Life for a struggling writer was never an easy one. Neil Patterson knew that extremely well, being an aspiring twenty-three-year-old writer, whose most recent story had once more been shot down by his publisher. “Leanna Royce,” the brown-haired male grumbled as he sat at the back of the train. His body slouched forward as he stared at the backpack which held his most recent manuscript. It was a mystery novel… The first one he'd tried to make. But, as his publisher put it, it was “too basic, too common, and too unoriginal” all criticism that was common from the Royce woman.

Finding no point to continue moping about the recent events of the day,  he brought his blue eyes up to look other passengers and sighed. It was only then that he remembered. that it was near the end of lunch, so they were all headed to the northeastern portion of Beachcastle where the only local University was located. The BCU insignia branded across their clothing only added more weight to the idea that the group was heading back to campus.

All of the university students chattered as they grasped their phones in their hands. Half of them, not even bothering to look up as they spoke with those closest to them. His mind almost wondered whether he would have been the same if his father had coughed up the money to send him to school as he had his “true children”. Neil could even vaguely see his younger twin half-brothers chattering to one another. The pair were one of the very few who didn't have their phones in their faces.

To be honest, he was happy that no one really bothered with him. It was something he was used to. He was always in the shadow of his older half-siblings who were overachievers that had to ensure their father looked good. That's probably why he didn't mind the younger four kids as much. They didn't really care about the old man's image, yet their father still cared enough to put them through school. “How lucky,” he grumbled to himself.

From the front of the train, he noticed one of the pair standing, a smile on his face as he made his way to the back of the train. His brother traipsing after him down the narrow aisle of the subway train. “Hey, Brother,” Hayden said as his younger twin Matthew waved before the two took a seat at Neil's side. The older male gave a small sigh before he leaned back. Making his posture straight once more.

“Hi, Hayden… What brought you two over here.” Neil mused as Hayden placed his arm around his older brother. A grin stretched upon his features as he did so.

Matthew frowned, “Your mother mentioned something to our mother about you going back to Leanna to see if she would publish your book… She said we should see how it went.”

The world was filled with strange things and one of them was Amelia Patterson, a wealthy woman who had married shortly after the two graduated high school. They had been arranged to strengthen the bond between the Malone and Patterson families or some medieval-sounding thing like that.

And yet, when she found out about Mr. Patterson's affair and Neil’s birth - oddly enough she didn't really care. She was more than happy to help Neil's mother. If anything, she was the only reason her husband still took care of Neil's family.

“Well, it didn't go well. She turned it down.” Neil mumbled as he rubbed his eyes. He was looking forward to going to bed as soon as he arrived home. Then he would wait for his mother and aunt to arrive and he would figure out a way to break the news. Again.

Hayden didn't look pleased at all, his grip tightening around his half-brother. “Hey, that's not right. She doesn't have any reason to do that to you. You're the best writer I know.” Neil smiled at the male’s attempt to brighten his spirits just the slightest.

“Don't worry about it, maybe she's right… Everything happens for a reason. Even this.” Hayden only sighed as he pulled away from Neil, a small and unhappy frown stretched across the light brown-haired male's face as both he and Matthew stood.

A jumble of quick and gargled words echoed through the ancient loudspeakers situated throughout the train as the words “Next stop, Carlo Street Station,” appeared in bright red lettering on the next stop sign.

“Leaving already, I thought you were going back to school,” Neil spoke as the two begin to amble away, both of them holding onto whatever they could, knowing the next stop would be soon.

“We have to go help Camila and her… husband.” Hayden grumbled as Matthew gave a small sigh. “Because we all want to go help her husband build something rather than be in school.”

“Sorry about that,” Neil spoke, he knew very little about his eldest sister, though he did know she was married to a carpenter. And that she could be very annoying after a while. “Well, good luck.” The pair only groaned as they were lightly thrown forward, before giving a wave and shambled off the train.

Reaching into his pocket, Neil brought his earbud out, turning on whatever music so happened to be on his phone. The brunet gave a sigh as he leaned all the way back so his head touched the cool wall behind him. It wouldn't be as peaceful or comfortable as sleeping in his own bed, but it would do for now.

Not long after he had fallen asleep had the train come to a screeching stop, causing Neil's headphones to fall out as he hurried to ground himself before he flew out the window. Someone really needed to do something about the screechy and sudden stops the subway made.

Over the intercom came the strange jumble of mishmash once more. The noise rang over the groans of the students on the train. The train jolted as it began to roll once more.

Neil shook his head as he pushed himself back into the seat before glaring up at the name of the next station. Blackford Ave. Subway Platform displayed itself in flashing red letters. A sigh of relief echoing through the subway as the hoodie-clad male placed his backpack on his back and waited for the next stop.

•••

Soon the subway came to a screeching halt, the man rose from his spot at the back of the train. His feet instantly took him out of the door and onto the subway platform.

The train quickly pulled off, leaving Neil alone in the narrowly-abandoned platform. The only other living creature was a small, black cat with white mitten-like patterns on his paws sitting on a box, big blue eyes staring up at Neil. "Meow..." The creature greeted. His normally happy persona and meow of greeting replaced with what the male could only guess to be sorrow.

"I suppose you already knew what happened don't you, Locke?" The male spoke, leaning down and rubbing the small animal’s head. A small purr escaped the feline's mouth before he took the opportunity to hop on the shoulder of the male while he was still kneeling down. "Well, I suppose we should head back. I still have to figure out another idea for a book..."

As the pair walked up the stairs it became painfully obvious how different the people and neighborhood was when compared to the richer neighborhoods. Blackford Ave. and it's surrounding neighborhoods had always been one of the poorer places in Beachcastle ever since the city’s beginning.

However, that never seemed to bother the people here. In actuality, they all seemed much happier than the college students on the subway. Most were just happy to have their friends, a roof over their heads, and food on the table. Besides this, you often didn't see many cell phones or cars around this part of the city. This gave more time and room for the other activities that took place in the middle of the street.

The children played jump rope and double-dutch. Older teens, of both genders, played soccer or catch. There were even a few men sitting on the sidewalk playing cards. And among them were the family pets, both dogs and cats which roamed about without a care.

This was why Neil continued to live here with his mother and aunt. Things were always like this - the people coming together as friends and having fun together… he and Locke always enjoyed people-watching simply because of this fact.

Continuing along on their nice little walk back home, the sound of footsteps rushed up to their ears. The two looked back to see a middle-eastern man coming their way. And fast. Neil looked at the man for a bit longer than needed before turning to look where he was going. His pace picked up as he hoped to lose the man.

Locke's angered hisses prompted his owner to look back. The strange male now much closer - closer than should have been possible with how far back he seemed previously. Locke hastily hopped off Neil's shoulder, expecting the two males to collide. The unidentified man shoved Neil into the side of a building, his amber eyes locking with Neil's for just the slightest moment. "Run,"

Neil didn't know what was going on in that single moment, however, when he felt Locke began to tug at his pants’ leg, Neil quickly followed. The two backed up into the dim alleyway. Before turning around and beginning to take another route towards their little home.

That was until the sound of footsteps caught their interest again. A group of men clad in red and black whizzed down the street. Curiosity seeming to prickle within Locke as he turned around and galloped back down the alley. Neil begrudgingly followed after the feline.

The two arrived at the corner of the alleyway only to see the strange man being grabbed from behind by one of those goons. The previous joy that seemed to encompass the neighborhood dissolved until only dread remained.

Neil sucked in a breath as he saw the man getting dragged towards the others within the group of red and black-clad thugs. “You've been causing problems for the boss, Issa.” One said as they pulled something from their waistband. The silver metal almost seeming to glint evilly as he pointed the gun at ‘Issa’.

Issa didn't seem at all afraid as he kept his eyes on the men before him. A strange pang going through Neil's chest as he saw the trigger being pulled and the man's body crumple to the ground.

The sound of the gun echoing through the whole neighborhood as the two ran down the alleyway once more. Not allowing themselves to stop until they had reached the confines of their home.

"Oh god," Neil breathed, sliding down to sit at the base of the door. His heart half beating out of his chest. "What the hell just happened?" he questioned, his eyes locked on his feline companion whose blue eyes narrowed on the male’s hoodie’s pocket. "Hey, what are you doing... Locke!" Neil all but screamed as the feline pounced, sniffing and pawing at whatever it was within the pocket.

The two watched as a small box fell out, Neil quickly grabbing it up. Lifting the lid to reveal a small watch-like device. The word "praeteritum" inscribed above the Roman numerals, while "praesentialis" was underneath them.

Laughing to himself, he shook his head and threw the box back in his pocket. It was just a simple trinket that had made its way into his hands.

"Yeah, right..." Neil muttered as he pressed his thumb against the upper part of the watch. Yelping just the slightest as he pulled his now bleeding finger away from the object. The watch instantly lighting up, a few numbers appearing at the center of the clock as the hands begin to spin erratically in a counterclockwise direction.

"What...?" everything around them seemed to move backward as if someone had pressed the rewind button on the world. The apartment slowly stripped itself down, the other buildings of the neighborhood now gone, replaced with what Neil could only guess was a farm. Both he and Locke sat there, staring around in shock.

"So, they weren't wrong?" A male spoke as a shotgun was leveled to Neil's head. Both he and Locke stiffened. "You know your trespassing, pal."