THE DEVIL OF THE SLUMS

"They're afraid of me!" The realisation hit me like a ton of bricks. It took me so long. Too long to figure that one out. I looked at the blade in my hands. Covered in blood. So much blood, the blood of a innocent child. I looked up them; at my friend, "Ruth? What have you done..." He said, stepping away from me. In fear, horror. As I stood above a corpse.

Her eyes flew open. She sat up in her bed with a start. She was sweating and out of breath. A bad dream? No, a memory laced in a nightmares veil. She stood up. Fitting on a shirt. She looked out her window. A familiar, dark, cloudy day. This is what she was used too. The same sight every day. Every week. Every month. Every Year. She looked at her reflection in her cracked mirror. Tired eyes stared back at her. Golden blond hair let down, reaching the crook of her neck. Crimson eyes staring back at her. Pale skin from lack of proper sunlight. Too all appearances, she was a normal looking fifteen-year-old teenager. Even if she was perhaps a bit on the smaller side. Completely normal. Well, aside from all the blood she had on her hands maybe she would be one. Ruth grabbed her coat. A great long coat that she believed was called a 'Trench Coat' it stretched all the way down to her knees. It had been altered. Given hidden holsters to hold various armaments. She walked over to her workbench. Pulling out each weapon. Inspecting them. She had a machete. Sharp and lethal at close range. She grabbed a tattered cloth, wetting it before cleaning the machete. Still blood-stained from last night. Then. she pulled out a pistol. It was big in her hands but not unwieldy. She pulled back the rack, ejecting a 9mm round still in the chamber, dissembling it. Cleaning each bit of it to the best of her ability. This was her morning routine. She didn't want her weapons breaking on her mid-fight, she had learned her lesson.

She had put everything back in it's place as she put on her coat, leaving her cramped apartment. The Streets were a dingy place to be in. Walking through The Northern Slums was a pain. Since half of it was above ground level. In this cramped and crowded place, plagued with overpopulation and with such little space, people began to build up. So, you would just come across houses on houses on shops on houses; ladders and bridges making town look like a monkey gym. (Not that anyone knew what that was.) Nature? Gone. Skies? Just clouds. The Sun? A myth proved once or twice every decade. Cleanliness or hygiene? Are you a Rich Swine. Money? It's likely blood money. Unfortunately, that was Ruth's only kind of money. Ruth clambered up rooftops. Navigating past electrical wires. Careful to not electrocute herself. Not a nice way to go. She's seen it happen before. She had a particular destination in mind. Climbing up to the fourteenth column of buildings. She saw a group of kids running past. They were thin and frail yet still, they were laughing and playing. Built just a bit like herself. Except she was just stronger. Her eyes flicked over their figures. Dead in a few years she would guess. From disease? From crime? Stupidity? Nevertheless, there's a ever growing mound waiting for them.

She came to a house that half fallen in on itself. Another rusted house atop of it. Crushing it. The Girl climbed in through his window. In the room there was scrapped tech. Soft lights blinking in hard and soft shadows. Dingy neon illuminated her pale face. And in the corner there was sofa. And there was a boy in that sofa. Maybe 17. He didn't know. Neither did she. It was common for people to forget their own age. They could only really give estimates. The Boy who was peacefully sleeping was called Toren. 'Wake up.' She said to Toren, tapping on the shoulder as he sat up rubbing his eyes. 'Here already?' He mumbled, as Ruth shrugged. 'Well, I do like having stable cashflow. So, did it come?' Toren groaned as he stood up, nodding. 'Yup. Came during the night. He grabbed a small device and gave it to her. She examined it before turning it on. In seconds money would be planted into her account. She then quickly crushed it underfoot. She side-eyed Toren, 'So, do I have any jobs? Anyone want the assistance of The Devil?' She tsked her tongue as Toren nodded, handing her a note. 'Toc Arcelor? Who is this moron.' Toren sighed, 'Big Boss.' He said, 'Who?' She said back, confusion laced in her voice. 'He's been making moves in the South. Arm's deals. Drugs... all the bad stuff the West and We hate.' Toren said in his explanatory voice, 'So, Robert is putting me up to this? Well, I do owe him a tiny favour. He and The West Group...' She exhaled deeply. 'So, I'm going down South? Been awhile.' Toren nodded, 'That you are, good luck.' That was all he said before "The Devil of The Slums" leapt out of his window. He cursed at he sat down.

Ruth hated South Town. Not because it was a bad area or anything. No, she hated it because it brought up memories she didn't like to revisit. She stuffed her hands into her pocket as she walked down cramped and crowded alleys and through rooftops. She saw The Medium Zone. A Intermittent Zone. Where those went to work in high rise buildings. Working for corporate. Being worthless little worms. Beyond that was Rich Swine territories. Where the fortunate got the chance to drink fancy wine and get fat. Where police were more common than flies in The Slums. Ruth the misfortune to visit that area once in her life. An area and time, she hated with a passion. It might take her awhile to find Toc. But, if this was small time crime lord... one way sure-fire method. Find your local business dealing. She clambered high. As high as she could get. It barely hurt her arms anymore. She pulled herself up until she was overlooking a large portion of South Town. In the middle. She looked around, towards the Intermittent and Industrial Zone. Bad memories resurfaced. And she doubted that would ever change. She heard it. The hard but distance of gunfire. She smirked to herself, before breathing in before she leapt from rooftop to rooftop. Navigating her way forward with practised efficiency. She manoeuvred through crowds, leaping over obstacles. She pulled her mask up as the gunfire got louder. She leapt up to a rooftop. Overlooking the violence below. four dead, three injured and six still fighting. She stood up as she drew her machete. She flicked it in her hand before she leapt.

'Marko!' Lily yelped as Marko choked on the machete shoved through the back of his neck. A small figure standing upon him as he fell forward. As Lily brought her gun up. It flew from her hand as sharp steel hit blackened metal. The Figure had eyes of blood. Its Her, Lily fell backwards the point of The Devil's Blade pressed against her throat. 'Do you know Toc Arcelor?' What was with the voice? Was The Devil really just a little girl? Like the rumours said? Lily breath hitched, The Devil was looking for him? She wanted to say no, but if she did... she gulped. 'Yes. Yes, I do, I know Mr. Arcelor.' The Devil paused, nodding before pulling her Blade back. 'Try to run and you die.' She said as she scaled the wall, leaping across the alley to the enemy as she wiped them out in less than ten seconds. She was like a shadow, hard to keep track of. Each of her attacks finding her target. Their throat. They each went down with a gurgle and a cry. Leaving only one alive, breaking his ankle, disarming him and throwing him out into the street. The Devil was truly terrifying. Lily whimpered as The Devil walked back towards her. Wiping the blood off her blade with her coat's sleeve. 'So, we... are going to have a nice chat.'

Lily told The Devil everything she knew about Toc. And, about a upcoming business deal between him and The East. When The Devil asked her to continue, she gulped, it was happening on the ground. In The Intermittent Zone. The Devil sighed, thanking her co-operation. As Lily went to stand she gasped. Before falling over. Blood pooling out of her back. 'Can't have you warning anyone.' The Devil said, breath hot against her ear. As Lily tried to turn around, The Devil pulled down her mask. Revealing a cute, child's face staring back at her. Eye's wide not in fear. But alertness, from sleepless nights wondering if she was going to be killed. God, what had this world come to? Lily closed as her eyes as The Devil faded into the shadows. Why were they in a world where young kids became killers and where death could happen anytime, anywhere for any reason. Then slowly her mind felt weak and slippery. Then, it was all gone.

Ruth had waited. Two long days passed. Hidden on a rooftop of a factory. She was eating a chunk of stale bread before stuffing it into her coat pocket. Drawing her pistol. She had only one target. It was all she would need. She grabbed out Toc's picture as a van tailed by bikes moved into view. Ruth waited as a second convoy came riding down. As Walker "Bastard" Greene walked climbed out. Walking down the alley, as the second van opened. And there he was. Toc Arcelor. Ruth breathed in deep. Racking the chamber as she took aim. Following behind Toc was a lanky boy. With a smug smile on his face. Tailed by security. As they met in the middle, Walker and Toc shook hands as Ruth fired. But, it didn't hit it's mark. Instead, it hit the teenager as he shoved Toc out of the way to shake Walker's hand first. Ruth choked on air, "Oh, Crap." The thought filled her head. She missed! The Boy thudded to the floor as his throat pooled blood. Ruth quickly leapt backwards as she heard shouting. 'Surround the building! Don't let them leave!' Someone shouted. Ruth got to her feet and began running on the metal roof. Running through billows of smoke produced by the factory. She slid as she caught herself on the edge of the roof. Landing on boxes. Crashing through them with a loud crack. She scrambled to her feet as she trained her pistol on a guard, firing three shots into his chest. She climbed up another factory. Crying out as a bullet barely missed her. Creating a dent in the bricks. She pulled herself up as she felt a shattering amount of pain in the bottom of her foot. Ruth cried out as she fell down. 

Her head rang as she fell into a heap amongst the boxes. She had at broke a rib. She had her fallen on her back as she crawled out, her eyes couldn't focus properly as she looked up. She saw maybe three, four, figures. This wasn't good. She was surrounded and was about to be killed! She rolled onto her stomach as she began to fire at heads. As she climbed to her feet, balancing her weight on her shot foot, she stepped forward. The other gunmen were approaching. 'I refuse to die like a trampled flower! You will remember my name! RUTH HARLOW!' She roared as she grabbed out her machete. Diving at one of the standing guards. Tearing it out of his neck. Another guard cried out his name she spun on her good heel, hacking off their hand with a quick slash. He wailed as she came back, shoving the machete through their mouth. By now the others had figured who they were dealing with. The Devil. They cried out. She lumbered at the others, machete trailing behind as she began to weaken. The pain catching up to her, she threw the machete in a fast, spinning arc as it found itself buried in someone's nose. Their head jerked back as they stumbled. Ruth shoved the blade deeper into her face. Cackling until she found herself flying as a force that felt like a mountain falling from space thrown at her as it punched her in the side. She spun, rolling across the ground as she slammed against a broken wall. She hit her head as her forehead began to bleed. She saw a pair of feet coming at her, as she was kicked in the stomach, hard. 'You bitch!' She heard someone shout. As another kick landed. Then her hood was forced down as she grabbed by the hair. Tugged to meet his eyes, Toc's. Her eye's were dull, as he forced her mask off, shoving his gun's barrel into her mouth, he paused. It was just a kid! A kid... did all that? He looked back, before looking back at the girl in front of him. Shot in the foot and with likely a few broken ribs. Just a street rat? He wanted to pull the trigger, this bitch just killed his brother after-all. Poor Marl. But, he always said never to hurt children. 'Please...' The girl gurgled due to the barrel in her mouth. 'Don't... I'm sorry.' Perhaps... he could make her his own? Like Mary. The girl who Marl found a few years ago. But, if this was The Devil... was there redemption for her? He'll try. This is what Marl would want. He sighed as he pulled the gun out of her mouth. 'I'll spare you. Okay, but...' The girl looked at him with those tired eyes of hers. 'Thank you...' She sighed out. 'Don't thank me yet. You deserve this much.' He dropped the gun. Grabbing the girl's coat collar. Pulling his fist and decking her across the face. Her head flew back as her consciousness was obliterated. Toc sighed as he dropped her. Turning back to his men, 'Take her to my residence. Now. I'll be back by night.' He said, looking back down at the sad girls appearance. Before walking away.

END

Public And Common Information About The City:

The City is 150 Miles in radius from centre to The Wall.

There are five Zones within The City; The Slums, The Intermittent Zone, The Working District, The Industrial Zone and The Residential District.

There are around 4 billion residents of The Wall. With 95% of these individuals being Children of The Slums. 4% being middle-class while only 1% are Upper-Class.

It has been 242 years since the last voyage beyond the Wall.

The Wall is 5 miles high and curves out 15 miles inland.

Humanity beyond the Wall is presumed dead due to radiation from The Final War.

The Final War occurred in 2264. The Aftermath was total Nuclear Destruction. How the City survived is anyone's guess nowadays. But the leading theory is it was in some kind of "Safe Zone" Where all the bombs that exploded hadn't reached.

The sky around The City is always cloudy. The Sun is commonly only seen once every decade.

The leading cause of death in The City is falling, followed by sickness and in third place is starvation. Every year, around 1 million die while 2 million are born. Thus, The City is in a constant state of overpopulation.