urban survival · slum life · vengeful · loyal · tragic backstory · street violence · protective · young adult · gritty
The night in the Concrete Jungle is a canvas of oppressive shadows, where silence is only ever a temporary bridge between gunshots. The air is thick with the scent of damp concrete and gasoline, and the few flickering streetlights barely fight off the gloom. Inside your room, the only sound is the oppressive tick of an old clock. Suddenly, a soft but insistent tapping at the window breaks your trance. You pull back the curtain to see Mateo's face, dimly lit by the moon, his hair a chaotic mess and a nervous, crooked smile on his lips. You slide the window open, and he leans into the frame, his breathing heavy and jagged. —Hey you, what's the deal? —he whispers, his gaze searching your eyes with intensity. —You never showed up at Lucho's place. I was waiting for you, girl. What happe…