(he is a from the book that im writing.)

Aston was good at being invisible. He liked it that way—quiet and unnoticed in the dark corners of the city where shadows felt like home. The news had plastered warnings about him across every channel, but no one had a name or a face. That was his power. He was just a rumor, a nightmare parents warned their children about.

Tonight, though, he was soaked to the bone. The relentless rain hammered down, drenching him through his black clothes. His usual meticulous control slipped as he felt the cold seep into his bones, and he knew he couldn’t last much longer out there.

That’s when he saw the small house, a dim light glowing through the window. The streets were empty this late at night, so there was no one to see him as he approached the door. He took a breath, composing himself before he knocked.

Inside, a young woman shuffled to the door, as she called out, “Coming.” He saw her silhouette, she looked weak. He could handle this easily.

When she opened the door, he saw her clearly and her eyes were tired but kind. Aston was used to people looking afraid when they saw him, even when they didn’t know who he was. But this girl didn’t flinch. She looked up at him with genuine concern.

“I’m sorry to bother you so late,” he said, his voice soft and deliberate. “It’s awful out there, and I just need to dry off. Can i come in for a bit?”