Atop of a hill, Billy looked down upon the city. The blackened city ravaged by industry and war. The city that was his home. Disgust coursed through him as he gazed downwards. Viel wasn't supposed to be like this, nothing was ever supposed to be like this. No one could ever want it that way, yet it still was. He despised every little centimeter of this place, yet it was home and there was no where else to go. Looking down, Billy pledged to himself that he would change this, change it all and make a home worth living in.
With the sound of a yell, Billy snapped out of his daze. He realized that he was still clutching the moldy loaf of bread to his chest, and he kicked off into a run. Stealing was one of the only ways he could manage to feed himself these days, and though he regretted the action it was something that he had to do to survive. The stall owner hadn't bothered to fetch the police, they wouldn't intervene unless something happened to one of the nobles. Billy's short legs didn't propel him at a very fast rate, but his strength made up for that. He was almost to the abandoned building that he could slip through to lose this guy, Billy knew the city inside and out. As he entered the alleyway where the entrance to the building was, he turned to blow a raspberry at the man. He didn't mind stealing from him too much, he was the stingiest and greediest commoner Billy had ever met. But he could beat someone like no tomorrow. Turning himself, he realized something. The entrance was boarded up.
The beating that followed was slow and painful, and he would feel it for a long time. Not able to even summon the strength to stand, Billy curled up in a ball in the wet alleyway, cold, hungry, and shaking. This was how the world is, but someday it would be different. Some day children wouldn't be forced to labor in factories, or steal for a living. Some day everyone would be safe. But that day was not today, and for now the suffering would continue, day by day. Billy sobbed silently into his hands as it started to rain.