Walk of life

Childhood

A lone figure moved through the streets of Backspire at an unhurried pace, her footsteps soft against the broken ground, as though she were careful not to disturb what little remained of order. She paused briefly where the wind funneled the strongest, her coat shifting gently before she continued onward, as if the emptiness itself was something to be observed rather than avoided.

Young Keira had never understood why she alone had to bear every burden at home. She had three siblings—two girls and a boy—yet she, the youngest, was expected to do everything for them. If a chore wasn’t done properly, the beatings would begin. Flogging, slaps, and harsh words were part of her daily life. Not a single day passed without her wishing she could escape this place.

Backspire, located in Emborhold, Darkoria, was one of the many communities crippled by poverty. From as far back as Keira could remember, she had never felt like she truly belonged there.

“Keira! Keira!”

A pleasant voice called out behind her.

“Keira, where are you going?”

She stopped and glanced over her shoulder.

“Leo, I’m going home,” she answered, sounding slightly irritated. “And can you stop calling me that? I’m Devin.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Leo said with an obviously fake expression of apology. “My mum says you can come over for dinner.”

“Please extend my thanks to her, but I have to go now. You know my mum will soon come screaming for me.”

“Don’t worry,” Leo pressed on. “You just have to collect the food from her. It won’t take much time.”

“I can’t take a detour now. It’s getting dark. How about next time we meet?” young Keira said, trying to persuade him.

“Okay!”

Leo beamed happily. Anyone watching would have thought he had gone mad from how brightly he smiled.

“Bye. See you some other time.”

Young Keira waved before turning and continuing down the street.

This is exhausting, she thought, exhaling softly. The next time we meet will probably be his last. Leo… pray you never run into me again.

She climbed the stairs without hesitation, one hand trailing along the rough wall for balance. At the end of the corridor, she stopped before a faded blue metal door scarred with scratches and patches of rust. She knocked gently.

“Look who finally decided to come back home!”

The voice belonged to a boy of about fifteen.

“Oh? Were you out seducing people with that face of yours?”

Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed her by the ear and dragged her inside.

“What have you been doing?” he demanded, throwing her onto the battered floor. “Answer me!”

“Oh, Luke,” Amelia said lazily, “why do you sound like a jealous wife who caught her husband cheating?”

That was all it took.

Luke stormed out of the room, breathing heavily as though he had just run a marathon.

Amelia barely spared him another glance before returning her attention to the newspaper she was reading, no one knew where she had gotten it.

“Go prepare food for Mum and Dad,” she ordered coldly. “I’m sure they’re already on their way home from work.”

She looked down at young Keira with unmistakable contempt.

“And if you don’t want another round of beatings, you’d better hurry.”