iris [on hold]

➵ four

It had been a week since their last encounter. She walks down an abandoned street, too engrossed in her own thoughts, transporting her to a world of her own. If she had been paying attention, she would have heard the heavy approaching footsteps nearby. But she didn't realize it until she saw him running towards her. No, she thought, he was running away from something.

Her conclusion was confirmed when she witnessed three armed men running not far behind him. He turned left.

Having visited the area countless times, she knew the place inside out, and from the direction he was heading, she realized he'd soon reach a dead end, and consequently the end of his life, she supposed.

So she made a quick decision. She ran through the shortest possible shortcut she knew, to catch up with him. Not a long while later, she finally was pacing with him.

"what the hell are you doing here?" he spat out, continuing to run as fast as he could.

She grabbed his hand and made him turn to the first right.

"just follow me." she commanded as she led him to the safest place she could think of. 5 minutes later, they had lost track of the trio, and she locked the door, just to be sure they were safe.

And so there they were, currently trapped inside an abandoned shed they had snuck into, until the coast was clear. Both of them, sitting on the floor, gasping for air.

"looks like we're even now" he huffed.

"who were they?" she managed to ask, still surprised by the courage she had built up.

"bad people," their lungs had recovered by now, "people you're better off not knowing."

"are you a bad person?" she muttered.

He looked past her, "maybe."

He was like that, she thought, seeking shelter under a cloud of mystery, cloaking himself with secrecy. A few minutes of silence had gone by, before she decided to speak again.

"who are you anyway?"

He looked up at her.

"no one you'd like to know."

She frowned.

He wasn't just a piece in the puzzle, he was the riddle itself, she realized.

This time, moments went by, but no one spoke.

She suddenly shivered, the cold nipping her ears and neck. She wished she had her coat with her, but unfortunately, it had been ripped up by someone at her school.

Perhaps he noticed, because he suddenly got up, took off his jacket and handed it to her. She hesitated at first, deciding on declining the offer, but with the way he handed to her and the look in his eyes, she imagined there was no room for a rejection. He, then sat right next to her, leaning against the wall.

She mentally thanked him and wore it. Of course, it was big for her size, the sleeves were longer than her arms, but it felt nice. It smelt like ashes and strong cologne; another cliche she didn't mind.

In less than a minute, she heard footsteps outside. Her heart was thumping right out of her chest. She heard deep gruff voices, shouting something in a language she could not understand.

And then, a loud bang. She closed her eyes, and held onto something tightly. She felt firm hands around her ears now.

"don't be afraid. i won't let them hurt you." he softly murmured.