Tears Of The GALAXY

The colorful neon signs seemed to be floating over the city. The busy streets were crowded with people and cars.

Emerald was running for her life, not noticing the beautiful scenery and people around her. She used all her strength and was losing her breath, but she still wasn’t fast enough. How could she run fast when she hadn’t eaten anything for three days?

But she couldn’t stop.

Finally, she ran into an alley in the center of the city where a high wall blocked her way. She could hear people laughing from behind.

Emerald couldn’t help but turn around in a cold sweat. Then, wrapping both arms around herself, she held herself instinctively, feeling safer covering herself.

Several tall men blocked the alley. 

“Help! Help!” She cries out loud with a broken voice, hoping for a miracle, even though she knew it was useless. Bypassers on the street would pay no attention to a girl crying for help.

“You want to run away? Runaway?” The leader, a tall, thin man, said with a sneer.

The men behind him began to take off their pants, as one of them said. “We’re going to teach you a lesson today.”

Emerald could understand almost all of their simple words, although she was not too familiar with the local language. Her whole body was trembling. Her pale lips were shuddering. “Please let me go. I can do anything you want.”

The leader looked at her with an icy stare, folding his arms. “Miss, didn’t anyone tell you that the “Hope City” is hopeless for poor people? You are too poor.”

Emerald didn’t understand what was happening until these men came up to her.

She shouted out and ran along the wall, trying to break through but ended up being caught easily by the men.

She tried to struggle free as her long hair suddenly was pulled from behind, which made her fall to the ground. Landing on the hard-paved ground, she felt a sharp pain in her back. With arms and legs pressed to the dirty ground, she heard her pants torn apart as her body suddenly felt cold. A pair of rough hands started to touch her body.

“Smooth!” He complimented in surprise.

“Never thought this skinny girl could be so nice.”

Emerald struggled with all her might, tears rolling down her pale, bony face. A strong, glaring light suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Emerald was closing her eyes out of humiliation but could feel the strong light in her face. The man who is kneeling over her, forcing her legs open for his next move, looked up in confusion. “Huh?”

Standing up, the man dragged Emerald from the ground and pushed her into the corner.

A black limousine was parked on the corner of the street. Its luxury was noticeable even from a distance for its heavy, modern design.

Three men stepped out after the limousine came to a full stop, and lights and engine were off.

Emerald squinted her eyes and saw that the men were wearing military uniforms, making her even more scared. After living in the poorest district for a period of time, she knew too well how the military treated gangsters, favored the rich people, and squashed the poor.

Why would they help her?