It was a cold night in the broken down city of Omaka. A young man was working his usual nightshift alone inside a convenience store while sipping his coffee.
"These cups cool down so fast." mumbled Ri Young. Whilst grabbing the lukewarm cup with one hand and using the other to turn on the mini TV next to him.
"BREAKING NEWS: MULTIPLE MISSING PERSONS REPORTED IN THE OMAKA AREA, PLEASE STAY NEAR LOVED ONES AND STAY SAFE"
Ri Young blinked emotionlessly
"God's why do they always have to blare the Trials." A few years ago, this headline would terrify the lonely Ri Young and cause him to look twice at whoever came into the store. But now that it's been confirmed that all those missing reports are just people being sent to the Trials, he stopped caring. Sometimes wishing he was the next one sent.
It also would hurt his pride and brought up unfortunate memories in the head of Ri Young, seeing as how he was an orphan with perhaps the worst luck the world had seen. At the tender age of 12 both of his parents died in a tragic car accident. At the age of 16 his uncle and only provider at the time ran away after winning it big in the casinos, leaving Ri with nothing but a note and a Goodluck parting card. So now the quiet,skinny, 16 year old was completely alone and really had to get his life together. He stayed in school even though he really didn't learn or care much about it and made little to no effort to have friends, the closest thing he had to a friend was this one girl who would give him a happy smile and leave him alone. "Her name was also Ri wasn't it" Ri Young thought as he remembered his unfortunate life so far.
Other than his school life he mostly spent his time wandering around and scrounging up cash for a day stay at hotels. His luck has recently been on the upturn though. As his jobs would make it so he had no free time whatsoever... Most would take this as a bad thing but Ri Young loved it as now he didn't have to spend money on a room.
"Alright, so after this I have to do my newspaper routes and then I think that officer on 5th Avenue won't pester me about loitering since he is off on Mondays." Ri Young was whispering under his breath.
As he was talking to himself like a sane person does, a older gentleman entered the store and asked for some cigarettes which Ry Young promptly gave. What the old man said after surprised Ri Young.
"Ah how old are you Young man." Said the old man
"Yes thank you have a great nigh-" Ri Young was for some reason so startled he didn't even finish his sentence before saying
"17 sir"
"Mhmm, that's a fine age for some excitement no?" The older bone skinny man in his black suit and red tie said nonchalantly.
"Uhmm, I guess?" Before Ri could finish his sentence he suddenly became dizzy and lightheaded.
"Thank you for the cigarettes Young man, hope you have a great life"
The man was gone before Ri even blinked.