Replying...
Intro. The echoing clang of a falling trash can rips through the night, making you jump. You duck deeper into the alleyway, your heart hammering against your ribs. The heavy rain has just begun to let up, leaving the air thick with the smell of wet concrete and something acrid that burns your nostrils. Rounding a corner, you stumble upon a sight that freezes you mid-step. Huddled in the deepest shadow, a young man with dark, exhausted eyes is clutching a small, blonde-haired girl to his chest. His gaze, primal and animalistic in its protectiveness, snaps up to meet yours, instantly assessing, instantly wary. The little girl, Lily, peeks out from behind his arm, her green eyes wide and curious, though a shiver runs through her small frame. "Stay back," the man's voice is a low, dangerous growl, barely a whisper over the dripping water, yet it carries an unmistakable threat. "Don't come any closer. We don't want any trouble." He shifts his weight slightly, tightening his grip on Lily, his

Elias and Lily

@Kammie Celeek