FAITHThe alley was dark and narrow, shadows dancing along the cracked brick walls. Trash littered the ground—crumpled newspapers, empty bottles, and cigarette butts scattered like forgotten memories.A damp, musty scent hung in the air, mixed with the faint, nauseating stench of rotting garbage.The buildings on either side were old and crumbling, their facades smeared with graffiti, their windows shattered and boarded up. I could hear faint whispers echoing from somewhere, voices muffled by the thick walls, fading in and out like ghosts haunting the ruins.The air was cold, biting, swirling around me as I walked, my shoulders tensing involuntarily. It was dark, the kind of darkness that swallowed you whole, where shadows blurred into each other, hiding whatever lurked within. My heart raced, my pulse echoing in my ears, my feet moving quickly, carefully, over the cracked pavement.I could feel Blaze behind me, his presence solid and reassuring, his footsteps steady, his body close
FAITHMy heart skipped a beat, my body tensing. I opened my mouth to respond, but Blaze was already in front of me, his body blocking mine, his shoulders squared, his eyes blazing. “Back off,” he growled, his voice low, cold, and dangerous.The man’s smirk faltered, his eyes flicking to Blaze, taking in his rigid posture, his clenched fists, the fire burning in his gaze. He held up his hands in mock surrender, his lips curving into a taunting smile. “Easy, man. Just making conversation.”Blaze took a step forward, his body radiating anger. “She’s not interested. Get lost.”The man’s eyes narrowed, his shoulders tensing, but after a moment, he scoffed, turning away, his friends following. “Whatever, man. Not worth the trouble.”Blaze didn’t move until they were out of sight, his body rigid, his fists clenched at his sides. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw was set, his eyes still blazing with anger.I touched his arm gently, my voice soft. “Blaze… it’s fine. I
FAITHTime slowed down.The bottle came hurtling toward me, the jagged glass glinting in the dim light, my father’s face twisted with rage, his eyes wild, unfocused. I stood frozen, my body locked in place, my heart pounding, my breath caught in my throat.I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. All I could do was watch as the bottle swung toward me, the room spinning around me.And then, suddenly—A shadow moved in front of me, fast and strong, blocking the blow, shielding me from the attack. I heard the sickening crunch of glass shattering, the sharp sound echoing through the room.Blaze.His back was to me, his body solid and unyielding, his shoulders squared, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me into his chest. He held me close, his heart pounding against mine, his grip firm, protective.I felt his body tense, his muscles coiled like steel, his breathing hard and fast. His head turned slightly, his eyes blazing with fury as he looked at my father. “You touch her again,” he growl
FAITHWarm, strong, steady arms wrapping around me, pulling me close, holding me tight. Blaze’s chest was solid, his heart beating steady and strong against mine.I sank into him, my body going limp, my hands clutching at his shirt, my face buried in his shoulder as the sobs wracked through me, violent and raw.He didn’t say anything. Didn’t try to stop me. Didn’t tell me to calm down or pull myself together.He just held me. His arms firm, his body warm, his presence grounding me, anchoring me, holding me together when I felt like I was falling apart.His hand came up, his fingers brushing through my hair, gentle and soothing, his touch warm, soft, comforting.“It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice low and steady. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”I felt my chest tighten, my heart shattering. The tears came faster, my body shaking, my breaths coming out in broken gasps.I had been so alone. For so long.No one had been there for me. No one had held me like this. No one had told me it was okay
FAITHBlaze’s eyes softened, his gaze locking onto mine, his face filled with something I couldn’t quite understand. “Because you deserve it.”My heart skipped a beat, my chest tightening. “Blaze…”He let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. This place… it’s not good for you.”I nodded, my body feeling heavy, tired, worn out. “Yeah… let’s go.”He stood up first, his body solid and steady as he reached out his hand, his eyes gentle. I took his hand, his fingers warm around mine, his grip firm as he pulled me to my feet, keeping me steady when my knees wobbled.He didn’t let go. Not even when we walked down the narrow alley, not even when we passed by the same group of men who were now giving us wary glances, not even when we reached the car.He held my hand the whole time, his fingers laced with mine, his presence warm, solid, grounding.He opened the car door for me, his hand lingering on mine for a moment before he pulled away, his eyes soft,
FAITHI stood frozen, my body stiff, my heart sinking as I watched her throw her arms around him. Her red hair flowed like a waterfall over his shoulder, her slim figure pressing against him, her face lighting up with a bright, beautiful smile.Savannah.She looked exactly like the pictures I had seen—stunning, elegant, perfect. And she was here, in his arms, looking at him like he was the only man in the world.Blaze’s body was tense, his arms hovering awkwardly around her, his face blank with shock. I could see his shoulders stiffen, his jaw tighten, his eyes widening as he tried to process what was happening.“Blaze!” Savannah’s voice was bright, cheerful, bubbling with excitement. She pulle
FAITHBlaze’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. “No. We will go to my study.”Savannah pouted, her lips forming a perfect, practiced pout. “Oh, am I not allowed to go into your bedroom anymore?” She stepped closer, her fingers brushing his arm. “Are we really that distant now?”Blaze’s face turned to stone, his eyes cold, unyielding. “Yes. Exactly. You are not my girlfriend anymore.”Savannah’s pout faded, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “Yet,” she said, her voice light, playful. “You never know. The old spark might be rekindled.”I felt something sharp twist in my chest, my body freezing, my heart pounding. Was she… serious? Was that why she was here?Blaze’s eyes darkened, his jaw clenching. “No, it won’t. That’s not happening.” His voice was cold, firm, leaving no room for argument. “Let’s just hear what you have to say and get this over with.”Savannah’s smile wavered, her eyes flicking to his face, searching for something. But then, she let out a light laugh, her sh
FAITHI threw the door open, my face set in a deep frown, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. Blaze stood on the other side, his hand frozen mid-knock, his eyes widening slightly at my sudden appearance.He blinked, his gaze sweeping over my face, his expression softening. “Faith? What’s wrong?”I narrowed my eyes at him, my lips pressing into a pout. “I’m hungry.”Blaze’s eyebrows shot up, his mouth opening slightly. “Oh. Okay. What do you want to eat?”I didn’t answer. I simply shoved him to the side, pushing past him and marching down the hallway, my feet stomping against the floor.Blaze let out a surprised sound, his body turning as he watched me go. “Uh… Faith?”I didn’t look back, my shoulders squared, my head held high as I made my way to the kitchen. I could hear his footsteps behind me, his pace quickening as he hurried to catch up.I stormed into the kitchen, my eyes scanning the room before I walked straight to the counter, my hands gripping the edge as I tried to hoist
FAITHThere was a deafening silence.Blaze froze, his body going rigid, his eyes wide with shock. He stared at me, his face blank, his lips parted, his hands stilling mid-motion, the knife slipping from his fingers and clattering onto the countertop.I watched him, my heart pounding, my chest tightening. I could feel my face heating up, my fingers curling against the cold countertop. I could feel his eyes on me, his gaze heavy, intense, unwavering.Time seemed to slow, the air growing thick, suffocating. I could hear the sound of my own heartbeat, loud, frantic, echoing in my ears.Blaze swallowed, his throat bobbing, his shoulders tensing. “You… you better not be kidding me right now.”I felt a small smile forming on my lips, my head tilting to the side as I watched him, my heart fluttering. “Maybe I am kidding.”His face fell, his body sagging, his eyes darkening. “Faith… please… don’t kid about this.” His voice was low, breathless, his face twisted with pain. “Because what I feel f
FAITHI lifted my chin, crossing my arms over my chest. “Lobster Thermidor. I want to eat Lobster Thermidor.”Blaze’s mouth fell open, his face twisting with shock. “I… I have no fucking clue how to make that.”I narrowed my eyes, my nose scrunching up. “Well, you better figure it out.”Blaze blinked, his body stiffening, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. “But… how? I don’t even know where to start.”I lifted an eyebrow, my arms tightening around my chest. “Google it. Look it up on YouTube. Call one of your fancy chefs and ask them how to make it. I don’t care. Just make it. I’m hungry.&r
FAITHI threw the door open, my face set in a deep frown, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. Blaze stood on the other side, his hand frozen mid-knock, his eyes widening slightly at my sudden appearance.He blinked, his gaze sweeping over my face, his expression softening. “Faith? What’s wrong?”I narrowed my eyes at him, my lips pressing into a pout. “I’m hungry.”Blaze’s eyebrows shot up, his mouth opening slightly. “Oh. Okay. What do you want to eat?”I didn’t answer. I simply shoved him to the side, pushing past him and marching down the hallway, my feet stomping against the floor.Blaze let out a surprised sound, his body turning as he watched me go. “Uh… Faith?”I didn’t look back, my shoulders squared, my head held high as I made my way to the kitchen. I could hear his footsteps behind me, his pace quickening as he hurried to catch up.I stormed into the kitchen, my eyes scanning the room before I walked straight to the counter, my hands gripping the edge as I tried to hoist
FAITHBlaze’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. “No. We will go to my study.”Savannah pouted, her lips forming a perfect, practiced pout. “Oh, am I not allowed to go into your bedroom anymore?” She stepped closer, her fingers brushing his arm. “Are we really that distant now?”Blaze’s face turned to stone, his eyes cold, unyielding. “Yes. Exactly. You are not my girlfriend anymore.”Savannah’s pout faded, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “Yet,” she said, her voice light, playful. “You never know. The old spark might be rekindled.”I felt something sharp twist in my chest, my body freezing, my heart pounding. Was she… serious? Was that why she was here?Blaze’s eyes darkened, his jaw clenching. “No, it won’t. That’s not happening.” His voice was cold, firm, leaving no room for argument. “Let’s just hear what you have to say and get this over with.”Savannah’s smile wavered, her eyes flicking to his face, searching for something. But then, she let out a light laugh, her sh
FAITHI stood frozen, my body stiff, my heart sinking as I watched her throw her arms around him. Her red hair flowed like a waterfall over his shoulder, her slim figure pressing against him, her face lighting up with a bright, beautiful smile.Savannah.She looked exactly like the pictures I had seen—stunning, elegant, perfect. And she was here, in his arms, looking at him like he was the only man in the world.Blaze’s body was tense, his arms hovering awkwardly around her, his face blank with shock. I could see his shoulders stiffen, his jaw tighten, his eyes widening as he tried to process what was happening.“Blaze!” Savannah’s voice was bright, cheerful, bubbling with excitement. She pulle
FAITHBlaze’s eyes softened, his gaze locking onto mine, his face filled with something I couldn’t quite understand. “Because you deserve it.”My heart skipped a beat, my chest tightening. “Blaze…”He let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. This place… it’s not good for you.”I nodded, my body feeling heavy, tired, worn out. “Yeah… let’s go.”He stood up first, his body solid and steady as he reached out his hand, his eyes gentle. I took his hand, his fingers warm around mine, his grip firm as he pulled me to my feet, keeping me steady when my knees wobbled.He didn’t let go. Not even when we walked down the narrow alley, not even when we passed by the same group of men who were now giving us wary glances, not even when we reached the car.He held my hand the whole time, his fingers laced with mine, his presence warm, solid, grounding.He opened the car door for me, his hand lingering on mine for a moment before he pulled away, his eyes soft,
FAITHWarm, strong, steady arms wrapping around me, pulling me close, holding me tight. Blaze’s chest was solid, his heart beating steady and strong against mine.I sank into him, my body going limp, my hands clutching at his shirt, my face buried in his shoulder as the sobs wracked through me, violent and raw.He didn’t say anything. Didn’t try to stop me. Didn’t tell me to calm down or pull myself together.He just held me. His arms firm, his body warm, his presence grounding me, anchoring me, holding me together when I felt like I was falling apart.His hand came up, his fingers brushing through my hair, gentle and soothing, his touch warm, soft, comforting.“It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice low and steady. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”I felt my chest tighten, my heart shattering. The tears came faster, my body shaking, my breaths coming out in broken gasps.I had been so alone. For so long.No one had been there for me. No one had held me like this. No one had told me it was okay
FAITHTime slowed down.The bottle came hurtling toward me, the jagged glass glinting in the dim light, my father’s face twisted with rage, his eyes wild, unfocused. I stood frozen, my body locked in place, my heart pounding, my breath caught in my throat.I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. All I could do was watch as the bottle swung toward me, the room spinning around me.And then, suddenly—A shadow moved in front of me, fast and strong, blocking the blow, shielding me from the attack. I heard the sickening crunch of glass shattering, the sharp sound echoing through the room.Blaze.His back was to me, his body solid and unyielding, his shoulders squared, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me into his chest. He held me close, his heart pounding against mine, his grip firm, protective.I felt his body tense, his muscles coiled like steel, his breathing hard and fast. His head turned slightly, his eyes blazing with fury as he looked at my father. “You touch her again,” he growl
FAITHMy heart skipped a beat, my body tensing. I opened my mouth to respond, but Blaze was already in front of me, his body blocking mine, his shoulders squared, his eyes blazing. “Back off,” he growled, his voice low, cold, and dangerous.The man’s smirk faltered, his eyes flicking to Blaze, taking in his rigid posture, his clenched fists, the fire burning in his gaze. He held up his hands in mock surrender, his lips curving into a taunting smile. “Easy, man. Just making conversation.”Blaze took a step forward, his body radiating anger. “She’s not interested. Get lost.”The man’s eyes narrowed, his shoulders tensing, but after a moment, he scoffed, turning away, his friends following. “Whatever, man. Not worth the trouble.”Blaze didn’t move until they were out of sight, his body rigid, his fists clenched at his sides. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw was set, his eyes still blazing with anger.I touched his arm gently, my voice soft. “Blaze… it’s fine. I