Shadows of deceit

the sound of birds chirping outside my window, and my days were filled with the comforting scent of freshly baked bread in the bakery just

the bakery, my arms laden with fresh

en I heard something. Voices that we're low, gruff, and threatening,it drifted to me from a nearby alley.

peeked around the corner, I froze. The sigh

nce in the air. One of the men kicked the figure, and the sound of the impact made my stomach churn. I wanted to run. I want

nt, making enough noise to draw their attention. My pulse raced as I looked up

eps, a hand grabbed my wrist. I yelped, trying to yank it a

he voice was low, rough, and carried

es cold and piercing. His suit fit him perfectly, his broad shoulders commanding attention,

pered, trying to pull free. "I was

g, just stared at me with those dark, unreadable eye

e," he said after a long pause,

ot safe,

n or to speak. My mind raced

the alley stepped forward. His face was hard,

want with her? Sh

this"He said,

go"he said, looking like he re

e turned to look at the man who spoke

on softening for just a moment. "W

d it matter? Would it stop him from whatever it was he planned to

tried to pull my wrist from his grip, but it was a fruitless effort

tle, as if testing the name on his tongue.

doing out he

in my chest as I realized that no matter what I did, I was caught. I could feel t

I closed it almost immediately because it was unabl

. He leaned in closer, his breath warm agains

to me now."

something in his gaze held me captive. I could not move, could not think, could not b

I replied almost immedia

he replied in

ed with dark intent. I was not sure if they were his friends or his

do was stand there.I stood quietly, trapped in the

d I had crossed a line. A lin