1

Few Days Ago...

The bar buzzed with late-night chaos. Laughter, drunken conversations, and the clink of glasses.

Juniper moved between tables, balancing a tray in one hand. The dim lighting and stale smell of beer were nothing new to her. 

"Hey, gorgeous," a slurred voice called out. 

She didn't turn. She'd learned to ignore the drunks who thought the staff were fair game. 

"Don't walk away from me," the voice said again, sharper this time. A hand grabbed her waist, pulling her back. 

Juniper froze, her heart pounding. The man's breath reeked of beer as he leaned closer. 

"Let go," she said, her voice low but firm. 

"You're feisty," he chuckled, tightening his grip. "I like that." 

Juniper pulled her wrist free with a sudden jerk, glaring at him. "Back off." The man's grin disappeared, replaced by an angry sneer. "Who do you think you're talking to?" 

"I'm talking to someone who's had too much to drink," she shot back. "Go sit down before I call security." 

He slammed his hand on the table, startling nearby patrons. "You think you're better than me?" 

Before Juniper could respond, he grabbed his glass of alcohol and threw it at her. The liquid splashed across her face, burning her eyes and skin.

Juniper screamed, stumbling backward. Her hands flew to her face, her vision a blur of pain and tears. 

The bar erupted into chaos. Customers and staff rushed to calm the man down, their shouts blending into a cacophony of noise. 

"Arghh!" Juniper gasped, blindly moving through the crowd. Her face felt like it was on fire, her breaths shallow and panicked. 

She collided with a solid chest. Strong hands steadied her, but she panicked. 

"No! Don't touch me!" Juniper screamed, lashing out. Her nails dug into the stranger's arm as she tried to free herself. 

Before she could resist further, he scooped her up effortlessly, his grip unyielding. Juniper's struggles weakened as her pain took over, and she let herself be carried. 

The stranger pushed open a bathroom door and set her down by the sink. "Let me see," he said, reaching for her face. 

Juniper flinched. "No, don't—" 

"You need to wash it off before it gets worse," he insisted. His tone left no room for argument. 

He turned on the faucet, cupping water in his hands and bringing it to her face. The coolness soothed the burn slightly, but it still stung. 

"Keep your eyes closed," he said with a slight slur.

Juniper nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. She could feel his steady hands, careful yet firm, as he helped her rinse away the alcohol. 

He reached into his pocket for a clean handkerchief and handed it to her. "Dry your face. You'll be fine." 

When the worst of the burning subsided, Juniper dared to open her eyes. They were red and raw. She blinked at the wall before her—but her saviour was not around.

She glanced down at her hand and froze. There, caught between her fingers, was a delicate chain with a small locket. Her thumb brushed over the latch, and with trembling hands, she popped it open.

Inside was a tiny photo of a young girl with wide, innocent eyes.

Cute!

Juniper looked up, her reflection blurry in the bathroom mirror. Her red eyes and tear-streaked face stared back at her, but there was no sign of the man who had helped her.

"Hey!" she called out, her voice echoing in the empty restroom. "Are you still here?"

No response. The faint murmur of the bar buzzed beyond the door.

Clutching the locket, she stumbled out of the bathroom, her eyes scanning the crowd. The dim lighting and thick smoke made it hard to see clearly, but she was determined.

"Hey Milo," she asked a passing bartender. "The man who came in here earlier...  do you know where he went?"

"Oh! That Drunkard? He was thrown out!"

"Not him, the one who helped me."

"Nope! No idea!" He said.

Juniper bit her lip, fighting the urge to snap back. She turned, her eyes darting to every shadowed corner of the bar.

He can't just disappear like that.

She rushed to the exit, pushing past the bouncer. The cool night air hit her like a slap, and she scanned the street frantically. It was empty except for a few parked cars and a distant streetlight flickering.

I have his locket! she wondered.

"Juniper!" The manager's voice boomed across the bar, making her flinch. She rushed inside the bar, shoving the locket into her pocket.

"What the hell were you thinking, arguing with a customer like that? Do you even know how much we've lost tonight because of your attitude?"

Juniper's heart sank, her lips parting to explain, but the manager cut her off with a glare.

"You'll clean the kitchen and the bathroom for the next week," he snapped, pointing a finger at her. "And I'm docking one week's pay."

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What? No! You can't do that! I was just—"

"Defending yourself? Yeah, I've heard it all before," he interrupted, folding his arms. "If you can't handle the customers, then maybe this job isn't for you."

Juniper clenched her fists, fighting the tears threatening to spill. "Please, don't cut my pay. I need that money..."

The manager's expression didn't soften. "Not my problem. Maybe next time you'll think before causing a scene."

Defeated, Juniper turned away, biting her lip to keep from saying something she'd regret.

She stomped out in the alley behind the bar, to take a smoke.

The stench of garbage filled the air, but Juniper didn't care. She dug into her pocket, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it with shaky hands.

The first drag sent a bitter comfort through her system. She exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl into the dark sky.

"That fucking asshole," she muttered, kicking a dented can near her foot. "Like it's my fault that jerk couldn't keep his hands to himself."

She leaned against the wall, trying to calm her racing thoughts, when something caught her eye.

A shadow moving at the edge of the alley.

Juniper froze, the cigarette trembling between her fingers.

"Who's there?" she called out, her voice shaky despite her attempt to sound tough.

Is it that uncouth man from before? She froze at the thought of him trying to harm her.

The shadow didn't respond. It lingered, shifting slightly.

Her heart pounded. She flicked the cigarette to the ground, stomping it out as she took a step toward the bar's back door.

 "It's probably just some stray cat or—"she whispered to herself, trying to escape.

Juniper spun around, her eyes searching the dimly lit alley. A tall figure stepped forward.

She stumbled back, her breath catching. "Who... who are you?"

The man didn't answer immediately. He took another step closer, his movements slow, deliberate.

"Stay away," she warned, her voice firmer now.

But he didn't stop.

When she turned to run, his hand shot out, gripping her arm. She gasped, yanking against his hold.

"Let me go!" she shouted, her pulse racing.

The man's grip wasn't harsh, but it was unyielding. Juniper's blood ran cold. She twisted in his grip, her mind racing with ways to escape, but the man didn't loosen his hold.

"What do you want from me?" she demanded, her voice laced with panic.

The man leaned in slightly, his expression unreadable. "Just a little... conversation."