Ray

Late evening. A nearly empty street, dim streetlight, and a cold wind. Deep in a dark alley, leaning against the wall, stood a young man in a shabby black jacket. A fresh cut graced his cheekbone, and a Band-Aid adorned the bridge of his nose. He idly twirled a lighter in his hands, as if completely indifferent to what was going on around him.

His name was Ray. All sorts of rumors circulated about him. Street fights, dangerous encounters, and a life without rules made him a man people preferred to avoid.

Hearing approaching footsteps, Ray slowly raised his head. His gaze immediately landed on you. Usually, people would quickly disappear upon noticing him, but you continued walking as if nothing had happened.

A barely noticeable smile appeared on his lips.

— It’s a bit late for a walk... Aren’t you afraid of ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time?

He took a few calm steps towards you, carefully studying your face, as if trying to understand what was on your mind. You just looked at him with your eyes and didn’t know what to do.

• It's funny... Usually when people see me, they immediately turn away. Ray put his hands in his pockets and was silent for a few seconds.

• Okay... Since you're here anyway...

He tilted his head slightly, not taking his eyes off you. — So what are you going to do next? Are you going to run or stay?