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Author: Marsha Loftis

16. The Runt is captured by the Central Bobcat Goons

16. The Runt is captured by the Central Bobcat Goons

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16. The Runt captured by the Central Goons at the mall
16. The Runt captured by the Central Goons at the mall

The Central Goons have gotten bold, grabbing boys off the street, forcing them into labor on the Central Campus. Some are even thrown into brutal warm-up fights, just to give Xavier Boulder’s goons someone to practice on.

The Runt had just reached for his bike, ready to head back to Bear Country, when two of those goons crept up behind him. He tried to run but they were too fast, too strong. They slammed him back, overpowering him before he could even shout.

15. A Successful Trade for Medicine

15. A Successful Trade for Medicine

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The Runt and Sam find medicine
The Runt and Sam find medicine

The Runt thanked Sam for covering the rest of the trade with the pharmacist. Sam handed the Runt the medicine. “Meet me at the market plaza tonight, I could use your help with a little distraction… and maybe picking a few pockets. I hope this medicine helps Tony.”

14. A fair Trade

14. A fair Trade

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The Runt and Sam at the pharmacy counter
The Runt and Sam at the pharmacy counter

Sam, Queen of the Gutter Rats, was a little annoyed at the Runt but honestly, it wasn’t his fault. She hadn’t told him exactly what the pharmacist would take in trade. The guy could be finicky, sometimes even downright cruel. The kid laid everything he had on the counter: every last coin and an old pocket watch.

13. The Pharmacist

13. The Pharmacist

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13. The Pharmacist
13. The Pharmacist

He called himself “The Pharmacist,” but he didn’t care about healing anyone. His concoctions were mostly fakes, cheap mixtures that did more harm than good. If you died taking his medicine, that was on you. All he cared about was making trades and scamming the desperate, those trying to save someone they loved, or just escape their pain for a while.

12. It would be fine she said

12. It would be fine she said

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12. The Runt and Sam meeting on the backside of the mall
12. The Runt and Sam meeting on the backside of the mall

The Runt was desperate to find medicine for Tony. The old mall was a wreck, broken down and barely holding together. No one went inside anymore, except the desperate or those with nothing left to lose. People said only the foolish or the ones with a death wish stepped through its doors. But Sam insisted it would be fine.

11. Sam Queen of the Gutter Rats

11. Sam Queen of the Gutter Rats

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11. The Runt and Sam meeting at the park
11. The Runt and Sam meeting at the park

Sam was known as the Queen of the Gutter Rats. If you needed something found, haggled, or stolen, Sam could get it. The Runt needed antibiotics for his friend Tony, so he went to her. She agreed to help, but it was going to cost him.

10. A trip to the Main Library

10. A trip to the Main Library

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10. Marty, Gretchen and Cecelia at the main library
10. Marty, Gretchen and Cecelia at the main library

Marty, Gretchen, and Cecilia are on their way to the main library to research Tony’s condition. The library is in shambles, so finding useful resources will be a challenge. They also must pass through Central Bobcat territory, which isn’t ideal. With any luck, they’ll come back with some answers about how we can help him. In the meantime, people are sitting with Tony and doing their best to keep him comfortable.

Madie

9. We moved Tony upstairs

9. We moved Tony upstairs

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9. Madie sitting with Tony in admin hallway
9. Madie sitting with Tony in admin hallway

We moved Tony from the basement up to a room in the admin hallway. He is not doing well. His left eye is badly bruised and his stomach is painful to the touch. He isn’t holding any food down, but we insist that he drink sips of water. People have been known to die from dehydration. We can’t afford to lose Tony. We need him.
Madie

8. Xavier Boulder and his dad

8. Xavier Boulder and his dad

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8. A young Xavier Boulder being yelled at by his father
8. A young Xavier Boulder being yelled at by his father

While I was shopping at the market plaza, I overheard people talking about Xavier and his goons. They’re stirring up trouble all over town. The way they bully the other gangs is getting out of control. Xavier has way too much power, and he uses it to be cruel. People say he turned out this way because his father was always mean to him when he was a boy, especially when he lost a tournament. I don’t know if that’s true or just talk. What I do know is that Xavier likes hurting people.

Madie

7. Dreaming of Home

7. Dreaming of Home

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7. Madie dreaming of home 7
7. Madie dreaming of home

I dreamt about being home last night. I swear I could almost feel and smell the clean sheets. It felt like a weekend. One of those mornings, when you had a great night’s sleep, a familiar smell wakes you. My mom was in the kitchen making her famous biscuits. I miss those biscuits. I miss the strawberry jam. I don’t know what woke me from my dream, but it was a letdown when I realized it wasn’t real.
Madie