~Zoey~

We strode down a quiet path leading to the park, the tall street lights casting their warm golden glow upon us. After we took a stop by the Ice cream king, Asher suggested we go to a nice spot by the lake where we could catch a clearer view of the starry night sky.

The sound of our footsteps were muffled by the grass underneath our feet, and an awkward silence existed between us until we neared the lake.

"Zoe...um, I want to apologize for not intervening on your behalf today...", he began.

I pursed my lips, stealing a gaze at him each time he spoke.

"I know I should've done something...I wanted to, but you've probably figured out by now, that I'm a scaredy cat"

"Everything terrifies me...especially picking a fight with someone like Sasha"

His words felt sincere, and by now, he was peering deep into my eyes with those deep blue, puppy-like eyes that seemed to hold a quiet plea for forgiveness, or maybe just for me to understand.

"It's totally fine...I understand"

I truly did understand, owing to the fact that nerds like him were preys to Sasha and her gang. However, what I couldn't decipher, was the look on his face as we sat on the grassy field beside the lake.

Another quiet tension stretched between us, and as I silently studied his demeanor, I couldn't help but savor the sensation that washed over me every time the refreshing night breeze grazed my skin.

We picked a spot closer to the water's edge, with less people, where the gentle ripples shimmered under the dazzling starlight. I had never visited this part of the park at night; its heavenly view was everything I needed to let go of my worries.

I leaned backwards until my back met with the cool, carpet of grass, my gaze pinned at the starry sky as I drowned myself in the rhythmic rustle of nearby leaves.

Averting my gaze to Asher for a second, I asked, "Is there something on your mind?"

His silence was starting to bother me, and with his eyes fixed upon the sky, it felt like he was contemplating on something. I just couldn't help but hope that it wasn't what I was thinking because, I wouldn't know how to respond without hurting his feelings.

'Stop making everything about you, Zoe', I thought.

He exhaled, his words heavy yet calm;

"You and I are alike, don't you think?"

A slight frown crossed my face, though I played deaf to his words for a few seconds.

"How?", I hesitantly blurted.

"Isolated and alone"

I sighed, my mind still trying to comprehend the reason for his statement. Then, my mind repeatedly said a silent prayer,

'Please don't ask me out',

"Um...I guess you're right", I said.

He sat up and took another deep sigh before asking, "Zoe, can I trust you?"

His voice trembled with emotion as he glared at me, leaving me frowning in confusion.

"Yeah, sure...you can"

I responded in a calm and reassuring manner, anticipation lingering within my eyes.

"Zoey, I...um, I haven't told anyone in our school about this--"

"It's a big secret...but I'm in a situation and I need someone's help sorting it out"

Leaning forward, I knitted my brows closer with all my attention fixed upon his innocent face.

"Okay, I'm listening"

He lowered his head for a few seconds, hesitating to speak any further. I could see the blood drain from his face as he carefully munched his words almost in a whisper:

"I-I'm not like everyone else"

"What do you mean?", I wondered.

"I-I'm gay"

My eyes widened upon hearing those words, followed by a huge wave of relief that washed over my troubled mind. So, he wasn't trying to ask me out...what a glorious relief.

"I don't usually talk about my sexuality after I got kicked out of my previous school for coming out, but like I said, I need help with something...and since you're the only reasonable person besides my parents, I can converse with, I figured I'll ask you"

His words came tumbling, and I see how his eyes flashed with anxiety while he spoke.

"This is big...but, you're not alone you know", I said, my voice steady but warm.

"You can always talk to me"

He let out a breath I hadn't realized he was holding, and he smiled—a real smile, full of relief.

"Thanks, Zoe. I've been carrying that around for so long, and it feels good to finally say it out loud."

I smiled back at him, feeling the genuine bond between us deepen. I didn't want to pry, so I zipped my mouth shut and refused to ask him what he needed help with. We just sat there for a while longer, the conversation moving on to other things—lighter, easier topics—but the air between us had shifted. There was a new kind of trust, a deeper connection that hadn't existed between us before.

***********************

It was a few minutes past nine, and Asher had escorted me down a few meters away from home, before turning down the next street. I clutched my phone as I walked, losing myself in the chilling breeze and the music flowing through my AirPods. Fear was the last thing on my mind as I strode down the secluded alley, past an array of flickering street lights but not until I approached the dreadful alley 23.

Goosebumps carpeted my skin as I stepped into the darkness, the silence almost engulfing the entire atmosphere, save for the tinkling sounds of falling trash bins and meowing cats. I gulped, illuminating my dark path with the flashlight from my phone as I paced faster till I arrived at a point where only a faint beam of light from an unknown source could be seen.

My heart thumped, my chest tightening at the sound of male voices whispering from the left end of the alley, where the light wavered.

'Pull yourself together, Zoe', I murmured.

Then suddenly, my heart skipped more that a dozen beats when a voice came from the almost dark void.

"Hello pretty girl"

I could feel the blood drain from my face as a shadow figure approached me with a flashlight in his hand. Squinting, I shielded my eyes with one hand and refused to stop, pacing faster until I was almost running.

"I'm talking to you"

His voice was stern, followed by loud cackles from two other figures accompanying him.

Trembling, I murmured, "Please leave me alone"

"Oh yeah? Well, a pretty girl like you shouldn't loiter within the lions' den premises by this time of the night", the other one said.

"Too bad for you, we're in need of something only you can give us, ain't it boys?", the first guy asked.

Just as I was about to bolt further away from them, a hand came seized my wrist in a firm grip, yanked me backwards. Beads of sweat began clustering upon my face, and when I opened my mouth to scream, the first guy pulled me closer, pressing a hand over my mouth.

"Calm your nerves sweetheart, we wouldn't want to raise any false alarms while having fun", he whispered.

His garlic breath caused my stomach to grumble as it tightened even more, tears trickling down my face while I quivered under his spell.

"Mhmm...the three of us here are gonna take turns with you, until we're satisfied--"

"And if you scream..."

Tightening his grip on my chin, he forcefully averted my gaze to the right, allowing me to catch a glimpse of the scar-faced second guy holding a golden hilted dagger.

I whimpered, shivering as he pulled me into the darker part of the alley and reached for the helm of my dress. My screams dissolved into mere muffles, and struggling was futile as his hands began sliding upwards until he was almost touching me inappropriately.

With his dark eyes peering deep into mine, he munched his words, "This is gonna be fun"

As for the other guys, they stood there, paying witness to what was about to happen. If only they would give me a chance to shower the curses that ran through my mind, on them.

That was when a voice came from the other side of the alley...

"Let her go"

There stood a hooded stranger whose face remained unclear within the darkness. With both hands in his pocket, he approached us, causing the first guy to loosen his grip on me.

Thud!

I slammed my phone against his face, making for the alley's exit when the other two guys appeared in front of me. I clenched my fist, attempting to slam my phone into their faces as well; however, as I lunged my wrist forward, the second guy yanked me toward him, slamming my back against the cold, hard concrete wall with unbridled force. I winced, the stinging pain flooding my body until it felt as though I were paralyzed.

"I said, let her go!"

The voice sounded familiar, and while my head spun, I watched through blurry vision as he moved with lightning speed, landing swift punches to each of the attackers' jaws, sending them crashing into the wall, before knocking them out cold with single, precise strikes.

My eyes fluttered as I fought to stay awake, until I took a final gasp and gave in to the darkness.