Usually, a shed's used for storing stuff you usually don't need. Not in this case. Not in this one.

In this wooden shed, there's someone inside – And it's not by the dim light that's seen from the numerous tiny windows, or the faint noise that occasionally escapes, that makes this fact perceptible.

It is, in fact, by a bunch of messy dark brown curls that sprints from one side to the other.

A curly mess…with no more than 1,40m.

"Why doesn't it shine anymore…" Putting aside the oil lamp, the big greenish orbs never leave the lilac colored crystal, resting now on the table "Weird…" But, like all the kids, he has a short attention span, so the mineral was quickly dismissed, sat aside the oil lamp, and he started to work on another project.

And, like that, he got entertained. That space was his workshop, the place his parents got him just to leave them alone – and away from his inventions.

This time it was a toy, a music box.

So okay, that was a little girly, but that was something simple and fun to do, so it didn't matter.

Outside was a bright calm day, so it was natural for kids to be out playing.

Except him.

The boy always had been…strange, focusing more on inventions than on other stuff; Of course he liked to play outside, he just did it fewer times than the majority…but that's just the burden of a creative mind.

Whom got honestly surprised when all the tools started trembling; His juvenile mind only understanding the situation when he heard a crash coming from the now fallen lamp and felt the nonstop shaking.

A quake.

By instinct, he ducked under the table, legs pulled to the chest and just waited for it to end.

Fortunately, it didn't take long.

Strange, earthquakes didn't usually happen in the city…

Or so the little boy would have thought, if he wasn't more worried about his latest invent. "Oh, good grief…" It wasn't damaged, for his relief – Nothing's worse than a ruined project – so the boy continued distracted with it.

Until a strange smell got to his nostrils – was that…rotten eggs?

Searching for a while, he found the origin of the smell.

"Uh-oh…" was the only thing that passed through his mind as he watched the crystal having some kind of reaction.

That couldn't be good, as something in his guts told him: He had to run, to stay away from it…so he darted do the door, put the hand on the handle and…

Nothing.

It didn't even budge.

Sure, the door wasn't in the best conditions before, but now…

It was completely stuck.

Stuck as he was, separated to the threat by a meter or less.

Definitely not looking good.

"Nononononoonono!" Seeing that pulling and pushing the door wasn't getting much effect, he opted for slamming it with his tiny hands "HELP! MOMMY! DADDY! SOMEBODY HELP ME!"

But nobody could hear him, not in the backyard.

He had to fetch for himself, it seemed.

And, by each passing moment, the smell getting more and more intense, the kid scared shitless, slamming and kicking the door with hope that it opened…In the middle of all this frenetic frenzy, the door finally gave in and creaked open.

He bolted outside.

Unfortunately…

Not in time.

First there was light.

Then there was sound.

Next there was hot.

And in the end…darkness.



XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX Five Years Later XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX



"LUUUUUUCAAAAAAAA!"

Ugh…

"GET OUT OF BED YOU LAZY ASS!"

It's fucking early…

"LUCA!" In a sudden move, a door is pushed open. "ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!"

"No." He simply stated, noticing that his voice was still all raspy. He was right, it was fucking early.

"I warned you…" Steps came closer to him.

Shit, she wasn't going to do what he thought she was…

OH FUCKING SHIT!

All the room was invaded by the light that the open curtains provide; in a corner, it's visible an upright butt hidden by a blanket.

When no word is spoken, a messy dark-brown curly hair pops out of the blanket. "ARE YOU STUPID OR WHAT?! DO YOU WANT ME TO GO BLIND?!"

"I warned you." Yeah right, the sleepy freckled boy thought. "Oh yeah, your girl is waiting in the living room."

Wait, wait, wait. A Girl?! Okay, there's only one that comes to my house, and like…

"She's not my girl!" Really, why did everyone have to pair them?

"Yeah, right, forgot." The intruder walks through the door, but a "Faggot." Is still audible.

"I'M BIIIIII, GODDAMIT!" Was it that hard to differentiate? Oh yeah, that's right. "FATASS!"

Much better.

Feeling really sleepy, he glanced at the clock: 11:07am. He usually didn't get up before midday. "Are you kidding me…" He slurred, his brain still not working. Last night was a busy one, but at least the money had paid off.

…Not that kind of work.

No matter how much he needed the money, he wouldn't resource to such measures.

Luca Elliot Ares Holster had something called pride. And a brain that thought outside the box.

And, in Dâmaris, that's the last thing you need. That is, if you care about your status.  To an outsider, everything seems perfect, but who lives there sees it's not.  It's claimed as a Utopian city, but the weirdness starts in the class divisions – Dives, Medii and Pauper; namely the rich, medium and the poor; and continues to the stretch of the Pauper living walled off on the other side of a bridge. Of course, it's so well guarded that no one can go in or out by will.

The city only works because it excludes the outcasts, and most of the time, it doesn't mean they're poor, just that they're different. Dâmaris doesn't need people that think for themselves.

And that's why, when he couldn't get a job, mainly because of his prosthetic right arm, he turned to the Pauper side – The bridge isn't the only way in, you know? – and got a job in a bar, but as he couldn't show up there as Luca, he had to create Crystal, his feminine alter-ego, and even went as far as to give her a background story. As far as everyone knows, Crystal Malin Heane is a 15 years old Pauper that simply doesn't know the whereabouts of her parents, and is a handyman…Handywoman… – Whatever! – for a living.

And Luca is a 15 years old Medii that sleeps till late and does nothing of his life except inventing stuff, being the black sheep of his fucked up family. Not like he cared.

No one could know about Crystal. No one. It was his biggest secret, and he'd be damned if someone found out. He'd be thrown to the other side and, even if the people there were really nice, he still had stuff to take care of, stuff that needed him being on this side, and, if it meant for him to feign ignorance and pretend to be the dumb shit everyone thought he was, then fine.

Well, everyone except his best friend.

...That was still waiting downstairs.

"Crap, what does she want this early…?" When he finally finished dressing is usual outfit – those damned boots were a pain in the ass to tie – Luca headed downstairs, to his living room, and there he saw a very familiar light brown puff of hair. "…'Morning Lue."

Lue, as in Louise, turned her head to greet him, her pale blue eyes with a hint of yellow locked with his greenish blue. "Good Morning. Took you long enough, Elliot, were you putting your makeup?"

"Har-di-har, Lue." Louise was always making fun of him for his skinny and girlish constitution. Not an attitude a Dives should have, but she was far from normal. "And stop calling me Elliot, my name is Luca!"

"Luca Elliot. Elliot is your second name, but it's still your name. And I call you what I want." She shrugged, getting up of the couch.  "Hey, hey, I have something really great planned for today! We're going to have so much fun!"

This earned her a skeptic glare from the boy. "You mean, you are going to have fun at my expenses."

"Yeah, more or less." Louise admitted, pulling her usual smirk. "Let's go then?"

"Go where!?" Luca protested. "I never said I would go!"

"But you promised!" The girl made the most adorable pout and puppy eyes, one of her favorites strategies."C'mon Elliot!"

Damned be those eyes."Alright, alright, I'll go. It's not like I have something to do today…" Why was it that everything went according her way? Luca never understood. "Where are we goin–" Louise's face made him stop. It was the usual 'I have something new I wanna try on you, and you're gonna scream like a little pussy' expression. It gave him the shivers. "Uhm…On second thought, I'm gonna stay at home"

"Nu-uh! You said you'd go, so no take backs!" She declared, pointing her index up.

"…" Luca really hated when she started like this. "Yanno…I have no idea what's on your mind…but I already hate it."

"That's settled then!" With a swift move, Louise grabbed the boys arm and dragged him out of the living room, hall, stairs, and when they were close to the door, Luca pushed his arm out of the girls grasp.

"I can walk, yanno?" That said, he opened the door, followed by a very creepy smiling girl.

Leaving the two story house, Luca couldn't help but wonder what the hell was in store for him. Nothing that he would enjoy, that's for sure.

"So…what's the plan?" He eyed the girl, her lips pulled into a smile while she thought about…whatever the hell it was. "You're really happy today."

"New project!" Based on the way her eyes beamed with excitement, that could not be good. "But I need your help Elliot."

"You're gonna make some kind of weird ass experiment on my arm, aren't you?" He was even afraid to ask.

"Nope, not today." As she said that, Luca could feel himself inwardly sighing of relief. "But if you insist I can upgrade some stuff."

"No, no, don't bother with that." Okay, so he was safe for the time being. After a few minutes walking, he noticed his surroundings, more specifically, noticed how he was being looked like some kind of exhibit on a freak show; and unconsciously sank his hat.

He was now on the Dives part.

And, of course, his best friend saw his nervous tic.  "What's wrong, Elliot? Why so serious?" She teased, grinning like a madman…or woman, in this case.

"Shut up. You know I don't like to come here." Being there only meant one thing "Your house today, uhn? So…is your bro home?"

Louise knew exactly where this was going. "Don't even start! I seriously don't want you to corrupt my little brother with your obscenities!"

He just rolled his eyes. "It's called swearing, Lue, and it's part of growing up."

"He doesn't need it!" With a little angry pout, she glared at Luca. Talk about protective mother hen degree siblings!

After a lot of small talk, the so familiar building came into view.

Luca could only stare.

Her house was…stunning, to say the least. He'd already been there a couple of times, but he never got less astonished than the first time.  And it's not like he went there every day, by the contrary, it was rare the times his foot set inside the mansion, mostly because that place gave him the creeps.

And memories.

Way bad memories.

Walking through the 3 meters front gate, Luca's eyes could only wander to the exhausting dimension of green in the garden, the flowery bushes, the big water font in the middle of it, that didn't really look that big if compared with the magnitude of the mansion, with big windows that let the sun come through all day…and of course, the front door, adorned in a way that made anyone impressed.

It hadn't changed in all this years, still majestic as ever.

Oh right, the double door was open, he should come in.

Passing through the hall decorated by frames and doors, Luca could have sworn he saw a shadow passing by, and, if it was what he thought it was, for damn certain he'd turn around and leave.

When he heard the sound of a small bell, his suspicions were confirmed, and he stopped walking. "I'm so outta here."

But before Luca could get much far, the girl grabbed his arm and dragged him across the hall, closer and closer to…

Feeling way to close to the creature for his comfort, Luca slapped the other's girl hand – which made her look into his eyes with an amused expression – and gave her the best death glare he could create. "You. Get the furrball the fu...heck away from me." He corrected, eyeing every single place to make sure nobody herd him. "Get it?!"

"…No way…Pfffft" His best friend snickered, really amused by what just happened. "You restricted yourself?!" Not taking anymore, she burst into a giggling fit "Best. Joke. Ever!"

If it was possible, Luca's glare would create holes in Louise's head. "Well, sorry if I don't feel like getting smacked today! You remember last time?! That hurt!" Seeing as the laugher didn't died down, and he was only adding fuel to it, the boy decided not to recall more embarrassing things. "That or someone throw me your cat! I swear, someday I'm gonna kill it!"

Facing the menace, Louise didn't felt like laughing anymore. It was the same thing every time. She never understood what his problem was. The cat was the sweetest thing ever… "Really, what's your problem with him…?"

"Oh, it's simple…" He started, putting his prosthetic arm between them. "Your damn cat thinks my arm is a freaking scratching post!" Well…figures.

She just shrugged. "Maybe he likes shinny things, I don't know."

"No. The furrball simply hates my guts." No, he was not getting paranoid over a cat. The creature seemed like an angel near Louise and a demon when they were both alone. "Anyway, what do you want my help with?"

"Oh, right. It's in my workshop, c'mon!" Before Luca could register, Louise sprinted down the hallway and right through another bigass door, not even caring if he got lost, or worse, if the cat found him.

Really, what could it be that got her so excited?

Fortunately, he had a good sense of direction, so he wouldn't get lost in the mansion that was, without exaggeration, about three times bigger than his own house.

Besides…he also knew the way.