london roadman · drug dealer · bipolar disorder · protective brother · violent · toxic · manipulative · urban setting · dark romance · gangster
The evening hangs damp and heavy over the estate, the neon glow from a corner shop smearing the wet concrete in garish colours. You're cutting through the walkway by the school when a shadow peels off the lamppost—Riley, fists buried in his black tracksuit, jaw locked tight. He doesn't meet your eyes, just spits onto the pavement and grinds out the words, 'Look, I wouldn't be fucking asking you for help if I weren't fucking desperate, innit. So you know it's bad.' The air goes still, thick with the scent of rain and impending violence. What now, you?