It took Niq an hour or so to find the courage to move from their resting place on the floor of their small hideout, waiting out the inevitable search party of enforcers who would be looking for them. They emerged from the tall crumbling building, long curly hair tied into a tight ponytail behind their head, the simple piece of fabric ready to snap against the tension of Niq’s deep violet curls.
They made their way through the practically abandoned streets of The Forgotten District, cracked cobblestone roadways paired with a carpet of trash and stone debris from the nearby crumbling buildings, each covered with a thick clump of moss and rot as they began to crumble over the ages. There were a few buildings that weren’t quite abandoned. Bars, hideouts, even makeshift stores that often lacked the general cleanliness of a shop in the wealthier part of the city.
There were a few people who wandered the streets similarly to Niq. They wore mostly elderly, people who couldn’t work, and were labelled as Useless. In Infini, you were a cog in the machine, and when you broke down, you were tossed to the side, left to be forgotten.
Others who roamed the district were those like Niq. Criminals escaping the regular way of life for a citizen of the vast city. Many had lived their whole lives in the forgotten district, orphaned or abandoned in the district, left to either die in the streets or work to live in many abandoned skyscrapers that were slowly crumbling around them.
Of course, the lack of law in the district meant that a new law rose to power. The law that the strongest makes the rules. It was a simple rule, the only true rule in the Forgotten District. It gave rise to hierarchies and gangs. While Niq themselves weren’t formally part of any gang or group in particular, they did often work with two that tailored to Niq’s unique skill set.
The Pigeons, a simple fairly well-liked group who took to gathering information all around the city, for a price of course. They also helped fabricate information for many of the less reputable government officials. They primarily bought and sold items to local drifters, information, credit cards, passports, even stolen I.D’s. The gang was Niq’s primary source of income, and while not officially a member, they were connected enough to be one.
The Collectors worked similarly to The pigeons, only instead of information, they dealt in items. Both rare and common, cheap and expensive, they were the wealthiest gang in the district. They trading everything, from furniture to weapons, to food. They were the only gang in the district that people knew not to mess with, or face the wrath of every other gang in the area.
Niq worked with both gangs often, having skills in stealing, and being smart enough to get items that no one else could reach. Their ability to teleport helped a fair bit in NIq’s escapades, as they could get to almost anywhere in an instant. Then again, it also put Niq in danger if they weren’t careful about how they used their abilities. There were more people than just the government who would pay a pretty penny to get their hands on an abnormal as skilled as Niq.
Finally, Niq arrived at a slightly shorter building, cheaply put back together from its previous crumbling state with pieces of wood placed in front of broken windows, sheets of metal covering any holes in the walls of the large building. Yet Niq knew the decrepit concrete tower was filled with people who marched under The Pigeons banner.
As Niq approached the large double doors that sat as the building’s only entrance, they noticed two larger people sitting by the broken glass doors, whatever conversation they were previously having now lost for the moment as they noticed Niq approach confidently.
“Waddya want?” The large man who currently sat on a piece of large concrete pried hastily as Niq got within twenty feet of the two guards.
He sat with his shoulders hunched forward, wearing a simple once-white and now yellow tank top and dark green cargo shorts. His head was bald, altho he had a short goatee that was turning from brown to grey at the roots. His eyes were a dark, stern brown, which would have perhaps made his handsome if it weren’t for the recent burn scar on his cheek, a symbol of exile from one of the nastier gangs that plagued the district. He wore a freshly inked tattoo of three silhouetted birds on his shoulder, the symbol of The Pidgeons.
“Is that even a real question for someone whos coming here?” Niq asked, turning to the second guard with their sarcastic remark. “I mean really. I know they set up the newbies for guard duty but still.” they continued as they stopped about ten feet away, crossing their arms with a slight smirk on their face.
The second guard gave a slight smirk as he leaned against the concrete wall beside the door, a cigarette hanging from his lips. He was younger, perhaps a little older than Niq and slightly smaller than the other guard, wearing a dark grey track jacket over a simple black shirt that was torn near the base. He wore plain shorts and a nice pair of boots that looked surprisingly clean for the district. His black hair was well-groomed, the sides of his head shaved, and a nice five clock shadow was beginning to grow in. Niq had seen the younger man around the pigeon’s nest fairly often but had never spoken to him before.
“Little shit…” The older man grumbled as he began to stand up, looming nearly a foot taller than Niq at about 6’3.
Before the larger man could swing a fist as it seemed he desperately wanted to do, a hand landed on his shoulder from the younger man, who simply shook his head with a sharp glare. It was enough for him to back down with an angry curse, moving back to his sitting spot without much of a fuss. Niq smirked and turned their attention back to the younger man.
“I’m here to see Selna or Loner.” Niq explained with a slight not, taking a slightly more respectful tone.
The well-dressed man gave a nod in response, moving from his position leaning against the wall and opening the door, motioning for Niq to move ahead. Niq did so quickly, giving a smug glance to the thug who was left to wait outside before quickly entering the dark building that served as the gang's hideout, The Pidgeons Nest.
Niq led the way, with the quiet man following fairly close behind. He knew where Selna would most likely be, and if she wasn’t, Niq already knew where Loner spent all of his time. The building was slightly less decrepit inside. The walls were less battered, and the area was decently well decorated for being in The Forgotten District. The walls were covered in graffiti images, ranging from things as simple as a well-done signature to a large mural depicting a large fairytale forest, with glowing mushrooms and dancing lights.
As they reached the third floor where Selna’s workspace was, Niq noticed an odd pair of people through the doorway of one of the offices. They were well dressed, wearing fine leather jackets and business slacks, with a noticeable blade holster on their sides. What gave them away though was the glimpse of a tattoo on the back of one of their necks, an eye with a knife cutting a line through the pupil. Hunters.
Niq wasn’t the only Abnormal hiding out in the Forgotten District, and unfortunately for them, the hunters’ gang were the ones who actively sought out abnormals. They were the group that most in the district knew to avoid. They were ruthless, cold-blooded, and good at what they did. They would seek out abnormals for the guard if they were paid enough, or just kill them and sell their eye and hair to some wealthy bastard who was paying enough. It was unfortunately fairly common, and there was nowhere better to get information on a possible abnormal than the one gang who knows everything going on in the city.
Niq caught just a glimpse of the two hunters, speaking confidently with one of the dozens of pigeons who were scattered throughout the building before continuing down the hall, a minor fury building up in their gut. They were surprised when they heard an annoyed huff and realized it didn’t come from them. They glanced back to see their escort glaring down the hall at the office that they had passed where the two hunters had been talking, a look of annoyance in his pretty green eyes.
“Don’t like the hunters either?” Niq chuckled through their anger, turning their attention towards the rather handsome man who they had been meaning to flirt with.
They received a nod in response, as the man shook his head disapprovingly. He was silent, but Niq could tell from his body language that he had some things to say about the hunter gang.
“I’m surprised someone even let them in here.” Niq scoffed. Few people liked the hunters, but unfortunately, in a lawless community they paid well for information and items, even if their work was less than humane
“I’d have to agree with that” As Niq turned to face the new voice, a small smile grew on their face, as outside of her office stood Selna, arms crossed as she faced Niq with a grin.
She stood a bit taller than Niq, with a pale complexion and short black hair in a pixie cut. She was a stocky well-built woman, wearing a black tube top and shorts, as well as a pair of circular sunglasses that reflected the hallway in front of her with a shine. On her shoulder sat a gold outlined tattoo of three birds. Almost no one would be able to tell she was in her late thirties or early forties.
“Been a hot minute Selna” Niq greeted with a grin.
In response, Selna swooped forward and wrapped her arms around Niq, lifting them off their feet for a moment before setting the lightly squished urchin back down, altho not releasing her grip on their shoulders.
“You haven’t visited in so long kiddo! I thought for sure the Abbys caught you!” Selna chimed as she held tight to Niq, leaning her head on theirs as she gently stroked their long hair, as though consoling an injured child.
Niq begrudgingly accepted the embrace. Selna was the only person who they would let pamper them like such, and while Niq didn’t enjoy the childish treatment, but they knew that Selna saw herself as a sort of aunt to Niq. They allowed the embrace for a few moments before fighting their way out of her grasp and taking a step away, chuckling lightly.
“Selna I visited you two days ago,” Niq corrected as they straightened their jacket, but Selna had already turned her attention to the man escorting Niq through the building.
“Thank you for getting them up here, Lance was it?” Selna chirped happily, reaching over towards Niq and setting a hand on their shoulder. He nodded in response, giving a respectful half-bow before he turned and began to make his way back down the hallways.
“Hey, Lance!” Niq called after him. The man stopped and glanced back, eyebrows raised. “Next time I see you we should grab a drink or something.” they winked. Lance gave a slight chuckle, before giving a solum nod, and continuing down the hallway.
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