Little Nicky, sweet as he can be, is having a perfect life. A house, two parents and all the toys he could ever want - he had it all. Until the economic bubble popped and his parents, both real estate agents, lost their jobs, saving and their love for one another. The argument they had for days never seemed to end. Nicky's sober mother turned alcoholic. His dad got into gambling and got stiffed by the local mafia.
Then the child services came and took little Nicky away. He was placed in an orphanage until a couple adopted him into their loving home - not. The place is full of children, all immature and without a care in the world. His new parents are despicable, all they want is the money that they'll get for adopting Nicky. This world he lived in isn't merciful. Nicky had to wake up early in the morning so that the only plate of food he'll eat throughout the whole day won't be eaten by his half-siblings.
Years passed and the torture turned into a routine. If Nicky is to survive in this mess, he had to resort to the world of crime. He did illegal things but not too illegal. He had a run-in with the local thugs who taught him how to steal tires and sidemirrors. His half-brother Benson, a brute of 6 feet with thin slanted eyes, has slippery fingers. He taught Nicky how to steal from tourists in the local tourist trap. Jimmy Jones, another half-brother, has a silver tongue. A slick of his tongue and some sweet words if all he needs to sell a local tonic made from the bathwater. His brothers taught him all these things to get through life with ease.
That's not the case every time. He'd slip, once or twice, and the cop would be there to send him to juvie.
"Little Nicky, here in my office again?" The sassy corrections officer said as he nicked one more checkmark in a list of Nicky's past deeds. "What is it this time? Stole a woman's purse?"
"No,"
"No what?"
"No, Uncle Bruce"
Bruce is Nicky's real Uncle. If he has the proper credentials, he could have adopted Nicky himself. But seeing that he's single, could barely support himself financially and he lives in a dump downtown, adopting Nicky is just an imagination. And besides, Nicky just turned 18. He can't adopt him anymore.
"You have to turn your life for the better Nick. I'm not always here to protect you every time you listen to those half-brothers of yours. And you're 18 for Christ's sakes. You should be in prison instead of here."
"Bruce. I swear, I'll be better."
Bruce nicked another check-in his paper. "That's the 15th time you said that to me. We're just lying to each other if I let you out of the door, believing that you'll become better. You need a change, Nick."
"If that's another College Application form, I'm going to head out of here." Nick tried to join one. He really did. But the lack of prior education in a proper elementary and high school made applying for a college an impossibility. College is just not apt for him.
"No. It's not College this time. It's something else. Different." Bruce got out of his seat and grabbed a dusty box on top of his files cabinet. He blew the dost above, revealing a crusting cardboard box underneath. There are scribbles all over the box. Something about protecting and charming the contents inside. Bruce laid his hand on top of it and murmured a tune repeatedly. Suddenly, a slight hum emanated from the box and the sigils on the surface glowed. The box hissed and the topside open.
There's a foam surface inside with ten depressions where ten rings stood. All of them are identical, old and green. Probably made of jade. They glowed and shone under the sunlight pouring from the windows. In one angle, they released a green-tinted streak of light that blinded Nicky momentarily.
"Woah, what are these uncle Bruce?"
"These are soul rings. Our family has been tasked with guarding these rings for eons. Blood has been shed just protecting these rings. The enemies who've been searching for these rings are all gone. Killed by your great grandparents during World War I. I planned on burying these rings when I die. Seeing you fail in life, made me realize that you need one of these."
Bruce picked one from the stand and gave it to Nicky.
"So, are we going to sell these rings?"
Bruce hit Nick with his clipboard, "Sell these? Are you out of your mind? These rings when placed on the wrong hands, can bring great destruction to the world. You have our family's blood so I trust you'll use your ring for the better. Not just for yourself but the world."
"All that for these rings? So tell me, uncle, what do these rings do?"
"Okay, I'll show you. But first, you need to pick one of my clients outside the door. Just picked one, anyone that you like. When you already picked, ask them to get in here."
Nicky got out of the room and saw a long line of people outside. Aside from being a corrections officer, his uncle is also a well-known psychiatrist that gives sessions for a cheap price. So it's no wonder why there are tons of people seeking his services.
Among the lines, Nicky chose...