Ruckus 1

In this jungle of concrete and metal worlds collide in an explosion of culture and contradictions. Here the lines of what's real and unreal seem to just disappear and the rules of logic and rationality seem to blur into nonexistence. For Tai this city was more than  a foreign country, it was like a whole different world yet he managed to fit in somehow.

The sun was oppressive today but for the large man it was nothing compared to his island home across the ocean. Tai became a common sight in this suburban area of the city, his large stature accompanied by dark skin and hair made him stand out just as much as his decision to wear shorts and sandals with a white lab coat which became his most common attire.

He followed the grid-like streets until he came to an old apartment complex. He pushed open the front gate which was never locked and began climbing the metal staircase. His destination was the sixth floor and after climbing up and down these stairs several times a week, daily even, he got used to how they creaked and moaned under his weight.

There was only one apartment at the top of this building, one that was occupied, that is. The last door at the end adorned with a security camera above it and many others scattered across the nearby rooftops. Some that Tai himself had installed, albeit most likely illegally.

The door's lock clicked before he even touched the handle and with a hard shove he pushed the metal portal aside and entered. The apartment beyond was dark, it's resident shunning the sun like a natural enemy, and the air was thick with cigarette smoke.

"Doctor," Tai called in as he kicked off his sandals, "It's me."

"Of course it is." Came a response from deeper within. "Who else would take the time coming up here?"

Tai carefully walked around the bundled stacks of newspapers and magazines that lined the entryway, doing his best to adjust to the darkness after being outside for so long. As he stepped into the living room he was greeted by the pale glow of monitors and the hum of several computers hoarded- assembled together. Seated in a chair before the wall of screens with her back to him was the apartment's resident, a woman named Lucia Amani.

She was supposedly a scientist but Tai never learned in what field and he never asked, he was just her link to the outside world considering she never left this place. Tai ignored her and went to the kitchen, packing away the groceries he had purchased and gathering any trash she had generated since his last visit.

"Doctor," Tai began, holding up an empty soup can, "You shouldn't eat this raw."

"I don't have time to cook." Came her response.

"The instructions are clearly printed on the side." He continued. "It takes no more than three minutes to cook in the microwave."

He heard the click of a lighter as the doctor lit a new cigarette. "Tai," she addressed him, "Do you have any idea how much happens in just three minutes?" A few screens flickered and transitioned to new vantages, displaying some part of the city. "A lot. Far too much to miss."

Tai sighed as he continued his work and that's when he noticed a pile of bloodied bandages by the couch which was pushed halfway into the kitchen. He carefully knelt beside them and gathered them up, uncovering a metal pan containing two blood stained bullets rattling around inside.

"By the way," Lucia began, obviously aware of what Tai had uncovered, "He stopped by again, the fool man."

Tai looked up only to stare at the back of her chair. "You mean True?"

"He was hurt again and needed someone to patch him up." Tai heard her chuckle. "Seems he's taken a liking to me finally."

Tai shook his head and stood. "I don't see why you keep catering to that man." He said. "He's dangerous."

"He's interesting." The doctor corrected. Tai saw her auburn hair appear from around her chair as she pushed her arms into the air as she stretched. "That or perhaps I'm sexually attracted to him."

Tai sighed again as he stood and approached her. "What would your father say?"

The chair turned and Tai found himself facing down a rather small woman with long, curly auburn hair dressed in a knitted sweater and dark stockings. She was rather pale and her blue eyes seemed to shine in the dark.

"Tai," she began, removing the cigarette from her lips, "At what point in our conversation about my sexual needs did you think it was a good idea to bring up my father?"

"We weren't even talking about that."

Lucia placed a hand to her forehead. "This is why you'll always be single. You'll probably die a virgin, although I'm in no position to talk."

"All that aside," Tai began, eager to end the current topic, "True is a dangerous man. You should steer clear of him."

"True comes to me for advice and medical aid." Lucia explained, turning back to her monitors. "If left to his own designs he would die."

"I highly doubt that."

The woman laughed. "You're probably right." She tilted her chair back to look up at Tai. "But he gives me a sense of purpose, of belonging. Grant me that much, will you, my friend?"

Tai looked down into her pleading eyes and gave a heavy sigh. "I get it." He said. "I get it. Just be careful."

Lucia smiled as she returned her attention forward. "Thank you." Movement on one of the monitors grabbed her attention. "Oh." She said. "Looks like he's at it again."

Tai stepped up beside her chair, following the doctor's gaze to the screen that captivated her. In the pale glow he saw a rooftop among taller buildings and a young man dressed in a school uniform standing at it's ledge, staring down into the street far below.

"This is bad." Tai said. "We should call the police."

"Calm down." Lucia interrupted, taking a long drag before continuing. "He won't jump. He never does."

Tai looked from Lucia back to the screen, worry painted across his face. He watched the young man stand on the very edge of the building's roof, teetering precariously before a sheer drop to his death. But just as the doctor said the boy turned away and disappeared off screen.

"See?" Lucia asked.

"Does he do that often?"

"About every day." With a few keystrokes she changed the screen to another view apparently at random. "He'll walk into traffic heedlessly or stand his ground against some band of thugs."

"But why? Why do something so dangerous?"

The woman took another long drag and exhaled the smoke in a steady stream into the nearest monitor. "Because he wants to die but he isn't the kind of person to take his own life."

Tai shook his head. "I doubt I will ever understand this city, doctor."

"Come now, Tai," Lucia grinned, "This city is just one big playground and we're the little brats mucking around in the sandbox." She titled her chair back again to look at him. "Except for me, of course," she said pointing to herself, "I'm just an observer."

Tai said nothing as she looked back to her screens, happily tapping away at her keyboard. Trying to understand her was the source of most of his anxiety, he thought many times it would be better to just give up trying.