Chapter 4

Leoni stirred at the noise, her brows furrowing in confusion. The heavy footsteps, the sound of something scraping against the wooden floor—it wasn't right. Sleep still clung to her, but fear pricked at her skin. She opened her mouth to ask Zane what was happening.

Before a single sound could escape, Riona clamped a hand over Leoni's mouth.

Leoni's eyes widened in alarm, but Riona shook her head frantically, pressing a finger to her lips. The room was dark, the shadows stretching unnaturally as figures moved closer. Zane wasted no time. With a firm grip, he pulled both of them behind the wall, his breath shallow and controlled.

From their hiding spot, they could see the men more clearly now—three of them, from their outfits anyone could tell they where desperate men living in the streets ,most of the times also the ones who are the most dangerous

Zane's fists clenched. His home. The one place they had. These men were going to take it away.

His gaze flickered to the wooden plank leaning against the wall nearby. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. He reached for it.

Before his fingers could wrap around the rough surface, Riona caught his wrist.

Her grip was tight—desperate. She shook her head violently.

There was no way a starving kid could take on three grown men. No way at all.

Zane swallowed hard. "I have to," he mouthed.

But then, his eyes landed on Riona and Leoni.

Leoni's hands were trembling as she clutched onto Riona's arm. Riona wasn't shaking, but her grip on his wrist was iron-strong, her black eyes begging him not to be reckless.

And then the worst thought crept into his mind.

Even if he fought, even if he died trying to protect what little they had—that was the worst thing that could happen to him, not to leoni and riona, for them the worst case scenario wasn't death.

He saw it in their eyes. They knew it too. They where little kids and they knew it too.

His chest tightened. He hated this. Hated that they were so powerless. But he couldn't risk it.

Zane exhaled sharply, shoving his anger deep down. Then, he motioned toward the back of the room. They had to leave. Now.

Step by step, they crept toward the back door. Every footfall felt unbearably loud.

Leoni let out the faintest whimper as her foot brushed against a stray piece of cloth. Riona squeezed her hand.

They reached the door. Zane pushed it open just enough for them to slip through.

Cold air greeted them as they stumbled outside. The night was endless, stretching before them like an abyss.

Behind them, the faint glow of lantern light flickered through the cracks in the walls. Their home—the only place they had—was no longer theirs.

Leoni turned back. "No…" Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

She took a step toward the house, but Zane grabbed her shoulder.

Tears welled in her eyes. "We—we can't just leave it—"

"We have to," Zane said, his voice hollow.

Leoni buried her face in her hands. "It's not fair… We only had this…they are gone and now it's gone too."

Zane's jaw tightened. His hands curled into fists. He should've done something. He should've been stronger.

"I was useless," he muttered. "I couldn't even—"

"That's not true," Riona interrupted. Her voice was quiet, but firm. "We're alive."

Zane looked at her, his expression unreadable.

"Being alive means we still have a chance," she continued. "A chance to find something better. A chance to fight another day."

Leoni sniffled, rubbing her eyes.

Zane exhaled sharply. The anger didn't leave him, but… maybe Riona was right. Maybe they still had a chance.

But first, they had to find a place to stay.

They wandered through the streets, their feet dragging with exhaustion.

Most buildings were locked up, their windows boarded shut. Others had people inside—people who wouldn't take kindly to three street kids begging for shelter.

Zane scouted ahead, checking alleyways, abandoned crates, and even the underside of an old bridge. Nothing.

Leoni's stomach growled loudly. She clutched it, letting out a groan. "I'm starving…"

"We'll find something," Riona assured her.

They passed by an old storage shed, the door slightly ajar. Zane peeked inside. Empty. But it would be enough for the night.

Just as he was about to tell the others, a rough voice rang out from the shadows.

"Oi. What do you think you're doing?"

Zane spun around. A man—tall, burly, and with a jagged scar across his cheek—stepped forward. Behind him, two others loomed.

Zane immediately positioned himself in front of the girls.

"Just looking for a place to stay," he said cautiously.

The man scoffed. "This ain't a charity." His eyes flickered over them, calculating. "Unless you got something to offer?"

Zane's grip tightened. He didn't like the way the man was looking at them.

Riona's voice was steady when she spoke. "We'll find somewhere else."

She grabbed Leoni's hand and pulled her back. Zane followed.

The men didn't chase them, but Zane could feel their eyes on their backs as they disappeared into the night.

Hours passed. The cold crept in.

Leoni shivered, hugging herself. "I hate this…"

Zane's expression darkened. He hated it too.

Riona glanced at them both, then exhaled softly. "We'll figure it out. Just a little longer."

She sounded so sure.

Zane wished he could believe it as easily as she did.

But for now, they had no choice but to keep walking.