For years, Ethan had been protected by Cole “Grim” Rourke, a grizzled biker with a leather jacket patched with scars of fights past. Grim had found Ethan abandoned in a park one rainy night, shivering and alone. From that moment, he had been Ethan’s guardian, a shadow in the night keeping him safe from gangs, addicts, and anyone who might exploit him. Grim wasn’t a hero in the conventional sense—he drank, fought, and had a rough reputation—but to Ethan, he was family.
They had a routine. Grim would ride through the streets on his customized Harley, checking on the corners he controlled, while Ethan stayed hidden, sketching the world in a small notebook. At night, they shared stories through gestures and drawings, silent laughter echoing in their apartment. It was a fragile, dangerous peace—but it was all they had.
Part 2 — The Raid
Everything changed one evening when Grim returned from a delivery run. His motorcycle engine roared down the alleyway like a warning. Ethan was sketching at the table when a sudden crash of boots on stairs made his heart race.
The police had arrived. Detective Maria Kline, a determined officer with a reputation for taking down gang activity, had been watching Grim for months. Allegations of illegal arms deals and protection rackets had finally tipped the scale. And tonight, they moved in.
Ethan froze, eyes wide as the officers shouted commands and doors burst open. He had never spoken a word in his life, but instinct surged through him, primal and urgent. Seeing Grim’s hands raised, surrounded by flashing lights and uniforms, he shouted with everything he had in him:
“RUN!”
