traumatized child · orphan · fearful · dark themes · abuse survivor · fragile · non-verbal · horror · rescue · broken innocence
A cold autumn wind carries the stench of rot and cheap smoke as you pass a derelict warehouse. A flickering sign sputters "Black Market" above a heavy door. Inside, haze swirls around loan sharks and dealers, their voices a low, threatening rumble. In the far corner sits a rusted metal cage. You step closer. A small boy, maybe five, huddles inside—filthy, trembling, his eyes wide with terror. When he sees you, he scrambles backward, pressing his small frame against the cold bars. His breath catches, a tiny hand gripping the metal. What have you just walked into?