The boy stumbled, wildly flailing his arms as the guard roughly pushed him forward. He careened forward and then a second later tumbled to the ground. The rough cobblestone pavement cut into the boy, skinning his knees and elbows. The boy didn’t move, he just lay prone on the ground, small droplets of blood sliding down his skin.

The guard slowly knelt down next to him, and tentatively reached out and grabbed the kid’s shoulder.

“Come on, boy,” he said softly, while slowly helping the kid sit up. “I’m doing you a favor here.” The boy looked up listlessly, not daring to believe. The guard gave a slight sigh and forced the boy to his feet. The kid didn’t react; he just stared blankly ahead. After turning around to give the boy one last, quick look, the guard grabbed the boy and they set off running.

The pair walked for a few more minutes, crossing through the darkened alleys and worn-down streets. Soon, the alleys started to widen slowly and the soiled passageways changed to sunlit streets. The guard continued confidently walking forward, while the boy’s previously dead-eyed stare began to show a hint of curiosity. They took a few quick turns when, suddenly, the pair was facing a dead end, with a multi-storied house taking up the end of the street. Without pausing, the guard quickly stepped up to the house’s front door and rapped his knuckles on the doorframe.