The Shadows Behind Us

A man comes forward and pushes Earnest away from me. Earnest falls to the ground which surprises me. Usually he can withstand anything.

"Don't you ever touch her again." The man yells.

Earnest slowly stands up and throws a punch at my rescuer. The man quickly dodges it and throws a punch back, throwing Earnest to the ground, his mouth and nose bleeding.

He never gets hurt, how is this guy doing this?

"Now leave." The man declares.

Earnest got up, brushed off his clothes, and ran into the dark of the alley.

"You won't get away with this." I hear in my head.

"Are you okay?" The man kindly asks, bending down to my level.

His eyes were a deep chocolate brown and were filled with such warmth and kindness. His hair was brown and he had stubble.

I nod and try to pull myself up, using the brick to support me. I manage to stand, but fall again once a sharp pain hits my body.

"Here." He smiles, out stretching his hand towards me.

I take his hand and he pulls me to my feet.

"Thank you." I mumble.

"I'm Liam." He smiles.

"Hannah." I reply.

"Pretty name for a pretty girl." He smiles.

I blush, shyly.

"Hey, can I take you home?" He asks.

I think of the shadows and how they surely will kill him if he takes me home. They hate me being with people.

"No, it's fine. I can walk." I reply.

"No please. You can barely walk. Let me take you home." He pleads.

"No." I again reply.

He thinks for a moment and then his face lights up like a child's on Christmas morning.

"How about you come back to my house with me?" He happily states.

I think over it for a minute and agree. I don't want to deal with the shadows tonight. For once I want to feel safe.

Notes