Episode 6: San Francisco

"No, I am okay, just a room for the night please." Nicholas simply said.

"That would be two silver coins." She conveyed.

Nicholas paid and was given a room to lay his head for the night.

He held his belongings close since he has heard about the hostilities and crimes that are very rampant just outside the city.

With his little knife by his side within arms reach, he felt safe.

He ate the bread that was in his little back pack and slept off, he had a long journey ahead of him.

The next day he left as early as possible and headed to San Francisco.

It took him two weeks to get there, the city was thriving with lots of people, it was well populated, people from different races could be found there.

He came down from his horse and decided to look around.

He got closer and kept Breezy with a stable owner and hung his back pack on his shoulders and began looking around.

'This place is so beautiful mum, I hope you can see this mother, your son is in San Francisco.' he thought as he walks in the street admiring the fine goods displayed around.

Just then someone brushed pass him and ran off.

He quickly touched his side and saw that his little money pouch was gone, he ran after the stranger.

He chased after him but the thief was faster than he could imagine, but he didn't give up nor did he relent.

He needed that money and wasn't about to let some stranger rob him off.

He did all he could and caught up with the stranger.

"Where is my money pouch?" He asked.

"Well, you must have a keen eye, but it's not with me. I passed it to someone else." The thief said simply but Nicholas wasn't going to listen to that, he searched him thoroughly but couldn't find anything.

"Give it back or I will make you regret it." He ordered almost choking him.

"Chill okay? It's just silver." The thief said.

"Why would you choose to steal?" Nicholas asked inquisitively.

"*Sighs* welcome to Baghdad by the bay, you sure do look like you are new, or am I wrong?" The thief said to him.

"Baghdad by the bay? Isn't this San Francisco?" Nicholas inquired.

"Baghdad is a nickname for San Francisco it is still the same thing, I knew you were new." He retorted.

Nicholas still has furrowed brows he was confused when the stranger said,

"Well, if you keep acting like that you will get robbed off your entire stuff."

"I can protect myself." Nicholas said.

"Not with that little knife you have there, come on, I will be kind to you for today." He uttered.

"Why should I trust someone who has stolen from me?" Nicholas asked with a puzzling look.

"Well, I am the best choice you have towards survival, here there are way too dangerous men who wouldn't think twice about killing you, I am offering to give you a place to stay in exchange for the stolen money. After all, you look like you could use some help." The thief said.

"I just came to visit so just passing through." Nicholas replied.

"Aha!!! Traveler, what's your name? Where are you headed?" The thief asked.

"To Cody... as for my name, if I feel like I can trust you, will let you know then." Nicholas retorted.

"Fair enough, Cody, nice. I also want to go there as well, that's why I steal, I need the money, I just be want to leave this godforsaken city." He replied.

"This place is beautiful, why would you want to leave?" Nicholas inquired after releasing his grips from his collar.

"It's a long story, come on, it's getting late." He said.

They both walked away through a narrow path, Nicholas was very much prepared for anything there was no way he was going to trust a stranger completely, not to talk of one who has stolen from him.

He held onto his backpack tighter and his little knife.

They got to a little house, and he ushered him in.

Nicholas got in and saw a young boy same age as him and holding his money pouch.

"Hi, Cole." The thief greeted.

"..."

"This is..." He wanted to introduce but Cole chimes in,

"Why would you bring a stranger in here?"

"Because he is new and I just felt like it." He retorted.

"Whatever." Cole said giving up.

"Stranger sit, and spend the night with us." The thief said.

"It's Nicholas." He introduced.

"Hm?"

"My name, it's Nicholas." He said yet again.

"Nice name, call me Adrian... that's my cousin Cole." Adrian replied.

"Welcome aboard." Cole announced.

Nicholas brought some bread it was the last in his backpack and shared it with them both.

"Thanks Nick." Adrian said.

They ate and then began talking getting to know each other.

Nicholas then asked about why they were living in such a place.

"Well our parents were killed by some street gangster. And well that was it, we had to move away to find shelter and money to keep us going, that's why Cole and I have been stealing for a living and we've gotten really good at it." Adrian said.

"Didn't you all report to the officials so they take care of those who carried out such wicked acts?" Nicholas asked.

"Haha... you think we haven't tried? The officials are scared for their lives as well. They don't want to do anything." He retorted.

"What about you, why is a handsome looking man like you roaming the street? Surely you must have a home?" Cole asked.

"Well I had a lovely family at least I used to, a wonderful beautiful mum, but had a stupid man for a father, he got home drunk one night and killed her and you know the worst part of it all? He couldn't own up to his mistakes, he ran away leaving a child with the dead body of his mother in his arms, he is a coward and I am going to hunt him down and kill him, myself, I swear it." Nicholas articulated.

"So why didn't the officials do anything?" Adrian asked.

"They are all quack, I want to be a gunslinger, I will protect myself, damn the law." He said.

"Ha ha... gunslinger." Adrian laughed heartily shaking his head in amusement and asked, "You think you can afford a gun?"

"I can, afford one but don't want to, because there is something I need to know when I am old enough to..." Nicholas conveyed and stopped mid way in his sentence, he felt going on isn't necessary.

"Hm..."

"What? Fine you think you can afford one?" Nicholas asked Adrian.

"Not really, but I could steal some you know, and I know just where to get them." Adrian said.

They giggled out loud.