Rain poured heavily over the abandoned city outskirts.
Inside a ruined building illuminated only by faint moonlight, a small boy slowly opened his eyes.
A little Kaali groaned softly as pain spread through his body. His leg still hurt from the gunshot wound, and bruises covered almost every part of his small frame. He lay on a thin mat placed in the corner of the room while cold wind entered through the broken windows.
For several moments, he stared blankly at the cracked ceiling.
Then suddenly—
The memories returned.
The angry man.
The beating.
The gunshot.
And—
The puppy.
Kaali's eyes widened.
"…No…"
His breathing became uneven.
He remembered the little puppy jumping toward him, barking desperately while trying to protect him from the man attacking him.
He remembered hearing its painful cry.
And then—
Silence.
Tears slowly filled his eyes.
"That puppy…"
His voice trembled.
"…it died…"
He covered his face and began sobbing uncontrollably.
"Why did it happen?" he cried. "It was the only friend I had…"
His shoulders trembled violently.
"The only one who treated me kindly…"
Tears dripped onto the dusty floor.
"So why did it die for someone like me…?"
For a long moment, the only sound inside the abandoned building was Kaali's crying.
Then—
A calm voice echoed from behind him.
"It died because it cared about you."
Kaali slowly turned.
The man who had saved him stood near the doorway, his hands inside his coat pockets.
Moonlight partially illuminated his face.
"What do you mean?" Kaali asked weakly.
The man walked closer.
"That puppy wanted you to survive," he said quietly. "Protecting you was its final wish."
Kaali lowered his head.
"Final… wish…"
The words echoed inside him.
He remembered the puppy sleeping beside him during cold nights.
Following him through the streets.
Sharing stolen bread with him.
Even though Kaali himself barely had enough to survive.
Slowly, he wiped his tears.
"…Then I'll live."
The man looked at him silently.
Kaali clenched his fists tightly.
"I'll keep living."
His eyes trembled slightly.
"Not for myself…"
"…but for it."
A faint determination appeared within his expression.
"It was my only friend."
He looked toward the broken window where rain continued falling outside.
"And I promised it…"
"…I'll survive."
The man smiled faintly.
"Well, that's the spirit."
He stood up and placed a hand on Kaali's shoulder.
"Don't worry," he said calmly. "I'll help you keep that promise."
Kaali looked surprised.
"…Really?"
"Yeah."
The man nodded.
"I promise."
For the first time in years—
Kaali felt warmth from another human being.
Then suddenly, curiosity appeared on his face.
"By the way…"
He looked at the man carefully.
"Who are you?"
"And why did you save me?"
The man chuckled softly before walking toward the broken window.
He pulled aside the torn curtain covering it.
The moment Kaali looked outside—
His eyes widened in shock.
Dozens of motorcycles and jeeps were parked outside the abandoned building.
Men wearing black jackets stood everywhere.
Some smoked cigarettes.
Some carried weapons.
Others laughed loudly while drinking.
The atmosphere felt dangerous.
"…What is this?" Kaali asked nervously.
The man crossed his arms proudly.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I'm a gang leader."
Kaali blinked.
"…Gang leader?"
"Yeah."
The man gestured outside.
"And those people are my gang."
Kaali stared silently at the men below.
Then the gang leader looked back toward him.
"As for why I saved you…"
His expression slowly darkened.
"…it's because I was once like you."
Kaali looked confused.
"Like me?"
The man nodded slowly.
"When I was a child, I was completely alone."
His voice carried old pain hidden beneath calmness.
"No one liked me."
"Everyone avoided me…"
"…like I was some stray animal."
Kaali quietly listened.
"But I was still human."
The gang leader clenched his fist.
"And I wanted the world to acknowledge my existence."
His eyes sharpened.
"That's why I created this gang."
He looked proudly at the people outside.
"This gang is proof that I exist."
Kaali stared at him silently.
For the first time—
Someone's words truly reached his heart.
Because deep inside—
He also wanted the same thing.
He wanted proof that his existence mattered.
The gang leader smiled.
"And now…"
He pointed toward Kaali.
"…you need that proof too."
Kaali's eyes widened slightly.
"I don't want you to suffer the same loneliness I did."
The man extended his hand toward him.
"So from today onward…"
"…this place is your home."
Kaali froze.
"And you…"
The gang leader grinned.
"…are now a member of our gang."
For several seconds, Kaali couldn't speak.
"…Me?"
"Yes."
The gang leader laughed lightly.
"With us, you can finally prove your existence."
Then he looked directly into Kaali's eyes.
"So tell me."
"Are you ready?"
Kaali looked down silently.
For years, everyone had rejected him.
Abandoned him.
Hated him.
But now—
Someone was offering him a place to belong.
A family.
A purpose.
Slowly, Kaali raised his head.
"…Yeah."
His voice carried determination.
"I'm ready."
The gang leader smiled proudly.
"I'll prove my existence."
"Well done."
The man patted his shoulder.
"Then let's begin."
And just like that—
At the age of five—
Kaali became part of a gang.
Years passed.
Kaali worked for the gang for more than three years.
During those years, he did countless illegal jobs.
Smuggling.
Stealing.
Threatening people.
At first, he felt guilty.
But eventually—
He convinced himself it was necessary.
Because every successful mission earned him praise.
Recognition.
Acknowledgment.
For the first time in his life—
People looked at him like he mattered.
And that feeling slowly became addictive.
"I truly believed I had finally proved my existence," Kaali said bitterly.
"But then…"
His expression darkened.
"…everything changed."
Three years later…
Kaali had officially become one of the gang's trusted members.
He proudly wore the black jacket symbolizing his loyalty toward the gang.
One night, the gang received an important mission.
They had to steal a massive amount of cash from a company vault.
Under the cover of darkness, the gang infiltrated the building.
The guards were silently knocked unconscious one by one.
Everything went perfectly.
Eventually, the group reached the vault room.
One of the gang members handed Kaali a small piece of paper.
"The code."
Kaali nodded confidently.
He entered the room alone.
At the center stood a massive steel vault.
Kaali entered the code carefully.
CLICK.
The vault opened.
His eyes widened at the sight of enormous stacks of cash inside.
He quickly filled his bag with money before leaving the room.
The mission was a complete success.
When they returned to the hideout, everyone praised Kaali endlessly.
"You did amazing!"
"You're becoming reliable!"
"Boss was right about you!"
Kaali smiled happily.
For the first time in his life—
He truly felt needed.
But while he celebrated—
Several gang members exchanged strange smiles behind his back.
Kaali never noticed.
A few days later, Kaali was suddenly called to the gang hideout by the boss himself.
When he entered the abandoned warehouse, he noticed something strange immediately.
The atmosphere felt off.
All the gang members stood silently around the room.
No one smiled.
No one spoke.
Kaali frowned slightly.
"What happened, boss?"
He walked closer.
"Why did you call me so suddenly?"
The gang leader slowly approached him with a calm smile.
"Kaali…"
His voice sounded strangely gentle.
"You've been a wonderful soldier for this gang."
Kaali's eyes brightened immediately.
"You've proven yourself time and time again."
Hearing those words filled Kaali with happiness.
But then—
The gang leader's smile changed.
"And now…"
"…there's only one final thing left."
Kaali blinked.
"…Final thing?"
Before he could react—
BANG!
A metal rod slammed against the back of his head.
Pain exploded through his skull.
Kaali collapsed instantly.
His vision blurred heavily as blood trickled down his forehead.
He looked upward weakly.
"…Why…?"
Darkness consumed him.
Several moments later, Kaali slowly regained consciousness.
His head throbbed painfully.
As his vision cleared—
His expression froze.
He was tied tightly to a concrete pillar.
His arms restrained behind him.
Surrounded by gang members.
All of them smiling.
Kaali's breathing became uneven.
"…Boss?"
His voice trembled.
"Why are you doing this?"
The gang leader suddenly burst into laughter.
The entire warehouse echoed with it.
"You still don't understand?"
Kaali stared blankly.
"…Understand what?"
The boss stepped closer.
His expression no longer carried warmth.
Only cruelty.
"You were never truly one of us."
Kaali's eyes widened.
"…What?"
The gang leader crouched in front of him.
"I didn't save you because I pitied you."
His voice became colder.
"You were nothing more than a useful pawn."
Kaali's heartbeat slowed.
"A substitute."
"…Substitute?" Kaali whispered.
The boss smirked.
"A disposable tool."
He grabbed Kaali's chin forcefully.
"I used you."
"And now…"
His smile widened.
"…I'm done with you."
Kaali's eyes trembled in disbelief.
The world he thought he belonged to—
Had never accepted him at all.
TO BE CONTINUED…