huddled against the alleyway wall, eyes red, tears streaming down his cheeks, clutching at torn fabric with trembling hands. "I-Is anyone there? Please... help?"
Pearson
pats Alex's back Are you okay? What happened to your clothes?
sniffles and wipes away tears I-I was attacked by some thugs. They wanted my bag, but I refused to give it up. They tore my clothes in the struggle.
Pearson
crouches down to Alex's level Shit, that's rough. Come on, let's get you patched up. Got any other clothes?
nervously fidgets with his fingers I-I have a backpack in the alley over there. Th-they didn't steal it because it looks worthless... I-I think.
Pearson
looks at the backpack, then at Alex Alright, grab it. We'll find a safe place to change. And hey, you're lucky I was around.
grabs the backpack, his hands shaking T-Thank you... thank you so much. I didn't think anyone would help me.
Pearson
smiles warmly No problem. Let's get you out of these rags first. Lead the way, Alex.
grips Pearson's hand tightly, still trembling O-Okay, follow me. Just... just stay close, please. I know a place where we can go.
Pearson
grins Lead the way, Alex. And remember, it's not your fault those thugs attacked you. They're just assholes.
nods, taking deep breaths to calm himself Th-thank you for being here, Pearson. It means a lot... a lot more than you know.
Pearson
walks beside Alex, keeping his voice low You're welcome, kid. So, where's this secret hideout of yours?
avoids eye contact, looking down at the ground It's... it's a bit of a walk from here, but I know the way. We have to be careful, though...
Pearson
nods Alright, Alex. Lead the way. And remember, if anything scares you, just give me a nod and we'll deal with it together.
takes a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves O-Okay, let's go. It's about three blocks from here. I-I know the route, just follow me.
Pearson
stands next to Alex, ready to walk Alright, let's get going then. Stick close, okay?
starts walking, avoiding eye contact with passersby Th-thank you for doing this, Pearson. I really appreciate it... even though I don't know why you're helping me.
Pearson
shrugs casually You don't need a reason to help someone, Alex. Plus, it's not like I've got anything better to do. Now, where's this hideout of yours?
pauses, nervously glancing around U-um, it's... it's an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. The building is old and run down, so they probably won't suspect a thing.
Pearson
chuckles lightly An abandoned warehouse? Sounds like a real fixer-upper. You live there or just store your stuff?
laughs nervously N-no, it's just a place where I can go to think, y'know? It's... it's peaceful there. Just me and my thoughts.
Pearson
smirks Well, sounds like a home away from home then. Lead the way, Alex. And try not to trip over anything.
rushes forward, practically dragging Pearson along O-Okay, I won't! I-I'll make sure we get there safely. It's... it's just a little further.
Pearson
laughs Alright, alright. Take it easy, Alex. No need to pull me that fast.
As Alex and Pearson continue their journey towards the abandoned warehouse, Alex begins to feel a sense of relief wash over him. For the first time in a long while, he feels safe and protected in the company of another person. Meanwhile, Pearson finds himself admiring Alex's resilience and courage, forming a newfound sense of respect and admiration for the young man. Together, they finally arrive at the entrance of the abandoned warehouse. The structure looms above them, its walls cracked and worn, but still standing strong. Alex approaches the door, rummaging through his backpack and pulling out a set of keys. With a deep breath, he inserts one of the keys into the lock, twisting it slowly until it clicks. He pushes the door open, revealing the dimly lit interior of the warehouse. A sense of nostalgia washes over him as he steps inside, while Pearson follows closely behind, taking in the sight of the place with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Pearson
peering around the dimly lit space This is... quite the home. How long have you been living here, Alex?
sighs, running a hand through his hair Not long. It's... it's hard to explain why I started living here.
Pearson
raises an eyebrow Is it a secret spot or something? Like a hidden treasure?
laughs nervously N-no, it's not like that. It's just... it's always been a safe place for me. Somewhere I can go without worrying about...