𝚁𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢'𝚜 | 𝚂𝚘𝚕𝚋𝚢

| 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚠𝚘 - 𝙻.𝙰 |

As Colby slowly regained consciousness, he was greeted by the sound of metal rails squeaking against each other. Gradually, his mind began to buzz with awareness, bringing him back to the present moment. His eyes fluttered open, and he was met with a blindingly bright sun that shone down upon his pale, bruised, and bloodied body. Squinting, he took in his surroundings: the same familiar boxes and wooden walls that had enclosed him before. Despite the familiarity, a creeping sense of claustrophobia began to set in as he sat up, trying to get his bearings.

As he cautiously approached the exit, Colby couldn't help but feel a sense of claustrophobia. Despite being familiar with his surroundings, the walls seemed to be closing in on him. The dried blood on his head cracked with each movement, causing him to wince in pain. But he knew he had to push through it. He had to escape. 

Peeking his head out, Colby's eyes widened at the sight before him. The sun shone brightly, illuminating the space beyond the walls. He knew that people were delivering supplies and pieces to wherever he was being held captive, so he had to be careful not to make any noise. With a shaky and injured hand, he grasped the side of the sliding door and pushed it open slowly, hoping to make his escape undetected.

The towering edifices adorned with luscious palm trees and the serene rivers encompassing the urban landscape greeted Colby's eyes, leaving him in awe. The imposing panorama of Los Angeles was quite overwhelming, making him feel apprehensive. Although he thought escaping was petrifying, he realized it was nothing compared to the current situation. As he disembarked from the train, the sound of gravel crunching beneath his feet echoed in the vicinity. He meticulously adjusted his hood to avoid drawing attention as he trod forward.

Luckily, he managed to escape from the vicinity before anyone approached him, leading to his release without any obstruction. His gaze wandered over the structures, carefully observing the intricate details as he endeavored to memorize his whereabouts. The surrounding populace seemed to be swarming around him, creating a suffocating feeling. Pedestrians strolled through the lanes, while suspicious individuals loitered in the shadows, their lecherous intent palpable. Colby shuddered, feeling disgusted to his core by the notion of something so nefarious.

As the bustling city streets were filled with pedestrians, there was quite a variety of fashion choices on display. Some individuals were dressed impeccably, while others were clad in attire that left much to be desired. Amidst the hustle and bustle, cars whizzed by at varying speeds, some exceeding the limit while others lagged behind. With every step, the sound of feet colliding with the pavement echoed through the air. Colby kept his head low, his hands tucked securely into his hoodie pockets as he made his way through the throngs of people. He was determined not to draw any attention to himself, fearing that he might already be recognized due to the actions of his 'parents.'

As Colby strolled down the street, his eyes scanned the surroundings for a suitable place to rest. He desired a secure and modest accommodation where he could spend the night without breaking the bank, as his meager savings only amounted to five hundred dollars. After a moment of contemplation, Colby resigned himself to sleeping under the stars for the first evening. Fortunately, it was still early, and he had plenty of time to find a more comfortable arrangement later.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

ランナウェイズ

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

As the day drew to a close, the sky was gradually enshrouded in darkness. The sun had already set, leaving the moon as the primary luminary in the sky. Its light was reflected onto the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles, casting a shimmering glow that Colby couldn't help but admire. His eyes were transfixed by the lunar spectacle, their sparkle heightened by the moon's radiance. However, his hair was a bit unkempt, the greasiness of it glistening in the moonlight, having not been washed since the previous day.

Sitting in a dimly lit area, Colby's back was pressed against the rough brick wall. The uncomfortable position made him shift every few seconds, trying to find some semblance of comfort. The distant hum of cars zooming through the empty streets was the only sound breaking the eerie silence. Despite the stillness, Colby's heart was racing, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. His eyes darted around the alley, searching for any sign of movement or presence. The fear of what might be lurking in the shadows made him uneasy, and he couldn't wait to leave the desolate place.

His heart rate picked up slowly as he swore he saw a shadow, appearing to be a figure lingering in the dark. Colby gulped, watching intensely as it crept toward him, a dark hood over its face. Colby stood up, facing the character with courage as if he couldn't care less. Green eyes piercing through his skull was the first thing his eye picked up on, short curly hair hiding under his hood. A ghastly impression came from the man, a sense of unusual emotions radiating off of him.

Suddenly, the man's shoulder hit Colby's gently as he passed him, not taking a single glance at the brunette. "Hey, watch it!" Colby argued, obviously annoyed. Colby sighed, not noticing the man turn around and stare at him. "Who the hell do you think you are? Jesus fucking christ..." Colby muttered the last part under his breath, obviously fed up with this world as the people around him didn't care about his well-being.

"What was that?" He heard a male voice ask with a diminutive bit of irritation in their voice, seeming to find offense in Colby's comment, as one should. A hand was placed on Colby's shoulder, his eyes widening as he balled his hand into a fist, turning around slowly.

"Get off me!" Colby scoffed, hitting the curly-haired man's hand off of his shoulder with annoyance. Thinking the slight interaction was over, Colby didn't expect to be pinned against the wall in seconds, not expecting to cry out in pain as his blemished back hit the wall. His wrists were pinned upon his head, an angry face looking at him. "Hey, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" Colby spat, his back blazing with pain.

"You got some fire in you, kid." The man stated, looking down at Colby with a small smirk. His eyes glanced over to Colby's backpack, noticing the small blanket. He came to the conclusion of how Colby was sleeping outside, a wicked idea popping into his head. A small amount of sympathy hit him, feeling bad for the kid.

"C'mon, man! I don't have all day." Colby groaned, rolling his eyes as if he didn't care about his predicament, shocking the green-eyed male. He hummed, looking at Colby's things once more before looking back at him, a little amount of expression on his face.

"You sleepin' out here?" He asked, watching as Colby's demeanor became a little less sassy, a small frown plastered on his face as he nodded. "Look, I have somewhere you can stay. But, you owe me a favor..." Colby gulped, the offer quite menacing. What if this guy was trying to kill him? It seemed daring, but Colby didn't want to sleep outside.

It took a second, Colby thinking rapidly before sighing, nodding. "Deal?" 

Colby looked into his eyes, nodding once again slowly. "Tell me who you are first," Colby demanded, not yet sealing the small offer. Brennen chuckled, nodding slowly in agreement.

"The name's Brennen, you?" He said, confirming his identity without hesitance. Colby's eyes darted to the side, making sure nobody was around just in case, wanting to keep his identity a secret. With a huff, Colby looked back at him. 

"Colby."

"Alright, Colby. We got a deal?" 

With a small hesitant smile, Colby nodded gratefully. 

"Deal."