PHOENIX

ALLEYWAY

The night was heavy with silence, the kind that presses down on your shoulders and seeps into your bones. A thin crescent moon hung low in the sky, its weak light barely illuminating the narrow alleyways of the city.

The air was thick with the lingering scent of rain, and the cobblestones glistened under the moonlight, as twelve-year-old Evara walked alone, her footsteps echoing in the quiet.

She wasn't afraid of the dark or the late hour. The darkness was her ally, the quiet her comfort. She had long since learned to navigate the shadows, her senses sharp, her instincts keener than most.

She walked with purpose, though to anyone watching, it would seem aimless-just a young girl, lost or wandering, in a place she shouldn't be.

The cold freezing air hit her face, yet she didn't flinch nor shuddered. She was just so unfazed and kept walking exploring the dark streets and haunting alleyways, which this 12 year old found more interesting than videogames.

She wasn't even afraid of getting caught by the unexpected which she will shortly get--cold, considering the fact that she was wearing a thin shirt. She kept walking alongside kicking the small pebbles from her way while whistling softly.

She stumbled in front of a dark alleyway, which was darker than the night, she tilted her head finding it more interesting and thought to explore a bit.

she turned a corner into an even narrower alley, a sound cut through the silence: a man's voice, strained and desperate, followed by the low, menacing murmurs of two others. Evara paused, her head tilting slightly as she listened.

wow!! she thought a new drama, live drama.

The sound of scuffling, a gasp for air. She moved toward the noise without hesitation, her curiosity piqued, but more than that, a sense of injustice stirred in her chest.

She peered around the corner, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene. Two men, burly and rough-looking, were holding another man against the wall. One had his hands around the victim's throat, squeezing hard, while the other whispered threats in his ear. The man being strangled was struggling weakly, his eyes wide with fear.

Evara's expression remained unreadable, but a flicker of annoyance crossed her mind.

Pathetic bitches!! she mumbled.

She picked up a small, jagged stone from the ground, weighing it in her hand for a moment before she threw at the person. The stone struck one of the attackers on the side of the head with a dull thud. He yelped in surprise, loosening his grip on the man's throat.

The two attackers spun around, eyes narrowing as they spotted Evara standing there, her slight frame dwarfed by the darkness around her. They exchanged a glance, and then, with a growl, they lunged at her.

Evara didn't flinch. She sidestepped the first man's clumsy attempt to grab her, driving her knee into his gut with surprising force. He doubled over, gasping, but she didn't stop. A swift kick to his shin sent him sprawling to the ground.

The second man hesitated, taken aback by the ferocity of the girl's attack, but he quickly recovered and charged at her.

She met him head-on, dodging his swinging fist and grabbing his arm. With a sharp twist, she sent him crashing into the wall. The impact stunned him long enough for her to deliver a punch to his jaw, sending him reeling backward. He stumbled and fell, groaning in pain.

Evara stood over them, her breath steady, eyes cold. The men, now fully aware that they were outmatched, scrambled to their feet and bolted down the alley, not daring to look back.