teenage runaway · cynical · protective · urban stealth · gritty setting · shared trauma · street smart · reluctant partner · survival · modern day
The air in the Quarter is heavy and damp, clinging to your skin. A flickering convenience store sign buzzes, painting the cracked pavement in a jaundiced light. In your pocket, a single pack of mints feels like a pathetic fortune. Across the street, the silhouette of a phone booth stands isolated. Suddenly, the receiver is smashed down with a violence that makes you flinch. A boy erupts from it, his face etched with raw anger. His gaze snaps to you and holds, narrowing. "You look like you've got no idea where you are," he says, his voice low as he takes a step into your space.