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墨書 Inktalez
Marbury stood in the corner of the bar, holding a can of beer, gently shaking it as the liquid inside reflected a dull sheen under the dim light. The can had not been truly consumed; it merely swayed back and forth in his hand, like a restless heart. Leaning slightly against the cold brick wall, he kept his distance from a group of rowdy boys, his gaze wandering aimlessly. Occasionally, his eyes would drift toward them, watching as they shouted boisterously by the pool table, feeling an inexplicable sense of powerlessness and alienation.
These boys, wielding pool cues, had no idea how to play; they simply waved them around, pretending to know how to use these tools. The pool table had long been claimed by them, with no one caring whether the balls went into the pockets or what the outcome of any game might be. They were merely enjoying the feeling of holding the cues, as if that alone could make them appear cooler. In their hands, the cues became symbols of control and power, even representing an illusory "Regal Presence."
"Watch this shot!" one boy shouted loudly before swinging the cue wildly without aiming at any ball. The others erupted into laughter, patting him on the back as if he had just made an incredible shot. Marbury silently observed this scene, a wry smile tugging at his lips. He understood that these people were not true villains; they were merely playing at being "cool" and "fearless." In reality, they were just a bunch of lost kids trying to find a sense of belonging in this world.
Amidst their raucous laughter, the topic suddenly shifted. A few of the boys began discussing another gang that had recently been encroaching on what they considered their territory, stirring up some discontent. Those places had once been their haunts, and now outsiders were coming in to provoke them, which undoubtedly irked them. The discussion grew heated, voices rising with challenge and anger.
"Do those bastards really dare to show up in our territory?" one boy said fiercely, furrowing his brow as he swung his cue forcefully as if imagining how to teach those clueless guys a lesson. "We should go teach them a lesson and let them know whose turf this is!"
Another boy immediately chimed in, "Yeah, let them know we're not to be messed with! We can rally some people and show them what we're made of!"
Marbury remained leaning against the wall, quietly watching their discussion unfold. He felt no interest in their provocations or fights; instead, he felt a sense of helplessness. He hadn’t joined this group for senseless violence but rather to get closer to someone he admired. He knew he was different from these boys; he couldn’t truly fit into their way of life but was too afraid to show his differences. All he could do was stand aside and watch silently, caught in a conflicting emotion of longing for acceptance while feeling isolated.
In moments like this, he felt again that sense of being on the fringes—yearning to belong yet unable to truly fit in. He recognized that he was an outsider among these boys but also understood that he had nowhere else to go.
As soon as the gang leaders heard the provocative talk, they were instantly enraged. Their expressions turned fierce, eyes glinting with anger. One leader shouted angrily, "Damn it! They really dare to mess around in our territory! Let's show them what’s what!" His booming voice immediately captured the attention of the other boys. Several quickly echoed him, clamoring to "teach a lesson" to those who dared challenge them.
"Let’s go, brothers! Grab your weapons! If we don’t make those guys realize our strength today, they’ll think we’re easy targets!" One leader gripped his pool cue tightly and slammed it against the ground several times with a dull thud. Turning swiftly, he hoisted the cue onto his shoulder and signaled for others to follow suit. The atmosphere in the bar instantly became charged with excitement as the boys eagerly grabbed various items in preparation for a fight.
At that moment, Marbury saw them gearing up for action and hurriedly followed along, longing to be part of it all—this was a rare opportunity for him to prove himself to others. But as he stepped forward, the leaders suddenly turned back to glare at him with disdain and contempt.
"You stay here!" one leader waved his hand impatiently, his tone dripping with scorn. "Don’t come along and make things worse; we don’t have time to babysit you! Just take care of our stuff!"
The other thugs burst into laughter at the words, openly mocking Marbury. Some mimicked his timid demeanor, while others patted him on the shoulder in a sarcastic manner, exaggerating their voices as they said, "You just stay here and don’t go out to embarrass yourself!"
Marbury stood frozen in place, an awkward smile on his face that couldn't hide the deep sense of loss and humiliation within him. He watched as the raucous group of thugs excitedly grabbed their fishing rods and rushed out of the bar, their figures growing smaller as they disappeared down the street, leaving him alone and isolated, staring blankly at their retreating backs until they vanished around the corner.
The bar fell silent in an instant, leaving Marbury awkwardly standing in the corner, his beer long lost its flavor. He lowered his head silently, letting out a weak sigh, feeling completely forgotten in this chaotic world.
Just as Marbury sank deeper into loneliness and despair, a hoarse, chilling voice suddenly erupted from beside him, causing him to startle. The voice was low and carried an indescribable coldness and aggression that seemed to pierce through Marbury's skin and reach deep into his bones.
"Do you not feel the warmth of society? Do you not... sense the meaning of your existence?"
Marbury looked up in surprise, scanning for the source of the voice. A man dressed in a coat appeared before him, standing in the shadows not far away. The man looked unnaturally thin—his limbs long and devoid of muscle, as if his bones might break through his skin. His pale skin hung loosely like a bean skin over his frame, trembling slightly with his movements, giving him an eerie appearance. The man's face was sickly pale, with deep-set eyes that sparkled with an elusive light, hinting at some dark secret.
He forced a smile that appeared grotesquely twisted; his lips twitched as if his facial muscles were uncooperative, enhancing his already sinister aura. His voice emerged from deep within his throat—hoarse and imbued with an unsettling chill—as if each word had been dragged from a cold abyss.
Marbury was startled by this sudden man, fear coursing through him, yet curiosity and confusion filled his gaze. Who was this man? Why was he here, uttering words that pierced straight into Marbury's heart?
"Who... are you?" Marbury asked tremulously, his tone laced with unease and fear.
The man did not directly answer Marbury's question but instead slowly approached him, moving as lightly as if he had no weight at all. His gaze bore into Marbury's eyes as if he were uncovering all the secrets hidden deep within him, making Marbury feel utterly exposed and devoid of privacy.
"You do not belong here..." The man's voice resonated again, this time deeper and more seductive. "You have been abandoned, haven't you? This world... has never given you the place you deserve. You are like an expendable existence; no matter how hard you try, you will never fit in."
As Marbury heard these words, something inside him snapped. Every statement from this man struck at his soul like arrows, unveiling the deepest scars within him. He swallowed hard, feeling an indescribable chill spreading from his heart.
"You... how do you know?" Marbury's voice trembled, his eyes filled with confusion.
The man smirked, then leaned slightly forward, bringing his mouth close to Marbury's ear. His tone was low and laced with temptation. "Because... I see the darkness in your soul, and that yearning within you. You are not without value, Marbury... you just haven't found the right direction. I can help you... find true power, discover... the meaning of your existence."
These words plunged Marbury into deep contemplation. His gaze flickered as the confusion and desire within him began to intertwine. He didn't know whether to trust this strange man, but the intense allure was impossible to resist.
The man's smile twisted further, a hint of madness and evil gleaming in his eyes. "Follow me, Marbury, and I will make you... an undeniable presence."
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