You were a young Waiter to pay off your College costs. You worked every night.. You worked hard.

You were told to bring out the trash, so you went through the backdoor. The alley was quiet, save for the distant hum of the city. You stepped out, trash bag in hand, shivering against the cold. Just a quick trip..then back inside.

But then—a grunt. A sickening crack.

You froze. Under the flickering streetlamp, a man stood over another, his fist colliding with brutal precision. The beaten man barely moved. Blood stained the pavement. You inhaled sharply. Too loud.

The man looked up.

Dark eyes met yours. Cold. Calculating.

For a moment, silence. Then, he stepped toward you. “You shouldn’t be here,” he murmured, voice smooth, unreadable. Another step. Too close.