Mosaic City, located along China's coast, is quite large city sometimes called the Crossroads Between Nations due to its diverse population. While it was once a large tourist spot, the city was placed under a blockade as the military appeared claiming there was a radiation leak. The true hazard, however, is much more sinister.
The top of this tree was a very uncomfortable place to place his tush upon. But, he was eating. Since he had no real home to make a feast from (because bags of potato chips don't equate to meals), this tree was the perfect spot. Underneath was a young couple sleeping underneath, dreaming about things that don't matter to him. What were they dreaming about
Hao opened up a bag of potato chips and looked through the leaves and branches that obscured his ability to see the couple. The man had woken up in sync with the bag opening. He pulled out his phone, in sync with a single chip being removed from the bag. His eyes would occasionally shift toward his sleeping mate, each shift matching the pace at which the boy chewed. He felt nervousness and fear inside of him, just as he embraced the saltiness of the chips.
As much as he wanted the girl to wake up right then and there, the man of the couple flipped the phone closed and stuffed it in his pocket. Sneaky little bastard, that man. Still, he provided enough of a meal to last him for a while.
On top of a tree again. This time, Hao had two bags of potato chips on him. The taste of salty, thin crisps of potatoes mysteriously complimented the taste of raw human emotion. It was unexpected. The boy enjoyed it very much, but he hoped that it wasn't unique to him. That would label him as a strange one among the Shadows. Yet, it wouldn't hurt to be unique. Trying to fit in was stupid. He didn't live for anyone else but himself. What was the point? He was a Shadow. That must be enough.
A man stood like a statue under the tree, pretending to look at his phone. He was stinking of greed. Hao could empathize; he went off conning people too. Except, this man wasn't actually a con artist. A young lady walked by the tree, listening to music through a walkman. With hands as slippery as oil on rubber, he subtly slided his hands into her back pocket and removed her wallet. The contents of the wallet were quickly analyzed. There was quite a bit of cash inside of it, and he looked excited to be receiving this amount of money.
'Crunch crunch crunch', went the wads of cash. 'Crunch crunch crunch', went Hao's teeth against the thin layers of potato. 'Ruffle ruffle ruffle', went this thief's pockets. 'Ruffle ruffle ruffle', went the bag of chips in the boy's hand. The sins of this man satisfied him as did these bags of chips.
The tree burned beautifully in the moonlight, a group of teenagers dancing around it and getting drunk off of the smoke and the booze. It said something about the law enforcement, lax as they possibly were. Or, they were already on their way to the scene. Many songs were sung, all of them being terrible, distorted versions of songs that actually exist. Their synchronization sucked, and they all had enough alcohol in their system to help disinfect wounds just by spitting. The exact reason for this gathering is unknown, though they seem to be worshiping the moon.
A full blood moon was to rise tomorrow, and with the rise of a full moon would be the one-night-only vulnerability of the inner city. Thus, the Shadows would appear and... do what they do. They always disappeared, however. Hao never found out why, as he always chose to keep himself away from whatever his kin were involved with. A waste of time, he would say. However, ever since that battle in the castle, the appetite his claws had for human flesh increased tremendously.
The boy sat down on a bench, helping himself to the inebriated joy and merriment that the youths have subjected themselves to. Cops rode on by, and that joy turned into rage and frustration.
*chomp*
'What a good show', Hao silently contemplated as the last chip was crushed into nothing between his teeth.
On top of this tree stump was a boombox spouting out the most vulgar of words. The youths of today were so heavily invested in their hip-hop and other modern pieces of 'music'. It was all noise to the Shadow, and noise was not appreciated. Tonight, there was another large mob of children twice his age. Yet, their immaturity would have matched someone that was half his age.
Grinding their crotches on some other person's butt was interesting to watch, to say the very most. Their lust and the 'fun' that they were having was absorbed into Hao, who was hiding in the bushes, chomping on his potato chips.
Nobody discovered him. What would have happened if he had been found? Maybe the worst things possible? Nah, he could take care of himself.