In the grimy streets of the slums of Scremia next to the city of Valtoria, where hope was a distant memory, fifteen-year-old orphan thief Tarek had learned to survive amidst chaos. The neighborhood was a battleground, and he had witnessed too much suffering. But one night — the night that Nella, the neighborhood nurse, was brutally attacked by Rocco with her body disposed off by Rocco’s wife Lila — marked a turning point for Tarek. He had filmed the incident, capturing the moment when Nella bravely intervened, only to be met with a vicious assault.
Nella had been hired by a non-profit organization focused on the elderly to care for Mabel, an elderly woman who had lost her family in a tragic bus accident. Mabel lived alone in a crumbling house, and Nella a new nurse and Mabel’s neighbor had been hired because she also lived in the area and was able to work for low wages. Nella was tasked with ensuring that the elderly patient could rest peacefully. On that fateful night, as the couple fought loudly outside, Nella had stepped out to request that they keep the noise down, hoping to allow Mabel some much-needed sleep. Instead, Rocco had smashed a bottle over her head angry that someone had dared even approach him. He left her bleeding on the ground even as he opened another bottle and drank as Nella drew her last breath. His besotted wife, Lila, decided to help Rocco hide the evidence. She dragged Nella’s body to a distance and left in a garbage dump.
Tarek had watched the entire scene unfold from a distance, his heart racing with a mix of fear and anger. He had approached a local policeman, hoping for justice, but was met with a demand for a bribe. Disillusioned and enraged, Tarek realized that the system was broken and that he would have to take matters into his own hands.
Days passed as Tarek plotted his revenge. He observed Rocco and Lila from the shadows, learning their routines and waiting for the right moment to strike. Rocco was often drunk, stumbling through the streets, while Lila remained loyal to her abusive husband, oblivious to the growing resentment in the community.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Tarek made his move. He waited in a dark alley near their home, heart racing with anticipation. He had fashioned a makeshift weapon—a heavy rock wrapped in a cloth—ready to strike. As Rocco stumbled out of a bar, Tarek seized the moment.
With swift precision, he emerged from the shadows, catching Rocco off guard. “You don’t have to hurt anyone anymore,” he hissed, swinging the rock with all his might. The blow landed hard, and Rocco crumpled to the ground, lifeless. Tarek quickly dragged him into the alley, hiding him from view.
Breathing heavily, Tarek felt a mix of adrenaline and satisfaction. He had avenged Nella’s brutal death, but he knew he wasn’t done yet. He had to confront Lila next.
As night fell, Tarek waited for Lila to return home. When she stepped out to look for Rocco, Tarek was ready. He had learned that she often wandered the streets, searching for her husband. This time, she would find him in a way she never expected.
Tarek ambushed Lila in the same alley where he had confronted Rocco. “You think you can protect him after what he did?” he shouted, stepping into the light. Lila gasped, her eyes widening in shock. Before she could react, Tarek swung the rock again, striking her with a force that sent her sprawling to the ground, lifeless.
With both Rocco and Lila dead, Tarek felt a surge of power. Tarek knew he didn’t have a moment to waste.
Instead, Tarek decided to dispose of the bodies in a way that would send a message. He dragged Rocco and Lila to a secluded area on the outskirts of Eldergrove, where the shadows swallowed them whole. He buried them deep, ensuring that no one would find them, and that their crimes would remain buried with them.
As he walked away from the grave, Tarek felt a chilling sense of finality. He had become the executioner, a dark reflection of the violence that had surrounded him. He would be gladly be the thief, the killer, and the guardian of the slum. But he would never be the innocent one who died trying to request the noise be dialed down.
