sleep, always fighting and shit. Sounds like us a bit don’t it?
The bundle up man lowers the drink from his mouth and nods.
Cross: Only thing is we own these streets, cats don’t own shit.
In the distance you can hear a loud meow.
Cross: Shut up before I throw another one of you pussies into this fire!
Cross’s voice echoes down the alleyway.
Cross: You like my new home? I think it’s quite nice, aside from the damn cats. Plus, there are no windows for me to be pushed out of.
Cross looks over at the man next to him who doesn’t react or say anything. Cross takes another drink from the bag.
Cross: You know I thought you and I would never see eye to eye, with all that has happened. But you know things happen for a reason. Had I not been thrown out of that three story hotel, had I not broken my leg and arm, had the doctors not have milked me for every single penny I own…you and I, we wouldn’t be sitting here together, talking, drinking. Things happen for a reason I’m telling you.
Cross takes another drink.
Cross: You see you are more than a friend, you are my brother. Brothers can never be separated. I just want to tell you that I appreciate you coming out here, helping me out in a time of need. I could go back to the real world, get a job, but that’s just not who I am. I fight the world, I defend these streets. That’s my job now. No man, bum, or street thug dare cross my path. Out here, every second of every minute is a fight for survival.
Cross takes another sip from the bag then hands it to the man.
Cross: And that’s the way I like it.
Cross slowly makes his way to his feet. He favors one leg heavily over the other as he limps closer to the fire. He stretches his hands out to warm himself.
Cross: I want you to help me, brother. I need to get faster, stronger. God damn doctors are nothing but selfish bastards, stealing all my money with surgery after surgery. Look at me I’ve been living on the streets for a month! I am alive, I am well! Doctors are full of lies. That’s why I need your help. You don’t come by many friends out here who got your back for real you know.
The hidden man reaches out and hands Cross the drink. Cross takes one last sip then throws the bag against the brick wall. The glass shatters as the sound echoes down the alleyway.
Cross: Enough is enough. I am not a bum, I am not worthless. I am fueled by vengeance and will work at all cost to have justice be served. I punish those who have punished others. Now I want to kill the man who tried to take my life! I want to finish the job he could not!
There’s a loud sound as something crashes against a nearby trash can.
Cross: Who the hell is there!
Cross raises his arms in a fighting stance as the man on the ground gets to his feet as well.
Cross: Show yourself!
Voice: Calm down, it’s just me.
A large man steps side by side Cross. He turns and faces the fire, revealing himself to be Eddie Mace. He raises his hand close to the fire. The light reveals blood dripping from his knuckles.
Mace: Damn this shit hurts.
Cross: What happened?
Mace: Some fool tried jumping me, wanted my shoes, so I had to beat the shit out of him. Nothing new, I just caught him a few good times in the face and busted my hand right open.
Cross: The small price to pay for doing the thing you enjoy most.
Mace: Very true, you know I have to say a part of me misses these old times. Before I got stuck in prison, this was my life, and standing up and fighting is what living here means.
Cross: So when you going back?
Mace: I don’t know, soon. I’m in good with Sensation so I can call hanging out here on the streets my vacation.
Mace glances over Cross’s shoulder and sees the mysterious man.
Mace: Who’s that Cross?
Cross: Oh man how oblivious can I be? Completely forgot to introduce you. Mace this is my brother.
Mace reaches out and shakes hands with the man.
Cross: But I believe you guys have met before, a long time back.
Mace: When we were locked up?
Cross: You could say that yeah. But don’t worry, you two will get to know each other a lot better, I am sure of this.
There’s a moment of silence before once again the sound of a cat fight can be heard.
Cross: If we are going to want any sleep tonight we are going to need to find a new spot.
Cross, Mace, and the hooded man can be seen walking slowly down the alleyway. They disappear into dark.
