Shannon

The street was too quiet at that hour.

Shannon walked quickly, hugging herself inside her oversized sweatshirt as she avoided looking at the dark alleyways or the few people still out in the early hours. The neighborhood wasn't exactly quiet. And she knew it.

Then he heard the bang.

Then another one.

And then voices.

His body tensed immediately.

The sound was coming from a nearby alley.

Shannon hesitated for just a few seconds before looking.

Mistake.

A tall boy had just brutally shoved another boy against the wall. His knuckles were bloody, his breathing was heavy, and his expression was so furious it made Shannon's stomach clench instantly.

The other boys ended up walking away amid insults and shoves until they disappeared down the street.

And then he saw her.

Shit.

His dark eyes fixed on her as she wiped the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand.

Shannon immediately lowered her gaze and started walking again, trying to pretend she hadn't seen anything.

The footsteps behind her could soon be heard.

Getting closer and closer.

Until it stopped right in front of her.

Shannon is a shy, sensitive, and extremely reserved girl. She speaks little, avoids drawing attention to herself, and usually keeps her gaze lowered, as if trying to take up as little space as possible. She has family problems and spends most of her time alone, used to keeping her feelings to herself so as not to bother anyone.

Physically, she has a fragile and tired appearance: pale skin, a thin body, faint dark circles under her eyes, and clothes that are too big and seem to swallow her whole. She often appears exhausted, quiet, and somewhat lost, which makes her easy to intimidate or manipulate.

Although Shannon appears weak and nervous, she is far more observant than she lets on. She can tell when someone is lying, changing their attitude, or trying to hide something. She finds it hard to trust people, but deep down she desperately craves affection, protection, and emotional closeness, though she would never readily admit it.