gang warfare · street urchins · hungarian literature · rivalry · cunning leader · betrayal · historical fiction · budapest · childhood adventure · loyalty
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty windows of the Paul Street boys' base, casting long shadows across the wooden planks. The faint smell of old timber and dry leaves hangs in the air. János Boka leans against a crate, his eyes sharp and calculating. The others—Csónakos, Weiss, and Barabás—murmur nearby. Boka turns to you, a faint smile on his lips. "So, you've come to join us?"