Author's note: Thanks to everyone who is reading. Pleasekeep commenting and voting. Hope you enjoy :)

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Brodhi heard someone pound on his front door. His heart raced, the only people that knock like that are Todd or an Officer. It was only two days ago when the Officers came to give everyone a file. The kids were lying asleep on the floor and he was nervous that the knocking would wake them up.

            He opened the door to see Todd leaning against the doorframe.

            “I’m here to give you a Daddy party,” he informed him.

            “A what?” Brodhi asked knitting his eyebrows together.

            “A Daddy party. I’m aware I ain’t going be able to hang out with you after your kid is born, hell I can’t even hang out with you now. So we’re going to the Shelter today.”

            “I can’t go now.”

            Todd rolled his eyes at him.

            “Yes you can. Your Mom is home and I’m pretty sure Lynn can survive a couple of hours without you.”

            Brodhi let out a deep breath and ran his hand across his short hair. He missed spending time with Todd lately, and he knew Todd was right. He wasn’t going to be able to go to the Shelter after Lynn gives birth. Jasper said he wasn’t going to be gone for long, so a couple of hours couldn’t hurt.

            “Fine,” he agreed. “I just have to tell Lynn.”

            “I’ll wait. If you’re not out here in ten minutes I’ll plan your escape.”

            Brodhi closed the door on Todd and headed towards the kitchen. Lynn was sitting on one of the table’s chairs with her feet up on another one. The kids were still lying on the floor asleep. Lynn rubbed her stomach as she watched them from the kitchen. Brodhi put his elbows down on the table and leaned in towards her.

            “I’ve gotta go for a couple hours,” he whispered.

            “Why?” she whispered back.

            “I’m helpin’ Todd with something.”

            When Brodhi said Todd’s name her eyes grew big.

            “No,” she said shaking her head.

            “It’s just pawning a few pieces. He can’t go there too often without Brighties getting suspicious.”

            “I don’t want you to get arrested.”

            “There’s nothing illegal about pawning.”

            “There is when Todd stole it.”

            He ran his hand down his face. Lying to Lynn was proving to be more difficult then he thought, but it was still easier than telling her he was going to the Shelter.

            “He’s giving me a cut of the profit,” he told her.

            He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and started walking away before she could protest.

            “Brodhi,” he heard her say in a harsh whisper.

            He turned around and put one finger up to his lips.

            “Shhh…you don’t want to wake the kids.”

            Lynn scowled and then snapped her head back towards the sleeping children.

            Brodhi hurried his way out of his house. When he got outside, Todd was sitting up on the metal railing. His fingers were playing with the metal chain around his neck.

            “Lets go,” Brodhi said.

            “Good,” Todd said sliding off the railing. “I was startin’ to get concerned. I didn’t bring my ladder for you to climb down, so you would have had to jump.”

            “Whatever. But if Lynn asks we went to Bailey’s.”

            “Got it.”

            Together they headed towards the Shelter. It was in the basement of the church. Originally, it was a bomb shelter that people hid in during the Outbreak, thinking that it would protect them from the Virus. Now it had turned into the main area were alcohol was dealt.

            Brodhi listened as Todd rambled on; nothing of it was anything that mattered. A few people littered the streets in small clusters. Not one person was alone. As the amount of Officers outside of the city grew, no one felt safe alone. The white pillars of the church came into view as they turned down the street.

            “Wow, Bailey’s sure changed their look,” Todd said wryly.

            Brodhi rolled his eyes at him. Todd wiped off the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and then pulled his hair away from his face.

            “Why don’t you cut your hair?” Brodhi asked him.

            Todd just shrugged his shoulders. “I like it better this way.”

            “Well then, I hope you have fun dyin’ of heat stroke.”

            “Will do.”

            The white paint on the church was flaking off the building, revealing the old wood underneath. The windows were smashed, leaving only sharp edges of colourful glass to come out of the building. To the Officers it looked just like any other church destroyed after the Cure.

            Their footsteps crunched under the dead grass as they walked around to the back. Two metal doors on the ground next to the church were closed. Todd and Brodhi took a quick look around to see if any Officers were near. They were safe and Todd leaned down to open up the doors.

            A faint sound of music travelled up the steep staircase leading down to the basement. Todd began to walk down the steps as they creaked every time he put his foot down. Brodhi followed him.

            He closed the door behind them, cutting off all the sunlight from the stairwell. They climbed down the stairs in the darkness with their creaky footsteps filling the cool air. When Todd finally got to the bottom of the steps, he slid another heavy metal door revealing the Shelter.

            Candles hanging from odd intervals along the wall dimly lighted the room. Two women were singing on a platform raised up from the rest of the Shelter. Another man was strumming a guitar beside them.

            The Shelter was six walls of concrete and metal. No one outside could hear anything.

            Brodhi followed Todd as he weaved his way through the people up to the bar. A large table sat on the wall across from the stage. A man stood behind the table, leaning up against it. He had a cap on his head, which hung low into his eyes, and his black shirt was rolled up over his large arms. He was one of the Nunez brothers.

            “Give us two,” Todd told him.

            The man bent down and put two bottles on the counter. Todd pulled money out of his pocket and Brodhi grabbed a bottle.

            “Where’d the money come from?” he asked bringing the bottle up to his lips.

            “Chocolate,” Todd said taking his bottle.

            They began to weave their way back through the crowd. They sat down on one of the few metal tables in the corner.

            “Chocolate?” Brodhi asked oddly. “What’s that?”

            Todd took a drink and waved his hand to the side.

            “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “But Brighties pay a fortune for it.”

            “They pay a fortune for everything, don’t they?”

            “True.”

            They both drank more out of their bottle. Todd drained his quickly and slammed it on the table.

            “So when are you going to give up this angel act?” Todd asked him. His words were already slightly starting to slur together. Brodhi raised an eyebrow at him.

            “What?” he asked.

            “This legal life you’re trying to live. It’s not doing anyone any good.”

            “Is this why you brought me here?”

            Todd rolled his eyes at him. Brodhi knew Todd didn’t like him being legal, but he had never said anything before.

            “You think if you’re legal they’ll let you into the city?” Todd asked.

            “I think that if I’m legal I won’t get arrested.”

            Todd started laughing uncontrollably. Brodhi scowled at him as Todd continued to laugh and lean back into his chair.

            “You seriously believe that?” Todd asked continuing to chuckle. “They don’t care if you’re a Rat. They will find a reason to arrest you. You’ve heard Zimmer speak. They want to get rid of us.”

            “They just want to get rid of crime.”

            Todd stopped laughing and stared coldly at Brodhi.

            “What?” he snapped.

            “They hate what we do not what we are,” Brodhi told him.

            “They’d do what we do if they lived in the Slums. You grew up on the same streets as me; so don’t tell me any different. It’s their fault.”

            Brodhi was about to defend himself, but a girl slipped her arm around Todd’s neck and kissed his cheek. By the rings in eyebrow, Brodhi could tell she was one of the singers who were just on stage.

            “Brodhi this is Lola; Lola this is Brodhi,” Todd introduced them quickly.

            “Hey,” she said coolly.

            Brodhi just nodded at her. Knowing Todd, he was most likely never going to see this girl again. Her name served almost no purpose to him.

            “Lola what do you do for money?” Todd asked looking up at her.

            She furrowed her brows together, the rings pulling on her skin.

            “What?” she asked his confused.

            “Brodhi and I were talkin’ about something and we want you to help us,” he explained.

            “Okay,” she said giving Todd another strange look. “I work for the Nunez’s.”

            “Not exactly legal,” he said shooting Brodhi a quick glance.

            “Nothing legal about alcohol.”

            “And you don’t get a legal job because?”

            “There’s no such thing as a legal job outside of the Bright.”

            Todd smirked and Brodhi rolled his eyes. He got up out of his chair and felt Todd’s eyes follow him.

            “I can’t believe you brought me here to talk about this,” Brodhi told him.

            “Did I hurt your feelings, sweetheart?” he asked wryly. “I just wanted to bring you back to reality.”

            “Keep sayin’ that when you’re at a camp.”

            Brodhi turned around and headed back towards the clump of people. He weaved his way back into the group so he was hidden from Todd as quickly as possible. Todd and him had almost never gotten into fights. Brodhi was always able to manage Todd’s attitude and not let it bother him. He knew once Todd had a kid, he’d understand his choices.

            When Brodhi got to the door, he saw someone standing in front of it. A middle-aged man with caramel coloured skin was staring at the door. He had on a dirt stained grey jacket, that Brodhi could smell the pungent sweat smell over the alcohol. His dark hair was tousled. His weight shifted between his feet.

            Brodhi waited for him to move, but he just stayed in front of the door. It frustrated him. He just wanted to get home; he should have never come here.

            “You leaving?” Brodhi asked him.

            The man rolled his neck so he was looking at Brodhi. He opened his mouth to release his alcohol-drenched breath. His arms flopped to the side.

            “I would love to,” he slurred together. “But this door doesn’t seem to want to open.”

            “Here,” Brodhi said reaching for the door.

            The man smacked his arm away. Brodhi held his hands up and the man leaned against his the door.

            “I’m a Techi and refuse to be defeated by a door,” the man told him.

            Brodhi had never heard of the term Techi before. He just shrugged it off as the man slowly pushed open the door. He groaned as he looked up the stairwell.

            “So many stairs,” the man moaned.

            He fell foreword and Brodhi got down on his knees beside him. He put his hands under the man’s arms so he could pull him up.

            “Leave me!” the man snapped.

            Brodhi let go of him and backed up. The man’s body was blocking the stairs, so Brodhi was stuck in the Shelter. The man slowly pushed himself up off the ground.

            “They don’t think I can survive out here,” the man mumbled to himself. “Those simple minded pricks think they can just lock me out.”

            The man started to slowly crawl up the steps. Brodhi followed the man as made him way up the dark staircase. The thin strip of light between the doors was bright and burned Brodhi’s eyes. 

            “This rotten hellhole gets worse,” he continued to hear the man mumble.

            Brodhi followed the man as he pulled himself up the staircase. The man continued to mumble to himself, and Brodhi had trouble understanding him, despite the fact he had no particular interest in what the man was saying. He was most likely crazy, like many Rats.

            The man pushed open the doors, flooding the stairwell with light. He dragged himself out onto the brown grass and Brodhi quickly hurried after him. Brodhi shut the door before anyone saw them come out of there. He quickly scanned the area around the church and saw no Officers.

            “You,” the man said. He had his finger pointing up to Brodhi. He sat on the ground with his legs folded underneath him. “Your name is Brodhi.”

            Brodhi stared down at him with his arms crossed under his chest. He raised one eyebrow. “How do you know that?”

            The man put two fingers in his ear and pulled something out. He held it up high, so that Brodhi could see it. It appeared to be a small clear ball. Brodhi had to squint just so he could see it.

            “The other is planted under that table that you and your friend were at. Heard your whole conversation,” the man explained, slurring most of the words together.

            Brodhi knew this man was making everything up and that the alcohol was affecting his brain. But how did he know his name? There was no way he could be close enough to the table to hear Todd.

            “I can help you,” the man told him.

            “How?”

            Brodhi couldn’t stop himself from looking over his shoulders. Being caught talking to a drunk by an Officer would get him sent to a camp.

            “I’m Mikko Takahashi,” the man said. He stared at Brodhi like he was waiting for a response. “You heard of me?”

            “No,” he said shaking his head.

            “Of course. Rats don’t know a thing. However I’ve heard you and your friend argue and I can help.”

            Mikko shoved his hand into his jacket. He stuck his tongue out as he rubbed his hand across his chest. Brodhi continued to look down at the man quizzically.

            “Here it is,” Mikko announced. He pulled an assortment of bills out of his pocket and held it up to Brodhi. He snatched it out of his hand and shoved it in his pocket. A drunk was handing him money, he didn’t know what for, but he could always just run away. No way Mikko could catch him.

            “Now I need you to do something for me,” Mikko told him.

            “What?”

            “I need you to walk me home.”

            “Why?”

            Mikko snorted and rolled his eyes. It was enough for him to lose his balance and fall onto his back. His arms shot up into the air and he shook his hands.

            “Imma goin’ need you to help me up too,” he said.

            Brodhi let out a deep breath and uncrossed his arms. He grabbed Mikko’s hands and pulled himself up to his feet. Mikko swung his arm over Brodhi’s shoulders and leaned up against him.

            “Take me home, Buddy,” Mikko told him. His alcohol drenched breath smelt even worse now that his face was so close to Brodhi’s.

            “I don’t know where you live,” Brodhi said.

            “Damn. I don’t know either.”

            Brodhi let out a deep breath. He just wanted to push this drunk off him and get home. He started to slip Mikko’s arm off his shoulders.

            “Wait,” Mikko said tightening his grip around Brodhi’s neck. “I had an epiphany.”

            “Is that what your drink was called?”

            “No. Just follow me.”

            Brodhi felt as the man pushed foreword on his neck. Brodhi started to shuffle his feet foreword and they started walking down the street, he was holding up most of Mikko’s weight.

            “So you need my help,” Mikko slurred into Brodhi’s ear.

            “Why?” he asked him.

            “You wanna be a legal Rat go ahead. I don’t care. It’s helping me,” he explained.

            Mikko shifted his weight and Brodhi turned around one of the corners. They walked for over a minute in silence.

            “Going to finish what you were sayin’?” Brodhi asked him wryly.

            “I love curiosity!” Mikko yelled out. Brodhi felt his heart beat quicker as he turned his head to see if any Officers were around. He couldn’t see any, but he sped up their pace in case one of them was looking for where the noise came from. “It’s the only thing that stopped you from throwing me to the ground and running away with my money.”

            “Now that you have my curiosity are you goin’ to finish what you were saying?” Brodhi asked, his voice clearly sounded annoyed.

            “Okie dokie. I’ve got a legal job for you,” he said.

            “What is it?”

            “Work for me.”

            Brodhi cursed out loud. He was starting to get excited about Mikko offering him a legal job, but he should have assumed that it would be working for Mikko. This man was insane and Brodhi didn’t know how much he could put up with him, but if it were a legal job he wouldn’t turn it down.

            “I’ll do it,” he told him.

            “Knew ya would. Now tell me why are you trying to be legal?”

            “I don’t want to get arrested.”

            “No one does. Those camps aren’t a summer getaway you know.”

            “My girlfriend is pregnant and I want to be there for my kid.”

            “Let me guess,” Mikko said leaning to the side and Brodhi changed the direction he was walking in. They were getting farther and farther away from Bright, Brodhi only knew a few people who lived this far away. “Your father got sent to a camp when you were young. After that you felt like you needed to take care of your family. Especially your mother and your younger brother Jasper.”

            Brodhi stopped walking and turned to look at the man. The man looked caught off guard by the sudden stop in movement.

            “How’d you know my brother’s name?” he asked him.

            “Brodhi. It’s an unusual name. The only Brodhi I could remember is Brodhi Nicholby. He has a younger brother named Jasper Nicholby who drives in the derby. I thought it was odd how everyone in your family had a file except your sister. She didn’t get one until everyone else did a couple days ago.”

            “My sister?” Brodhi asked arching an eyebrow.

            “Yes. She had an odd name too. Shea? No that wasn’t it.”

            “Shai?” Brodhi guessed.

            Mikko’s eyes lit up and he knocked Brodhi on the back of the head with his hand. Brodhi opened his mouth to complain but dismissed the idea. It would have no effect on Mikko.

            “That’s it. My mind never wants to remember that one.”

            “She’s not my sister. She’s my brother’s girlfriend,” Brodhi explained to him.

            Mikko started pushing on Brodhi’s neck again and Brodhi started to walk again. As they went deeper into the Slums, Brodhi hoped that Mikko’s house would come up soon. He didn’t want it to start to get dark outside and he still wasn’t home. Lynn would panic for sure.

            “Oh and they got married! I think that’s so nice. Rat couples rarely ever get married; it’s usually only Brighties who do. I mean it’s only a ring and a piece of paper, but it’s that thought that counts. The ceremonies are long and boring, but that party after can be fun. Don’t see why Rats can’t have that. You can hold it in that church thingy with the good drinks.”

            “You’ve been to Brighty weddings?” Brodhi asked amused.

            Mikko threw his head back and started to laugh. His thick breath stank of alcohol and Brodhi wrinkled his nose to try and stop the terrible odour from entering.

            “Been to way too many,” he said continuing to chuckle. “Everyone wondered why I didn’t get married, but why would I? No need to have some woman with me at all time. All I need is a computer.”

            “What’s a computer?”

            “Never mind. It’s something Rats won’t understand.”

            As Mikko kept directing Brodhi, the houses began to diminish. The ones that were still standing had damage from the Outbreak. All of the windows were smashed, many roofs were caved in and Brodhi knew that they have all been stripped clean of any supplies. The cracked pavement of the roads started to spiral up on large concrete pillars. Jasper told him once that he heard someone calling them highways. Brodhi knew of no one who lived out this far.

            “If you’re a Brighty, then why do you live this far away from Bright?” Brodhi asked him. Mikko snorted.

            “Those bastards kicked me out. Said I was ‘breaking the law’,” he said saying the last part in a mocking tone. “Those pricks are just scared of what they don’t understand. So they gave me two choices: a camp or the Slums. I made my decision and I still question it.”

            Mikko changed his direction and led Brodhi down a narrow street lined with house. Most were suffering sever damage.

            “Awe, home sweet home,” Mikko told him.

            Brodhi sighed with relief to know that his house had finally shown up.

            “This one,” Mikko slurred pointing at one. The red bricks of the house and the deeply slanted black roof were actually holding up pretty well. Brodhi helped Mikko climb up the steps of cracked concrete up to his front door. Mikko opened up a flimsy metal door and then took his arm off of Brodhi’s neck, supporting himself up against the house. Mikko shoved his hand into his pocket and dug around until he pulled out a key. He unlocked the door and then slid onto the floor. Brodhi watched him as he crawled across his floor.

            “So, what exactly do you want me to do for you?” Brodhi asked.

            Mikko stopped crawling and sat on the floor with his legs crossed underneath him. Brodhi was starring at him from the doorframe. Mikko let out a deep breath and raked his hand through his tangled hair.

            “You may not be able to tell this, but I’m not much of a people person,” Mikko started to explain. “I try to avoid leaving my house as often as possible. Most Rats are just blood thirsty beasts and I don’t feel safe getting my necessities.”

            “That didn’t really answer my question.”

            “I was getting there. So, that’s where you come in. I need someone to pick up food and water for me from the Market.”

            “You can pay me for that?”

            “Hell yes. When they kicked me out of Bright that didn’t stop me from taking my money with me. And let me tell you,” he said raising his fingers and rubbing them together. “Techis made a hefty amount. So come here tomorrow and we talk when I have a bit of a clearer mind.”

            “Okay,” Brodhi said nodding his head.

            “You’re released,” he told him waving his arms out.

            Brodhi ran home from Mikko’s as quickly as he could. He tried to remember his way back to his own home. He also tried to remember how to get back there for tomorrow. Mikko was definitely strange, but if he could pay Brodhi for doing a legal job, he didn’t really care.

            There were still a couple hours until Curfew, but Lynn was still upset when he got home. She put the little girl she was carrying down on the floor and ran straight to Brodhi. She wrapped her arms around him, her bump causing and awkward space between them.

            “I was so worried,” she told him. “Thought you got arrested. Todd’s never up to no good.”

            Brodhi ran his fingers through her red curls and kissed her forehead.

            “Don’t worry. I got money and I can get more. A Techi hired me to work for him,” he explained.

            “What’s a Techi?”

            “It’s a bit of a long story.”