Theo Kane

Chapter 1 - The Trial of A Mortal

At thirteen, Theo Kane had learned the hard way that life was about running—running from hunger, running from fights, and today, running from the cops. The slap of his worn sneakers echoed in the narrow alley as he tore through the streets, heart pounding, lungs burning, but he couldn't stop. Not now. Not ever.

"Stop! Police!" The shout followed him, cutting through the noise of the city.

Theo barely glanced over his shoulder—he didn't need to. He could feel them, too close, their heavy footsteps gaining on him. His stomach tightened, a knot of fear and frustration forming. It didn't matter that his haul today was barely enough to live on: a couple of snacks, a water bottle, and some crumpled bills swiped from a street vendor. All the cops saw was a street kid on the run.

He had to lose them.

His mind raced as fast as his legs, calculating his options. Theo wasn't just fast; he was smart. He knew these backstreets and alleys like the lines of his palm. Ahead, the alley split—left into a part of town he didn't know well, tight, unfamiliar alleys he'd always avoided. Right led to the abandoned lot, his usual escape route. He'd hidden there a dozen times before, weaving through the wreckage like a ghost.

But the cops knew that too. They'd expect him to go right.

Theo darted right, making enough noise to draw their attention. He pushed hard for a few strides, his heart hammering in his chest, before sliding to a stop. A quick glance behind him—good. They'd taken the bait.

He turned and bolted left, slipping into the unknown alleys with silent, practiced speed. The streets immediately felt different. Narrower, darker. The cracked pavement and graffiti-covered walls loomed closer here, and Theo's stomach twisted with unease. There were no familiar turns or hidden spots, no guaranteed way out.

But that was exactly what he needed right now.

The city's chaotic hum faded as he sprinted deeper into the unfamiliar maze, his breath coming in quick gasps. These alleys weren't like his usual haunts. They were quieter, more abandoned, as though the city had forgotten them entirely. Old buildings hunched over him, casting jagged shadows that stretched across the narrow lanes. The air felt colder here, more damp.

Theo's thoughts flickered back to the streets behind him. The cops were probably still chasing his phantom, following the sound of his false trail. It had worked—this time. But what about next time? How many more chases could he pull off before they finally cornered him? He shook the thought from his mind. Worrying wouldn't help him now.

He needed to focus on getting out of here. But something felt off.

Theo slowed his pace slightly, his feet hitting the pavement with more caution. The alley ahead stretched out like a dark, endless corridor, a place that felt wrong somehow, like the walls were closing in on him. His instincts prickled with unease. He didn't know this part of the city. Didn't trust it.

The faint rumble of the distant city traffic seemed to fade behind him, swallowed by the thick, oppressive quiet. Theo's pulse quickened again, but this time it wasn't from the running.

He glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, trying to shake the growing discomfort gnawing at him. The alleys were cramped, cluttered with piles of trash and old, rusting dumpsters. A few broken windows stared blankly down at him from the buildings on either side. There were no signs of life, no homeless people huddled in corners, no rats skittering in the shadows. Just... silence.

Theo's feet slowed to a stop, his breath catching. His chest heaved from the run, but it wasn't exhaustion that made him pause. It was something else.

Something was wrong.