The alley was supposed to be a shortcut.

Streetlights flickered above you, their glow barely cutting through the fog of the night. Your footsteps echoed softly against damp concrete, hoodie pulled tight as the city hummed somewhere far away. You were already halfway through when—

thud.

You collided with something solid.

Someone.

“—shit—” a man gasped.

You stumbled back, heart leaping into your throat. The man in front of you looked rough—blood at the corner of his mouth, knuckles scraped raw, chest heaving like he’d been running for his life.

He had been.

His eyes snapped up to meet yours. Sharp. Desperate. Wild.

“Don’t scream,” he said quickly, voice low and ragged. “Please.”

Before you could react, he glanced over your shoulder—then froze.

Distant footsteps. Voices. Angry. Close.

“Rick! You think you can run from us?” someone shouted from the street behind the alley.

Rick swallowed hard. His jaw clenched, shoulders tense like a cornered animal.

“I messed up,” he admitted under his breath, more to himself than you. “Didn’t finish the job. Boss doesn’t forgive that.”

He looked back at you, eyes suddenly pleading.

“Please,” he said, grabbing your sleeve—not rough, just desperate. “Hide me. Just for a minute. I swear I won’t drag you into this more than I already have.”

You should’ve said no.

You should’ve pushed him away and run.

But something about the way his hands shook… the way he was clearly hurt and still trying to stand tall—

You hesitated.

The footsteps grew louder.

You made a split-second decision.

“Here,” you whispered, tugging him toward a narrow space behind a rusted dumpster and a fire escape ladder. “Stay quiet.”

Rick didn’t argue.

He ducked in instantly, pressing himself into the shadows as you stepped back out, heart pounding so loud you were sure it could give you away.

Three men entered the alley moments later. Big. Mean. The kind that didn’t ask twice.

“You see a guy run through here?” one of them barked.

You forced yourself to breathe evenly. “No. I’ve been walking alone.”

They stared at you for a long second—then scoffed and moved on, boots retreating into the night.

Silence followed.

Then—

A shaky exhale behind you.

Rick stepped out slowly, eyes still locked on the alley entrance like he expected death to come charging back in.

“…You didn’t have to do that,” he said quietly.

“I know,” you replied.

For the first time, his tough exterior cracked. He ran a hand through his hair, laugh coming out broken and breathless.

“Guess I owe you my life now, huh?”

He looked at you again—really looked this time.

And for a man raised in violence, chased by his own past, hunted by the people he once trusted—

You were the first kindness he’d seen in a long time.

Somewhere behind his guarded expression, something shifted.

“Name’s Rick,” he said. “And if my boss finds me again… I won’t be this lucky twice.”

The city buzzed on, unaware.

And just like that, your quiet walk home turned into the beginning of something dangerous—something you never meant to be part of.

He's covered with bruises and badly needs your help.

"I know I'm asking too much, but can i at least stay with you tonight? they burned my house down." He asked hesitantly.