There were very few forms of entertainment in the small Sector the residents were confined to. The options were limited to the bar, The Red Door, and The Cave for hang out spots, which were all ways for the top dogs of Hell to cheat more money out of civilians who had none. Although, tonight Kroy wasn't looking for a drink or a fight, he had more serious plans in mind.

With only a couple hours left until curfew he decided to make my best of the limited time he had. The Red Door was only a few blocks away from his apartment, but that didn't change my caution as he walked alone on the almost deserted streets, only a dim shine of the street lamps lighting his way.

An itchy feelings was pulling at the back of his mind as it craved nicotine, but he tried his best to push the feeling away as he made it towards the door that was coated in a blood red. He was stopped for a moment by a large man in only black, but was let inside once Kroy flashed his ID.

Music was booming loudly from every direction, daring him to swing to the beat of it's bass. Kroy could feel the rhythm pounding against his insides, making it feel like his whole body was vibrating.

Furthering into the club, the lights were dimming to set some sort of romantic or seductive mood. Women both younger and older were impressing men with or without dancing talent from lack of clothing that covered their bodies. The erotic motions of a specific woman distracted Kroy for a moment. Her long blonde hair manage to keep it's perfection as she danced on the stage. Her waist enticed him as she moved and he couldn’t help but gawk at her beauty.

This blond beauty wasn't just any performer, though. Jasper and him had known each other ever since the third grade when the Hell Sector was still able to pay for the cost of schools to remain open. Our friendship, like most, was complicated. They couldn't hang out like they used to, it was almost like the only place they ever saw each other anymore was here.

Jasper's fake flirtatious smile was replaced with a genuine one once her eyes landed on Kroy’s. After blowing good-bye kisses to the crowd, she grabbed the crumpled bills that lay around her and left the stage. She stuffed the money in her bra and made her way towards him. A grin was still plastered on her face as she wrapped her arms around his neck as she grinded close to him.

"Couldn't resist staying away, could you?" She said, pulling his waist closer to hers by the loops of his jeans. The feeling was there like usual. The lust. He’d always tried to ignore it, but he knew he'd never succeed and give in eventually.

Wrapping his arms around her, Kroy felt the warm skin on the small of her back. It felt like a relief to finally hold her again. Sometimes he felt terrible about almost using her as an escape from the life that was set out for him in the Sector he was doomed to live in the rest of his life. Other times, though, he felt like she was using him for the exact same reason. This was their relationship, a sort of friends with benefits when they were feeling low.

There was a slight hesitation as Jasper removed her arms from around him. Her hand still traced his arm down to his hand and then pulled him behind her into the room she would bring any other guy in her line of work.

"So what can I do for you, sweetie?" she asked, closing the door behind her.

"I'm not here for sex, at least not at the moment." Kroy’s serious tone made her jump to attention. Suddenly it wasn't the stripper he was talking to, it was his concerned friend. "It's Everette. He has this delusion in his head that he can save people and steal guns from Patrol. He's going to get himself killed."

"He's almost eighteen, Kroy." She let out a sigh before continuing. "I'm not the best one to be talking about acting out teenagers, when I myself became a Red at sixteen. I'd feel quite hypocritical giving any other advice than to do what you think is best."

She batted her eyes at him and in return, he rolled his. Her flirtatious habits were showing as she subconsciously was seducing him, and it was working.

Grabbing his hand in hers, she pulled Kroy close. In return, he hugged her back and before long, they weren't so innocent anymore.

***

Jasper's bare body was flush against Kroy, her back pressing against his chest, his arms encircled around her protectively.

Waking up like this usually made him want to flee, leave the comfort of the warmth of her bed and body, but he couldn't do that. The way she inhaled and exhaled made him feel at ease, more at ease than he’d been for a while.

Kroy pulled her closer and brushed his lips tenderly across the back of her neck. Jasper squirmed, still half asleep, a small moan leaving her parted lips. Not wanting to force her awake, he contently laid there, enjoying the way their bodies were wrapped around each other. They weren't together, nor would they ever be, but Jasper meant almost as much to him as Everett did.

Goosebumps covered her arms as she shivered. Kroy pulled the blanket up so it covered more of her and pulled her even closer. A light sigh came from the girl in his arms, and the hold she had on his hand tightened as she realized they were laced in each other.

"Morning," she sighed, beginning to play with his fingers as she held them.

"Morning." Kroy smiled and kissed the top of her head.

"You stayed the whole night." She was clearly dumbfounded at the words that were coming from his mouth.

He cleared his throat and removed his hand from her hold and ran it through his hair. "Uh, yeah."

Jasper giggled and turned towards him. Her waist grinded against him and Kroy couldn't help but groan as a side effect. Having such an effect on men wasn't just something she tried to do anymore. It came as a habit that could tantalize anyone any day.

Relieved that she let go the whole sleeping over subject, Kroy grabbed hold of her waist and pulled her closer to him. He could practically feel her unnatural need for him so early in the morning, but decided to ignore it. Instead of giving into what she so clearly wanted, he just smirked and rolled off the bed.

Once he grabbed his boxers from the chair next to the bed, Kroy could hear an annoyed whine escaped her which only made him grin. He pulled the boxers on and then his jeans, giving her a sympathetic look. "Sorry, Jas," Kroy said, leaning over the bed towards her to kiss her hard on the mouth.

She moaned against his lips and then shoved him away. "Don't you have some work to get to?"

"As a matter of fact," he said. "Yes I do. Here."

When her eyes fell on the payment Kroy gave her her eyes were wide as saucers. "Fifteen dollars? Kroy, I can't-"

He raised my hand in the air, silencing her. "You can accept it, Jas. You have to hang around scum all day. There isn't anyone who deserves it more than you."

Not caring that she wasn't clothed, she jumped from the bed and wrapped her arms around Kroy, kissing him passionately. When she separated, his expression grew serious. "If anyone gives you trouble today-"

"Tell you. I get it, Kroy." Her laugh filled the room as she looked at Kroy intently. "I know the drill."

"I mean it." He looked into her eyes, looking for any amount of seriousness he could find. When she finally gave in to his determined state, Kroy was both relieved and surprised. "Good."

Before he could even leave the Red Door, Jasper was already spoken for once more. This man was a little pudgier, definitely not someone who could match the beauty of someone so flawless as her. Although, with a job like hers, you didn't have a choice. You were forced to go with who waved money in front of your face.

Kroy looked upon the two of them walking to her room, a look of something that couldn't be described any other way than disgust was on her face. Like every time he saw another man lead her away, his stomach twisted in an uncomfortable manner.

Jasper wasn't just some girl he had sex with to pass the time or make him feel better, she was more than that.

Shaking off the sudden hatred Kroy had for the man that dragged the woman he cared so much about away, he shoved the door of the club open. His strength was hidden to him until he noticed the loud noise of it hitting the wall next to it echoing through the street.

He ignored the looks from the few people that were out this early. It was weird to think that even after all these years of being around everyone here that Kroy still didn't know many of their names. Everett and him were always a little more secluded than most. This was often a great way to not make enemies.

A cigarette was already hanging from his lips after not even a minute of leave the Red Door. It took a few flicks of his thumb to bring the lighter to life before he brought it up to the cig. With one deep breath a burning sensation ran down his throat, a feeling he was more than used to. Kroy blew out the smoke a few seconds later and watched as it faded into nothing in front of him.

This action never calmed the nerves, but it sure did fulfill the addictive needs. It was always a mystery how people always said that smoking was a calming activity when it was quite the contrary. When you smoke your body doesn't calm down, it does the opposite; your heartbeat accelerates at an alarming rate. Any chance of feeling at ease is out the window as you slowly suffocate your lungs, filling them with a cancerous disease.

On the bright side, cancer wasn't a problem anymore, at least, not for those who had the money to pay for said cure.

Not much information was ever given to the Hell Sector as to why they were left in the dust while others got medication and other things they needed. Kroy, along with others in their community, were never told how the Sectors worked, or how to raise their ranking. Maybe they were just lied to into thinking good behavior could raise your Sector class just so they wouldn't act out, or start questioning the system all together.

Kroy cleared my head of all these thoughts, he was never one for politics.

There were always questions that clouded his mind, but he had to stop them from getting to him. Questions were a first step to curiosity, and that could kill you. If you were to start prying, a bullet was the only answer you'd receive.

It was going to take maybe ten minutes to walk all the way to the bus, and Kroy had five minutes to be there. Bolting into a run, he threw his cigarette to the side and let it burn out on the sidewalk. Thanks to his incredible physique he got there just in time.

“Running a little late, are we?” Gabe chuckled as he saw the sweat running down the side of Kroy’s face.

“Jasper,” he could only get her name out due to his heavy breathing. After a couple more gasps he continued. “needed me.” Kroy inhaled. Leaning over, he placed both his hands on his knees in an attempt to catch his breath.

“Well you’re lucky you’re not late. You know more than I do that your rations will be taken away for a month if you miss work,” he warned.

My breathing steadied as the bus rolled down the street. As the only way of transportation in this whole town besides the rare bike, it was smart to always be on time. The son was not even in sight over the horizon yet since today work started at six in the morning and the sun didn’t come up until a little after seven. Unless it was raining. Then it seemed like the sun barely existed. It was always so dark then.

Everyone started boarding the bus, shipped off to whatever job they were called upon today.

This time they were close to being brought over the Sector line once again, but they stopped once they got to a crateyard. Crates of many different sizes that ranged from small boxes to full on storage units were stacked on top of each other.

The huge crates were filled with mini ones that they were supposedly meant to lift and place on the trucks that would take them to whatever their destination was.

“Stop gawking and get moving.” Ergo’s strong voice overpowered everyone’s mumbles, bringing them to attention.

“There are so many.” A worker that Kroy only knew by name, Freddy, said loud enough for a few to hear. “What’s in all these anyway?”

“You’re not here to ask questions,” Mr. Ergo snapped. He approached Freddy, who quickly averted eye contact. Ergo scared everyone, even Kroy. “You’re here to work.”

The sound of more busses approaching made Kroy turn around.

“Yesterday wasn’t the only day we’d be working with another Sector,” Kroy groaned to himself, catching Gabe’s attention.

Gabe patted his shoulder and chuckled. “Welcome to the evolution of a government, my dear friend.” He seemed to take this as a grant new age, while Kroy couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

When one small thing changes, bigger changes tend to follow.