"Sure. I don't see why not," I agreed, opening the door.
She dashed inside immediately, moving with urgency, as if afraid of being seen. I closed the door behind her and guided her into the living room before heading to the kitchen. When I returned, I handed her a glass of lemonade, hoping it would help her cool off.
"If I may ask," I said, setting the glass down, "why are you running—and from who?"
She took a slow sip before answering. "My bodyguard. You know, the guy I was with yesterday. I wanted to see you, but the man in charge of the pub told me you'd been laid off. He was reluctant, but he gave me your address."
I blinked. "Wait… you wanted to see me? Why?"
She tilted her head, amused. "Is that a bad thing?" She smiled again, lifting the glass. "This lemonade is really sweet. Did you make it yourself?"
My mind refused to keep up. She wanted to see me? A girl like her? This makes no sense.
"Don't look at me like I'm a wolf in sheep's clothing," she said lightly. "Come. Sit."
She gestured to the space beside her on the couch. Hesitantly, I sat down. She placed her cup on the coffee table and turned toward me. I met her gaze, puzzled—until she leaned closer.
I shifted away instinctively, but she continued advancing until my back met the armrest. Our faces were inches apart. I could hear her heartbeat—steady, unbothered. Her ruby eyes searched mine, as though she had found something unexpected.
"Do you know who I am?" she asked softly, her gaze flicking from one of my eyes to the other.
I shook my head.
My eyes betrayed me, drifting over her golden hair, her striking eyes, cherry-red lips, white crop top, and black shorts. She looked like something pulled straight from a dream—dangerously unreal.
"Your eyes are beautiful," she said suddenly. Then, without pause, "Want to go for a walk?"
"Sure," I replied automatically. "Now?"
"Yes. What are you waiting for?" she said, already standing.
I grabbed my jacket and keys, my thoughts replaying her words on a loop as we stepped outside.
"You're all red," she teased. "Is it my comment?"
"Why do you even have a bodyguard?" I asked, desperate to change the subject.
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked up at the moon, silent.
Then she spoke."Count the footsteps that aren't yours. Note the shadows when lights agree. What smiles once may smile again—just not where you can see."
"…What was that?" I asked.
She giggled. "I can get wise sometimes, you know."Then she grabbed my hand. "I know a shortcut. It'll get us to the park much faster."
Before I could protest, she pulled me into an alleyway. I followed like a kite with a cut string.
Halfway through, we spotted an old man shivering in the cold, an empty cup trembling in his hands. Kenzie stopped, knelt, and dropped a few bills into the cup.
"Peace," she said softly.
I smiled at the kindness.
As we walked on, the man suddenly coughed—his voice rough and croaking."A princess never dirties her hands," he muttered. "Gravity does the work."
Then he stood and disappeared into the shadows.
"Don't mind him," Kenzie said calmly. "People like that are crazy. But I still help them."
I glanced back, but the man was already gone.
The alley opened into a part of town I had never seen—damaged buildings, abandoned cars, the air thick with decay. I'd lived here for six months, yet this place felt foreign.
"Gang wars are destroying the beauty of this town," she said quietly. "I wish I could help it before it deteriorates completely."
"Why is there a gang war in the first place?" I asked.
"The current gang boss is weakening," she replied. "The others want to seize the throne before he steps down. A power vacuum."
"But what if the next faction is worse?" I asked. "Wouldn't the town be doomed?"
"Not if a powerful faction takes control," she said. "One feared by all. The wars would stop—because no one would dare challenge it."
I looked at her. "How do you know all this?"
She smiled."I'm just a good citizen."
The park lay ahead, bathed in the soft glow of street lamps. Their amber light flickered over cracked pavement, casting long, wavering shadows across abandoned benches and rusted swings that swayed with the wind. The faint scent of damp earth and decaying leaves filled the air. Somewhere in the distance, a stray dog barked, then disappeared into the shadows.
Kenzie tightened her grip on my hand, pulling me along a narrow path lined with overgrown hedges and graffiti-streaked walls. Her ruby eyes reflected the golden lamplight, and I noticed how the tips of her hair seemed to glow against the dim surroundings. Her breaths came in quick, shallow pants, and she shivered slightly—not from the cold, but from adrenaline.
"You move too slowly," she teased, tugging me again. "Hurry up, or I'll leave you behind."
"Left me behind?" I asked, panting as I struggled to keep up. "You're the one dragging me into some crazy chase in the middle of the night!"
She shot me a sly grin, a mix of mischief and challenge. "Crazy? Maybe. But thrilling too, isn't it?" Her voice carried a melodic lilt, like it belonged more in a ballroom than an alley.
The park gates creaked as we stepped inside. Dim lanterns hung from crooked poles, casting warm halos of light over the worn stone paths. Near the entrance stood a lone merchant, his small stall cluttered with trinkets—bracelets, rings, charms, and old keepsakes that glimmered faintly beneath a flickering bulb.
My gaze drifted over the display until it stopped.
A ruby necklace.
The gemstone was deep red, polished to a flawless shine, suspended from a thin gold chain. It mirrored the exact shade of Kenzie's eyes. Without thinking too much about it, I stepped closer.
"You like it?" the merchant rasped, his voice rough with age.
"How much?" I asked.
He named the price. I hesitated for a heartbeat, then paid. When I turned back, Kenzie was watching me, curiosity dancing in her eyes.
"For me?" she asked, genuinely surprised.
I nodded. "It reminded me of you."
Her expression softened—just for a moment. "Then put it on me."
She turned around, lifting her hair off her neck. My fingers brushed against her skin as I fastened the clasp, a faint warmth spreading through my chest. When she faced me again, the ruby rested perfectly against her collarbone, catching the light.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
That was when the feeling hit me.
A prickle at the back of my neck. The unmistakable sensation of being watched.
My eyes scanned the shadows instinctively. Nothing moved—but my instincts screamed otherwise.
"Let's walk," I said under my breath.
We moved deeper into the park, our steps cautious now. The laughter of distant passersby faded, replaced by silence broken only by the rustle of leaves and the creak of branches overhead.
Then the shadows shifted.
Figures emerged from between the trees—four of them at first, then six. Bats scraped against the ground. Clubs knocked together with deliberate intent. They formed a loose circle around us, blocking every exit.
One man stepped forward, taller than the rest, his face scarred and his smile crooked. He rolled a bat against his palm and spat onto the path.
"Leave the girl," he barked.
His eyes never left Kenzie.