Nowhere to escape (standard:romance, 577 words)
Author: makepeaceken	Added: Jan 28 2025	Views/Reads: 52/0	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Two teenagers escape into the night, being chased by a gang, living and scavaging on the streets isn't an option - will they survive? Read to find out.

Lia gripped Marco's hand so tightly her knuckles turned white as they
darted through the narrow, shadowed alleyways of their city. The night 
was a thick veil over their escape, the last remnants of their old life 
slipping away with each pounding heartbeat. 

The city was a labyrinth of danger for them now, every corner
potentially hiding members of the Rodriguez gang, Marco's family, who 
were less than pleased with his decision to leave. It wasn't just about 
family honor; it was about secrets Marco could spill, secrets that 
could dismantle their drug empire. 

"We can't stop, Lia," Marco whispered, his breath ragged as they paused
briefly behind a dumpster. His eyes, wide with adrenaline, darted 
around, looking for any sign of pursuit. They had been running for what 
felt like hours now, but in reality, it was only the beginning of their 
escape. 

Lia nodded, her hair, usually neat, now a disheveled cascade around her
face. She was from the Garcia family, a rival group who opposed the 
Rodriguez for control over the neighborhood's illicit activities. But 
her love for Marco transcended the feud; she had never cared for the 
family business, only for the boy who had stolen her heart under the 
watchful eye of both families. 

As they moved from one city to another, their initial plan was simple:
keep moving, stay hidden. But simplicity gave way to survival. Money 
ran out quickly, and they found themselves in places they never thought 
they'd end up – under bridges, in abandoned buildings, or on park 
benches wrapped in whatever warmth they could muster. 

Their first night on the streets was the hardest. The cold was
unforgiving, and the concrete was an unforgiving bed. "We'll find a 
way," Marco said, trying to sound convincing as they huddled together 
for warmth. But doubt was a silent third presence between them. 

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. They learned to scavenge
for food, to beg when they had to, and to steal when desperation clawed 
at them. Marco, with his street smarts from growing up in the 
underbelly of their former neighborhood, managed to secure odd jobs 
here and there – washing dishes in greasy spoons, sweeping sidewalks, 
anything that would keep them fed. 

Lia, who had always been more sheltered, felt the weight of their new
life the most. She missed the comforts of home, the warmth of her bed, 
the laughter of her siblings. But she learned to adapt, her spirit 
unbroken. She taught herself to read people, to pickpocket when they 
were desperate, and to charm strangers into giving them a few coins or 
a bite to eat. 

One chilly evening, under the dim glow of a streetlamp, they shared a
meager meal of bread and cheese. "We're like rats now," Lia said with a 
bitter laugh, looking around at the urban decay surrounding them. 

"But we're together," Marco replied, his voice firm, his eyes soft.
"That's what matters." 

Their journey wasn't without its close calls. Once, while they were
scavenging in a dumpster behind a restaurant, they heard the voices of 
men from the Rodriguez gang, speaking in hushed, urgent tones. They 
froze, hiding until the voices faded into the night, but the fear 
lingered. 

Another time, in a new city where they thought they'd be safe, they
narrowly escaped a police raid on a squat where they'd been staying. 
The adrenaline of that night fueled their resolve to keep moving to. . 
.


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