As Nabil was walking through the junkyard a scream slices the air, high and sharp. It wasn't a pleasant sound, of course, but one he was as familiar with as his own voice. Without missing a beat, he continued putting one foot in front of the other, head held low and not daring to let his gaze wander away from the ground letting the moonlight shine his way. He felt bad for this woman, he really did but he also knew that there was nothing he could do for her now. And even if there was the slight possibility of saving her, he couldn’t risk losing the treasure buried deep into his pocket that he found lying hidden behind a dumpster. His fingers dug into its plastic packaging and he was thanking god or whoever was listening that he was already walking the opposite direction from the terrible noises that just wouldn’t stop. His steps fastened and his grip got tighter, almost running now without the intent of not stopping any time soon and the scream was so clear and close and familiar. As he kept on walking he managed to slow his breath and gather his thoughts, until a voice made him freeze in his step.“Nabil is that you? What happenend?”, Ayiana stared him up and down with big shaky eyes while hugging herself, her hands twitching.

  He was confused, he was alright given the circumstances of course, but in comparison to others here, he at least didn't look the part of being miserable and living at the complete bottom of his existence. To be fair, he wasn't here as long as most but he liked to think of himself as being composed and having a natural talent for a poker face, like his mother used to say to him when he was just a kid. He still appreciated her asking though.

  She didn't give him a chance to answer and continued whispering in a hurried voice “That's Celeste right? Doesn't it sound like Celeste?”

  He resisted the urge to sigh, “It could be- I’m not sure. But it doesn't matter anyway, we have to leave now. This place is like their territory or something, right? If we don't go right now we*re gonna be next!” In the dark Nabil could barely make out Ayiana drawing her thin eyebrows together and wrinkling her forehead. “What are you talking about? Who knows what they are doing to her right now? She saved me… she-she saved you!” She raised her voice, shaking with anger and concern and he got it, he really did, but he also had the common sense to put those feelings aside if he couldn't do anything to help. She knew it too and she acted accordingly in the past but this was personal. This was guilt. To leave someone she considered a friend behind, a saviour even, might seem impossible for a personality like hers.

  Ayiana tried to walk past him but he got a hold of her arm. As she whips her head around, her two braids flung through the air and her high set eyes narrowed into slits, staring into his.

  “Ayiana wait! This is suicide! Try to think about your own safety and don't just willingly throw yourself in front of a knife!” She didn't listen.

  In her attempt to push Nabil's hand off of her, she almost knocked him off of his feet. He admittedly did expect that from someone almost two heads smaller than him. Nabil knew that some muscle was hidden under those oversized clothes she wore. He wasn't proud of it but stealing from her is nothing he would ever attempt- no think about doing again. Even if it was just for the sake of his own ego.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  As his grip was violently loosened, she gave him one final- and honestly- unnecessary shove before turning around and sprinting towards the deafening noise as he was standing in place, watching her disappear into the night.

  Nabil didn't think once or twice or even thrice, it took him a solid five minutes to gather the courage and stupidity to follow her. His steps were slow and hesitant. It doesn't matter, he thinks to himself, I am no help to someone who willingly jumps from a cliff either so what's the difference here? As he was walking back, time seemed to go faster than when he left. The screaming of the woman who may be Celeste didn't stop but at least no new voice joined her in her pain. When he knew he was only a few feet away he stopped in his tracks. There. They had to be right behind the dumpster. The street lantern gave barely any light to properly see anything that's more than five feet away, so he had to take that to his advantage. For what plan? He didn't have one, but if it came down to it Nabil could at least hide.

  His pockets suddenly felt heavy. Only then he remembered the food he found earlier and his heart started to pound. Would that be his last meal? He wasn't sure at the time and his head started to hurt and he pressed his lips together in a straight line. Food was a luxury in a place like this, he hadn't eaten in days and Nabil wasn't able to enjoy it in peace because that idiot didn't have common sense. So he decided to eat it now. He could regret it if he were to make it through the day and hadn't saved it for one of those many moments of quiet and boredom you get here. It was blueberry flavored pancakes. He hated blueberry flavor, in packaged food at least. The chemicals were too much, especially for someone like him who had the luxury growing up to eat the real thing. His hands were shaking from the moment he opened the plastic packaging till he took his first bite. Nabil tried to push the sound of pure agony surrounding him out of his head. Just him and his fucking pancake that tastet like absolutely nothing. Not even chemicals. But his frustration caused by the disappointment from an inedible piece of thrash wasn't the most important thing right now, he had to remind himself. So he continued, one, two, three steps. Not much till he could peer around the corner but still stay hidden. His limbs seemed to be moving in slow motion but to Nabil's own surprise he didn't give in to the urge to just turn around and run. There were only a few steps left and he put his hand on the dumpster, made his neck longer and tried to keep his body hidden behind it, only exposing his dark eyes. And he really just wished he went his own way without coming or even looking back.

  It took Nabil a few seconds to even comprehend what he saw. Aiyana was right, it was Celeste but she was wrong about being able to save her. He didn't think even Celeste herself could comprehend what was happening to her. Or comprehend anything at all. Her howls were mindless and primitive just like the 5 men around and above her, eating her alive.

  Notes

  So this is my first story I've ever written and I have to apologize, I don't have any writing or storytelling experience and english isn't my first language. I know that that's a pretty bad combination, but i just wanna write to get used to it and be more comfortable with it. This story is more of a writing and language practice and will have alot of grammar mistakes, inconsistencies and plot holes. Nonetheless, I obiously would be pretty happy if some of you guys would still stick around!

  This is a Cyberpunk story but, like i said, there will be alot of stuff that doesn't make sense just because this isnt really about world building, the story's only purpose is to motivate me is to write. And well Cyberpunk really motivates me :D

  Thank you so much for reading and have a nice day!