▸ The Alleyway Encounter: Chapter 6

[Reader Discretion: Semi-Immortal explores mature and challenging themes, including trauma, mental health struggles, violence, and discrimination. It contains scenes that may be distressing to some readers. Please proceed with caution and prioritize your well-being.] 

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Ivy's worn leather shoes scraped against the uneven pavement as she slipped through the back gate of her charter school, her backpack hanging haphazardly off one shoulder. The instant she stepped onto the street, the city's vibrant clamour surged around her, swallowing the last echoes of the school's stuffy atmosphere. Cutting class didn't bother her in the slightest; the city throbbed with a raw, untamed energy that no classroom could ever match. Her fingers grazed her earphones, a silent invitation to shut out the world and dive into her own private soundscape.

Her gaze faltered, drawn by a sudden, unexpected shift. A swirl of activity at the edge of her peripheral view caused her to turn towards the nearest alley. The sound of laboured breathing, hurried footsteps, and the scrape of something being shoved aside reverberated through the narrow space.

The alleyway was briefly illuminated by a girl running through the darkness, her hair a tangled jumble of black roots and bleach-blonde. Torn clothes clung to her, evidence of a desperate escape. She gasped for air, the pounding of her pursuer's footsteps echoing too close behind. In an instinctual effort to put distance between them, she kicked rubbish bins, pushed crates, and just about anything else she could find into the narrow area behind her as she ran. Yet, despite the chaos of her escape, there was something almost knowing in the way she moved, a hint that she understood this alley and the promise of freedom it offered.

A wave of dread and relief washed over her as she neared the sidewalk. Gathering every last bit of strength, she lunged forward, a frantic dash that ended with her colliding headfirst into Ivy. The impact sent Ivy reeling, her skull cracking against a nearby lamppost with a sickening thud. Stars exploded in Ivy's vision as her bag tumbled to the ground. Blinking rapidly, she fought to regain focus. Looking down, she felt the girl's grip tighten, her small hands clutching desperately. She could hear the uneven, panicked rhythm of the girl's breathing, short and sharp against her chest.

Wide, tear-filled eyes met Ivy's. A deep crimson impression marred the girl's cheek. Her lips trembled as she stammered an apology and gently pulled away from Ivy, clearly on the verge of bolting again. But before she could, Ivy's hand, swift and decisive, closed around her wrist. 

"Hold on," Ivy said, her eyes narrowing with concern. "Are you okay? What happened?"

The girl's attempt to answer ended in a choked gasp, her eyes flicking back toward the dark alleyway. Ivy followed her gaze, her own breath catching as a figure materialized from the shadows. It was a man, his face a mask of fury, his clothes in disarray. His button-up shirt was torn, the open collar revealing too much skin, while his trousers hung open, exposing the waistband of his underwear. He stood there, panting, his eyes blazing with an unsettling rage that sent a chill down Ivy's spine. 

"..P-please...-" The girl stuttered unexpectedly, suddenly drawing Ivy's attention back to her. "..Please help me..!"

The girl let out a sob, her body shaking. Ivy's grip on her wrist tightened as she instinctively pulled the girl closer, wrapping her arms around the girl's shoulders in a protective embrace. 

Ivy's emerald eyes flared with a sharp, predatory gleam, locking onto the man with a ferocity that seemed to pierce straight through him. The anger that had once lit his features twisted into something far less certain, his confidence draining away like water through cracked stone. His breath hitched, shallow and uneven, as an eerie, oppressive cold seemed to emanate from her gaze, wrapping around him like invisible chains. It was as though icy tendrils crept up his spine, rooting him to the spot. He willed his legs to move, to retreat, but they betrayed him entirely, trembling under the weight of his growing terror. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his hands splaying out against the concrete as tremors wracked his body. The fight in his eyes was gone, replaced by a hollow, unspoken dread that left him shaking uncontrollably. Ivy didn't move an inch—she didn't have to. 

Finally, as Ivy's arm curled protectively around the girl, the hiccupping sobs that had been torturing her body ceased. Her eyes, still wet with tears, darted upwards to Ivy, a flicker of confusion clouding her features. But Ivy's voice, calm yet commanding, sliced through her confusion. "It's okay," she murmured, with a note of authority. "He won't come any closer. Let's go." 

The girl hesitated but eventually nodded, allowing Ivy to guide her away from the scene. She couldn't help but glance back, seeing the man curled up on the ground, his face twisted in terror. When she turned back to Ivy, the older girl's face was pale, her expression one of disgust and nausea.

They walked in silence for a few blocks before the girl finally spoke. "W-what did you do to him?" she stammered. "Does he know you or something? You're not involved in any clans, right?"

"Huh? No, that's not—" Her voice was sharp, almost snappy, but before she could finish, the girl's eyes widened in alarm.

"You're bleeding! A-are you okay?!" she exclaimed, pointing straight at Ivy's neck.

Confusion etched onto Ivy's face as she finally turned to the girl. She halted, her hand instinctively going to the back of her neck. Though she felt no wound, her fingers encountered a damp, sticky mass matted in her hair. A groan of disgust escaped her lips as she shook her head. "I'm not hurt," she said, her tone reassuring. "There's nothing to worry about. But you are, so lets get you patched up…" Her voice trailed off as she redirected her focus to the girl, initially noticing the branded number 13 on the side of her neck. Her eyes then rose to meet the girl's face, a look of mild astonishment crossing her features. The scratches and marks were gone. Not a single sign of injury marred the girl's sun-kissed skin.

"You're a Semi-Immortal," Ivy said quietly, her tone neutral but slightly surprised.

The girl's head shot up, her face pale. "I… yeah, I am," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She let out a nervous chuckle, glancing away. "Sorry."

Ivy blinked, caught off guard by the apology. She reached out and placed a hand on the girl's head, ruffling her tangled hair gently. "There's nothing to apologize for," she said. "The disorder is random. It's not your fault you were chosen."

The girl stared up at Ivy, her lips trembling. "You're not ashamed to be around me?" she asked, her voice breaking.

Ivy's chest tightened at the question. She softened her expression, giving the girl a small, reassuring smile. "Not at all," she replied simply.

The girl sniffled, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of relief and disbelief. "...and I'm guessing you are also..." she began, looking at Ivy, her attempt at seriousness undermined by her obvious nervousness.

A beat of silence hung in the air before Ivy sighed, her eyes flicking away from the girl. She appeared to be on the lookout for something until she finally gestured toward a lively corner store. 

"Are you hungry?" Ivy asked, her tone shifting, a clear attempt to change the subject. "You must be low on energy after healing... I'll buy, so you don't have to worry about money." The girl followed the direction of Ivy's finger, her gaze landing on the shop, and after a moment's hesitation, she nodded. 

"Alright...thank you," the girl replied softly, a hint of relief in her voice. "It's been a while since I last ate..." 

"Figured as much," Ivy replied, "but I only have a five-pound note on me, so please stick to that budget." A soft chuckle escaped from the girl, and a warm smile bloomed on her face, startling Ivy with its sudden radiance. Ivy felt her own lips curve upwards at the sight.

As they walked to the shop, one stride after the other, Ivy asked, "What's your name?"

"Violet!" she replied, her voice bright. "And yours?"

"..It's Ivy."

"Nice to meet you, Ivy!"

"Yeah... likewise."