"That's enough, Trey."682Please respect copyright.PENANAon9U0IJnDe
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He looked down to his sister's reddened face, quiet sobs shaking her body. Tears streamed down his own as he dwelled on the moments that just happened. His father cut through like meat in a slicer, telling his cherished little brother that his father had just died...he couldn't fathom the sadness that was to overtake him. He clutched Nooks to his chest. He could feel the soft shaking through the fabric of his shirt.682Please respect copyright.PENANADEWUEfPkTr
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"You're right." He pulled away from Nooks, smiling sadly and brushing tears off his brother's face as they fell like raindrops from a clear blue sky. "We should start gathering resources and training."682Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ2P9KQNkv
682Please respect copyright.PENANAuibMV00iMH
Ashe blinked. "T-training? Whatever do you mean?"682Please respect copyright.PENANAlhKQtQnDJt
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"We're going to make sure that we're in good physical shape and that we can defend ourselves," said he. "It's not every day that people like us are captured and forced to join gangs, or worse."682Please respect copyright.PENANAiOK3i4zNDI
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Ashe and Nooks gulped in unison. "You're right," mumbled Nooks. "Let's do this for Daddy."682Please respect copyright.PENANAPsNSF5kgFz
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Ashe smiled at him. "Let's make him proud."682Please respect copyright.PENANAY62cWgshP9
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Trey nodded curtly. "I'll get the goods, and Ashe, you train Nooks." He looked out the window with an expressionless composure that his father always admired. "Mother taught you mixed martial arts, so we shouldn't be far off track." 682Please respect copyright.PENANAGJDSmBQOc6
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He looked back at his two siblings, ribs showing through their shirts and faces gaunt and sunken. It had been a long while since they had eaten something a luxurious as a custard roll, and it was his job to find one. His first operation of business--find work and earn money. It didn't matter to him what job he found, but as long as he made money to sustain what little family Trey has, he's game. He leapt out of the empty space and landed sharply on the fire escape.682Please respect copyright.PENANAIfz7fGkoik
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He could hear the noises of the city, the noises of women being mugged and men fighting in the alleyways. It wasn't every day that people were left alone. In fact, most of Trey's life consisted of begging daily at a street corner with his mother and father. They were young then. Ashe could stay home if she'd like, but she always came with them. They earned money much more quickly when that was a daily part of their lives.682Please respect copyright.PENANAao7yIFhaZZ
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But that was no longer. Now he had to find real work. He ran down the fire escape like a frightened mouse and landed on two feet atop the street. He tore down the asphalt, his eyes darting left and right like an estranged animal. He felt like a ghost, hardly noticeable among the suffering of the citizens around him. It couldn't all be like this. There had to be free places!682Please respect copyright.PENANAtgqzGTmmuZ
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He stumbled upon a sign. Work is found here, it read. Whoever wrote this sign must be well educated, perhaps schooled at home by his elders. He turned to the right, facing into an alleyway. 682Please respect copyright.PENANAUHFYg4ONNK
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What he saw there shocked him.682Please respect copyright.PENANAbtfEEAv4DD
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"Well, who do we have here? Trey Fogge...it's been too long."682Please respect copyright.PENANAejg0fMe6kd
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His jaw dropped. "Samuel...?"