An extra’s tale

When Reshi awoke to the sunlight of a red sun, amidst a sky of polluted grey, choking the hints gentle pink that were streaked across heaven's canvas.

He awoke with a smile. Not a wide, grinning smile. It was soft, small, and almost unnoticeable. He didn't know why he smiled, maybe this was perhaps just a day to smile. His heart felt light and airy, yet he couldn't place why.

The feeling felt strange, as he was using flexing a forgotten muscle. But it felt good. Really good.

'Mother would be happy I'm finally smiling again. Maybe I'll go to her room and wake her up.'

But when he got up, for some reason he was already in his mother's room. His body under her blanket, the imprint of his head, still on her pillow.

After a moment of confusion, the grogginess of morning finally left him as he remembered.

'Oh yeah. She's dead.'

Finally all returned to normal. His rose-tinted world finally returned back to it's regular grey, his heart resuming back to it's heavy weight.

Getting up, he unlocked his door, entering into the living space where there was a small kitchenette. There he saw a small malnourished boy, with dark hair sleeping on the floor next to the couch. One tiny hand rising up to rest on his mother's own outstretched palm. She was also sleeping. Her colour had returned to normal. If Reshi was the type to care about looks, he would've noted that she was quite a pretty woman. Smooth skin, and auburn, and wavy hair that half covered a delicate face.

But he didn't care.

He started to the kitchen, planning to cook breakfast for the three of them. As he worked, cracking six synth egss on a preheated pan containing synth butter, he recalled the events of last night.

'You fool. Why'd you go and play the hero again. Haven't you already learned your lesson?'

He didn't really remember what it was that had caused him to run back and save them. He'd thought that side of him dead, buried with his family.

Sighing heavily, he shelved his thoughts, turning his full attention to the meal. He buttered synth bread with synth butter, placing them on a separate pan. Reshi enjoyed cooking, really he enjoyed anything that stopped him from having to think.

He plated two fried eggs and three toasts on each plate, bringing them over to where the boy was sleeping and setting them on the floor. He wasn't surprised to see that Judas had woken up while he was cooking, watching him silently with unfathomable dark eyes.

'What type of life must he have lived to have eyes like those. It's been years since I've seen that look.'

"You're smiling" Judas remarked.

Reshi looked at him before realising he had been.

'Strange.'

Wiping it off, he spoke, "Wake your mother up, it's better if a familiar face is the first she sees. After, we can eat."

Judas nodded, turning to shake his mother awake gently.

She stirred for a moment, before a pair of bright livid green eyes fluttered open. Then she snapped awake, scrambling away rapidly.

'Poor girl.'

"It's alright mom, you're safe, we're safe. This is the nice man who rescued us. I told you, remember?"

She had indeed woken up in the night to a terrible fright, causing her son to wake up. He explained the situation before urging her to rest. She wouldn't have done so, but her body was too weak to resist the call of sleep.

She turned her gaze turned onto the stranger. He had dark unkempt curly hair, pale skin and large black eyes that seemed to have a swirling depth, like the essence of midnight. He might've been considered handsome, but the dark eye bags, patchy beard and oily skin obscured it.

"Ahem, Thank you for saving me and my son."

Reshi noted her tone was worried and formal, 'probably thinking I'm going to take advantage. Like mother like son I suppose.'

Life in the Republic wasn't easy. It was hard for normal people, very hard. But for street urchins, well most boys would die on the streets before ever reaching puberty. However the girls. The girls would live a life that would leave them yearning for death.

"Just relax. Eat, rest up and you can leave. No strings attached", he insisted as he saw the guarded look on her face.

"Come on, eat. Food's getting cold."

He sat down on the floor, and without looking up began eating. His mother had been British. Well, from an area within the place known as England before the Republic. Now it was called area 37. Because of it, he'd grown up with breakfasts from his mother's own childhood, causing his taste in food to vary compared to the people around him. Judas joined him in eating without hesitation, revelling in the food.

After a moment, the mother joined as well, hesitantly eating the food, trying to maintain some semblance of manners. However they crumbled away as soon she had the first bite, scoffing the food as quickly as possible.

They ate in silence.

Again Reshi was shocked with how good they food tasted. The bitter taste of Synth food seemed non-existent as he ate. The flavour were rich and warm as if it was actually organic food.

'I wonder why everything is tasting so good recently?'

When they had finished eating, he leaned back in a satisfied silence.

'Now it's probably the best time to ask her questions. Her guard is lowered.'

"What's your name?"

"Mary. My name's Mary."

Reshi smiled, a stunned expression on his face. "That's a nice name, Mary. My mother had that name."

She nodded, "What's yours?"

"Reshi."

"Reshi, what happened after I passed out, Judas told me but I want to hear it from your mouth as well."

He cocked his head slightly. 'She's a strong one. My mother was also quite strong', he remembered fondly. 'Maybe all Mary's are strong.'

"Tell me what happened before you fainted first. Then I'll continue on."

She nodded. "The man who stabbed me, his name is Azrael. He's the right hand man of the person who, well he employed me. That night, I tried to escape with my son. They'd been keeping him hostage, forcing me to do their bidding." Her green eyes started to shimmer with barely withheld tears, but her voice remained unbroken. "That night I took Judas, and I ran. The boss, he sent Azreal after me to kill me. Probably using me as a lesson for the other girls he keeps trapped."

Reshi nodded sadly. It wasn't an uncommon story for girls. For them or someone they loved to be taken hostage in order to force them to do their bidding.

"After you passed out, I heard your son screaming." He didn't want to mention that he had heard her screaming as well but had chosen to ignore it. "I ran and I fought the man you were talking about. Azrael. Then me and Judas carried you here to my flat."

She nodded. "Again, Thank you. I don't have anything to repay you with right now, so thank you." She bowed her head, but Reshi could tell there was something in her eyes. Sadness, well that was to be expected with her life. Resignation maybe?

"It's fine. You're free to stay here until you're rested. It's probably best if you stay of the streets awhile."

Mary nodded slightly. "Alright."

Reshi got up, inwardly sighing. 'Should I have just left them?'

"I've got to go work now. I've only got one key so I'm locking you lot in. Bathroom is on the right, and if you're tired my bedroom is just there feel free to sleep. There's a cupboard in there, it has lady's clothes in it. In the other room is a small bedroom. Judas can sleep there. The cupboard in there has men's clothes, they'll be big on him though. Have a shower, change and rest while I'm gone."

They both nodded gratefully.

Reshi turned away, planning to change into his uniform.

The army had funded the fees for medical school, but they refused to fund living expenses, so Reshi had to find himself a job. After his family's murder, the school had decided to give him a month off to recover. He still had a week left, so his life had fallen into a mundane monotony of work and sleep. Until now.

He changed and left, locking the door as he did so. Then he began the walk to a different convenience store than the one he had gone to last night. It was further away, but was the only place willing to hire him, and pay him for his work.

'I wonder why I'm being so nice to them? Why? Haven't I already learned that lesson?' There was one thing Reshi knew about life. It wouldn't hesitate to break a man twice, in the exact same way if he didn't learn his lesson the first time.

Sighing again, Reshi entered the store, "Morning Mr Mik."

A small egg headed man popped his head. "Ahhh Reshi, morning. Come on then, I've got somewhere to be."

Nodding, Mr Mik gave Reshi the keys and quickly left. Sighing Reshi resigned himself to an entire day of just standing, his mind able to think and wander freely. Reshi hated it.

...…..

Less than an hour before Mr Mik was due to switch with him, five men entered the store. Reshi could tell straight away that they looked like trouble. Each one seemed to have sinister etched on their brutish faces.

They walked around the store talking loudly.

"Yeah, it wasn't too far from here Az got beat up. He was sent to kill that bitch and the boy."

Reshi froze, Az? Azrael. Immediately he masked his face, pretending he hadn't just frozen.

"Can't believe someone managed to get Az that badly. His face ain't never gonna be the same."

"Gotta be some psycho."

"Well that's why the boss sent us here. No matter how good the prick is, he can't beat up all of us."

"Yeah, it's a good chance to look good in the Boss's eyes."

They approached the counter.

"Give me a pack of smokes" one of them demanded gruffly.

"30 credits sir", Reshi responded, hiding his hand that had been bandaged. He turned, grabbing and handing the pack using his right hand,

The man looked at Reshi silently. Then he slapped him. It was a hard heavy hit, causing him to stumble backwards.

"It's free you little shit. Anything I want here is free. You got that?"

Reshi nodded, keeping his eyes down, trying to appear as meek as possible.

"Yes sir."

He and Mr Mik had an agreement that he never needed to stop men like these. Often it would bring about more trouble than it was worth.

The group of men laughed, taking the pack of smokes and sauntering out the store.

Reshi sighed, rubbing his cheek,

Soon Mr Mik arrived. He explained the situation before leaving hurriedly.

In truth he was worried about the men. They had been sent here to look for the mother and son. And for him. It was clear to Reshi that for some reason, this Boss had decided to make an example of Mary and Judas. And now him.

He returned late. Neither of them were in the main room. After a moment's inspection he saw that Judas was sleeping in his own room.

When he walked into his room he was shocked to see Mary there, under the sheets. She seemed to be waiting for him.

"Hello Reshi", she called. Her voice soft and seductive. Her eyes seemed to warm, her smile wide and tempting. "Do you want to go sleep? Come on then", she beckoned to him.

Reshi noticed a pile of clothes on the floor next to the bed. Mary's clothes.

He looked at her silently for a moment. He was tempted, more than he would've like to admit. Mary was pretty. Very pretty. Her green eyes seemed so warm he could melt as she called for him.

But no.

More than the temptation, Reshi felt something else. Pity. A strong pity that seemed to scour his heart.

"Stop."

"What do you mean Reshi. Don't you want to? Come on, I'm right here for you."

Reshi shook his head, "It's ok."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't expect anything. I meant what I said earlier. I have no price on you." He had expected this. He knew, no matter what Mary wouldn't be able to fathom the idea of doing something for nothing. That she might've thought he wanted something else. Her.

"What do you mean?" She snapped. Her voice harsh and angry. "Am I not good enough" What m-more do you want?" Her voice started to crack. It hadn't even cracked when she described her son being held hostage, but now it broke, and Reshi could hear the wave of tears that threatened to follow.

"You don't need to do this for me", he continued. "You don't need to. I meant what I said earlier. Don't worry. It's ok. You don't need to. It's ok."

Then Mary seemed to deflate, her face that still tried to hold a seductive smile crumbled away as she started crying. Tears streamed uncontrollably as she sobbed. Finally allowing all her emotions to be let loose.

'Poor women.'

"I'm going to stand aside. Put your clothes on. Let me know once you're done."

Then he stepped outside. He knew he should've maybe comforted her. Helped her, but he just couldn't. So Reshi did the next best thing. He gave her space.

After 10 minutes, he heard a strained voice.

Slowly he entered. She was sitting on his bed, fully clothes, her eyes red from crying. "Thank you Reshi. Thank you so much. I-uh. Thank you."

Reshi nodded, "Your son is in the other room, perhaps sleep there."

She nodded. Mary's face seemed clear, unguarded. "Thank you."

Reshi smiled, "you already said that."

Mary smiled back, an honest smile. "That was for saving my life. This was for, well, not making me do that."

Reshi nodded, "Go on."

She left. Reshi deflated onto his bed. Allowing his smile to slip away. Nowadays smiling required so much effort from him. It was almost impossible to hold.

Closing his eyes, Reshi fell into sleep. Again for some reason. It seemed to come so easily to him. Washing him away in a current of dreams of nicer times. Times when smiling didn't require so much of him.

A time of smiles and sunshine. In his dream's he'd see his mother, cooking. His father sitting on the couch, reading. His sister running around, never without her manic energy, even so early in the morning.

He'd see Arrat, his twin. His dark eyes twinkling with a wisdom beyond his age. His curly hair neatly done and cared for, looking almost like a porcelain doll.

He'd never see himself in the dream. He'd be able to watch them, like a ghost but never join them. That was enough for him though. For a short time, he could pretend that they were all alive again, until morning came