a silent, stormy night {kap}

[Knuckles]

Kryptonite

Silent steps lead him around the room as his eyes stare at the sky watching the sun set below the horizon. Night is the perfect time for crimes, at least in his mind, but Krypt also knows that he must remain careful. Through many evenings of observation, he's learned the routine of the peacekeepers patrols. Sometimes one may wander off individually, yet he still knows the careful timeframe he has in order to successfully complete the task at hand.

Cracking his knuckles, the young boy grabs his cloak from the closet. It's long and black, and it covers the entirety of his body except for his head, hands, and feet. Then he grabs his black hat and places it upon his head. He wore this hat when he was shot, and somehow he managed to survive. Of course district six has amazing hospitals as well as medical workers, and he gives them all the credit.

Then he sits and waits.

The night before, his bag was prepped, and now as he heads out the door, Krypt wraps his hands around it, and pulls it close. All he wants is a tiny item he can never afford, and he knows just the place to get it.

Back alleys become his best friend at the moment. These alleys are unlit, and it is easy to creep around without a care in the world. Wearing all black makes it near impossible for anyone to see him, yet as one alley comes to an end, he has to cross a main street to get to another. It is a bit spooky though as the wind gusts through picking up pieces of trash lying helplessly on the ground causing them to sweep through the air. His heart leaps into the back of this throat, and it takes a moment to calm himself down.

It's okay. It's just the wind.

He takes a deep breath as he looks left, then right, then back and forth trying to see exactly where the peacekeepers are. Sneaking around them isn't easy, and the timing is everything. Leaning against the wall, he watches a group on patrol march by, and when he doesn't see them anymore, he runs across the street into the next alley hoping none were straggling behind.

A smile spreads across his face because this is exactly where he wants to be. He runs forward only stopping when rats scurry across the ground, or the wind sweeps more trash into the air. When he reaches the door, Krypt pulls out his crow bar he stuffed into the bag the night before, and he starts prying at the door. It squeaks and moans, and he knows he only has a few moments before he gets caught.

But the door won't budge.

Come on. He wills himself to keep going, and he tries his best to make it work.

Then it clicks, and he tosses the crow bar back into his bag, and pulls out another tool. A smile spreads across his face.

Perfect.

He carefully opens the door and starts looking around.

But maybe this is too easy.

No, it will be okay.

511 words

[kap]

[googlefont="Girassol:400"]Xantiago Ozlimario

Soldier keep on marchin' on
Head down 'til the work is done
Waiting on that morning sun
Soldier keep on marchin' on

District Six has always been riddled with crime. Around every corner there are muggings, stabbings, drug deals and sometimes other, much worse things going on. I used to think that District Six was a peaceful place. That's why I wanted to become a Peacekeeper. To keep the peace. Then, when I did become a Peacekeeper, I realized how much peace creating I'd be doing rather than peace keeping. It was because of the Peacekeepers that I thought District Six was such a calm and nice place when I was younger. Well, that, and the wealth that I had.

Wealth can disguise the shit of the world for people sometimes.

Now, I spend my nights patrolling District Six. I'd been working a lot more nights recently. I was more experienced than some of the other Peacekeepers in the District, as I'd been at it for many years now, so they often put me on the night shifts. They didn't want the newbies working the more dangerous times unless they had to.

Tonight was one of my patrol nights. I was posted near one of the shopping areas of the District. It was a high crime area. Then again, most of District Six was these days, at least when night fell.

It didn't take long before I heard something and split off from the other Keepers who were posted with me. I let them know that I thought something suspicious might've been going on and that I was going to go check it out. I headed around the corner in the dark. Streetlights were few and far between in this part of town, which was ideal for criminals, and would've been not so ideal for me if I didn't have my flashlight.

I clicked on my flashlight and rounded another corner to see someone entering one of the buildings. They definitely hadn't gotten in with a key, though. The door looked like it'd been pried open, likely with a crowbar or something similar. The person was in a dark cloak and hat, clearly making an attempt to conceal their identity. So, I decided to approach them. I had my hand on my waistband, ready to pull my baton if it was necessary.

"Can I help you?" I announced my presence with a question.

375 words

lyrics: "Soldier" by Fleurie

[Knuckles]

Kryptonite

A smile spreads across his face as he moves through the door into the poorly lit shop. All he wants is one tiny little item, may seem a bit much even considering he just broke into the store, but Krypt knows he could never afford it even if he worked his remaining days. Being poor is difficult, yet it all stems from the housefire that stole his mother and twin brother away from him.

Living with his father has been hell. All he does is drink and party and go out at night, and one night Krypt followed him wondering where he was going, and now this is the life he's slid into. One might think it is easy to turn around and start living an outstanding life as an amazing citizen, yet it is near impossible. The adrenaline rush that comes from the life of crime is better than living in fear.

But as he turns the corner, a voice speaks out.

He freezes wondering who is there, and as he turns around, it's clear that he's been busted by a peacekeeper. His heart races, and his breaths start to pick up as he realizes the bag he's holding in his hands shows that he's the one who broke in.

Taking a step backwards, Krypt thinks of his options. Running would get him shot like before. Staying will surely get him arrested and tortured.

What can I do?

"I saw someone entering, and I wanted to stop them." His voice is shaky at first, but towards the end confidence booms through. It's all a lie though, and he knows deep within that the peacekeeper will never believe him.

"I'll just be going."

All it takes is a steady motion, and he turns towards the door.

"Yeah." He pauses. "I'll just be going."

And then he runs knowing that he probably won't get away, but it is best if he tries.

311 words

[kap]

[googlefont="Girassol:400"]Xantiago Ozlimario

Soldier keep on marchin' on
Head down 'til the work is done
Waiting on that morning sun
Soldier keep on marchin' on

The intruder's words are dripping with falsity.

"I saw someone entering, and I wanted to stop them." When his voice shook that little bit at first, I could tell he had started to fabricate his story. It was obvious that he wanted me to just let him out of this, even though he surely knew that I was perfectly well aware of what it was he was up to. The young man had been breaking into this shop to steal something, surely. Whether it be an item, or perhaps many items, or maybe even the cash from the safe, he was after something, but figured it was better to give up than admit it.

That was smarter that some criminals were in this District, that was for sure. I could give him credit for that much.

"I'll just be going." He started to try to head away from me, toward the door. "Yeah." He seems to believe for a moment or so that I'm just going to let him walk away from this. "I'll just be going."

"No," I tell him sternly, hand still on my waistband next to my baton. I step to stand in his way, making sure he would notice it. If he continued, I could bring it out as a warning. I didn't like to use it on people unless I had to, and typically didn't actually end up using it unless they got hostile, so I was hoping I wouldn't have to. Although, presenting it as something to deter someone from trying anything sketchy or too unethical wasn't something I was against.

"You can't go quite yet," I continued, my voice steady and unwavering. I was confident that I could get the truth out of this guy. Whether or not I actually turned him in for what he was doing was a whole other consideration. I hated getting reaping-age kids in trouble, even if they really shouldn't be doing what they were doing. Regardless, I'd do it if I had to. He'd have to come up with a way to convince me not to, if he was really hoping to get out of this, and lies weren't the way to do it.

I hated when people lied to me, and I was going to tell him that, in one way or another.

"I need you to tell me the truth. Why exactly did you think it was a good idea to break into a building? Lying will only make things worse." I didn't carry too stern of a tone, as there was always an accidental gentleness to my voice, but I tried to make sure he knew I was serious. Lying wasn't the way to do things.

Lying was never the way out.

450 words

lyrics: "Soldier" by Fleurie

[Knuckles]

Kryptonite

Running would do no good, and this peacekeeper makes it very clear. Yet Krypt keeps looking for ways to escape. He's heard stories of what happens when someone is caught, and maybe planning a bit differently none of this would've even happened.

But he stops and listens despite every fiber of his being telling him to run away. It wasn't the words that brought him to a halt though. No, it was the peacekeepers hand resting on the baton. Running wouldn't work out, and Krypt knows this, but maybe it would give him a chance. The wind is bringing in a storm, and all it would take is running into the darkness forever. Running is foolish though, and it definitely wouldn't save him.

Mother would be so disappointed. Seeing how he lives now. Seeing the man his father turned into. Seeing everything he goes through. It's hard to live a life when everything is falling apart before his own eyes.

"I need you to tell me the truth."

His head drops, and it takes every fiber of his being to not break down crying. A man doesn't cry. His father has said it so many times that it's all he knows. It's all he cares for. Being a man. Being a strong man, and maybe one day having a family of his own. This isn't his desire.

Taking a heavy breath, Krypt reaches into his pocket and pulls out an old, rusted, broken locket. Inside is a picture of his mother and twin brother because he carries them close every day. Then he turns towards the aisle he was going to go before this peacekeeper rudely interrupted him before grabbing the one off the shelf.

He holds both out for the peacekeeper to see, and then he removes his hood showing more of his scarred face and his glass eye.

"My mom and brother died in a house fire when I was thirteen. I escaped, but it came with a price." A single tear slid down his face. "This is all I have left of them, and I broke it!"

A lump sits in the back of his throat as he tries to think of what to say next.

"Nobody will hire me because I look like a freak!" For the first time he yells. He doesn't mean to, but it comes out in a mix of anger and sorrow. The pain of losing his family, of losing himself is all too real, and even though the fire happened a few years ago, it's still playing over and over in his mind.

"Not that you would care." He pauses as his shoulders slouch forward assuming this peacekeeper is like many others, but assuming will never get him anywhere. "Not that it matters."

Nothing matters.

Death would be welcoming.

But I don't want to die.

"I just wanted a replacement so I can keep them close."

Mother and Kelton wouldn't be happy, and Krypt knows this, but his father would never care.

Nobody cares.

"Just go ahead and do what you gotta do."

495 words

[kap]

[googlefont="Girassol:400"]Xantiago Ozlimario

Soldier keep on marchin' on
Head down 'til the work is done
Waiting on that morning sun
Soldier keep on marchin' on

I'd called him out on his lies, and now it seemed as if he had completely given up. His head droops down, and I feel a pang of sorrow in my chest for the young man. I know that as a Peacekeeper, I shouldn't sympathize with those who are committing wrongdoings and crimes, but it's hard not to. I've just always been a sympathetic type person. It's in my nature.

I suppose that's not in most officers' natures, though. At least not here in District Six. A lot of the Keepers here in Six are tough. They're hard on everyone. They don't let people get to their emotions, or at least if they do, they don't show it. That's why I had to keep my emotions under the surface. I had to do my job. At the same time, though, what says I couldn't help him whatsoever? Surely there was something I could do, because after hearing his story, I wanted to help.

"My mom and brother died in a house fire when I was thirteen. I escaped, but it came with a price." he had said. He'd lost family. "This is all I have left of them, and I broke it!"

I wanted to take him into my arms and comfort him, but that wasn't an option. Definitely not right here, right now, at least. I had to be tough, not brittle. I couldn't break because of a story he was telling me. What if it wasn't even true? I didn't want to consider that, but there were always plenty of liars around.

For some reason, though, I felt that this young man wasn't lying to me anymore. At least, not after what I'd said to him about being truthful instead.

"Nobody will hire me because I look like a freak!" He raised his voice this time, clearly unhappy with everything that was going on, and I could understand why.

"Not that you would care." He's slouching in my direction as if to say it was my move. "Not that it matters."

He speaks again.

"I just wanted a replacement so I can keep them close."

It gives me an idea. Maybe there was something I could do rather than just punishing him.

"Just go ahead and do what you gotta do."

I look at him and pause for a moment before speaking. I had to say and do this right.

"I understand how you feel," I did my best to assure him.

"I don't want to punish you for this, either, to be totally truthful," I admitted. "I have an alternative for you, if you're willing to take it."

I knew someone who would hire him: someone close to me. The mother of my daughter. Although I wasn't really supposed to be in contact with her, I was sure I could work around it. She and I still loved each other. It was just that with Peacekeeper policies and everything, I couldn't live together with she and my daughter. Nothing said I couldn't find her an employee, though.

"How would you feel about a job? You said no one will hire you, but I know someone who I think would hire you in a heartbeat." I looked at him for a moment. "It'd be a job in a shop. Nothing too fancy, but it could help make you some money. What do you think? If you take the job, I'll let you off easy. No fines. No punishments. Just doing some work."

In reality, it wasn't something I really should have been offering anyone, as it wasn't my place as a Peacekeeper to be letting someone off the hook. I could lose my job over this. I just had to hope it didn't come to that. All I was trying to do was help a young man in need. Wasn't that really what we were supposed to be doing anyway? Helping people?

I liked to believe so.

"Oh, and my name's Tiago," I told him. "Maybe you could tell me yours."

655 words

lyrics: "Soldier" by Fleurie