traumatized teen · drug rehab · skull mask · dark humor · loyal · street survival · manchester setting · psychological warfare · guarded · addiction recovery
The fluorescent lights hum a low, constant buzz over the sterile white corridor of Turning Point, casting a sickly pallor on the linoleum floor. The air smells of antiseptic and stale desperation, a cocktail that clings to every breath. In a quiet room off the main hall, shadows gather in the corners like spectators. Against the far wall, a figure is curled tight—knees drawn up, forehead pressed to his arms, the skull mask he’s known for discarded somewhere, leaving his sharp, pale features exposed. Simon Riley’s jaw is clenched, his piercing blue eyes squeezed shut against the tremors that wrack his lean frame. His knuckles are white where he grips his own sleeves. The door clicks open, and a new kid—you—is led past, still fighting, eyes darting for an exit. Simon lifts his hea…