She was out of breath when she reached him.

"How do I know if I can trust you?" Sofia asked looking at him with her big brown eyes. He looked back at her with his grey, amused ones and said:

"Lesson one newbie: you can't trust me. You can't trust anyone. At the end of the day, you should trust only yourself. But currently, you have a choice between the bench and a smelly but comfortable mattress. On top of that, it's safer and easier to get food when you're with other people"

He's got the point. So Sofia followed him quietly. She was looking around all the time in a nervous manner. She was stressed about where he's taking her but also worried that someone will recognize her and call the police.

The place Anastasio brought her to was considerably better than the bench in the park.

It was an abandoned tenement building curenelty occupied by the squatters. Anastasio introduced her to several other kids. Iacopo, Antonio, Gianna, and Veronica. They all shared one thing: they had no place to sleep tonight and probably the night after that.

Probably because it will turn out to be false in Sofia's case.

She look at the place and every kid seemed to have their small square spot where they would keep their things and sleep.

"Come with me Sofia, we need to talk"

We ended up in another empty room this one had two white plastic chairs covered with dust.

"Make yourself at home"

Was that supposed to be something resembling an office? The room looked like shit but the fact that he took her here only convinced her that Anastasio was the informal leader of this establishment.

"Talk about what?" Sofia asked with distrust in her voice.

"About the conditions, you need to fulfill in order to stay here"

"This five-star hotel has a policy?" Sofia said ironically and Anastasio snorted.

"You'd be surprised" he responded with sparks of amusement dancing in his pretty grey eyes.

"What sort of conditions are we talking about?"

"As long as you're here you listen to me. If I ask you a question you answer me truthfully. I value honesty above anything else. Also, you're not allowed to bring anyone here without previously discussing it with me. I am the one who's calling the shots here and I'm responsible for everyone's safety so if you ever lie to me or ignore my order you're out faster than you can blink"

"That's it? Should I call you Your Highness as well?"

He rolled his eyes at Sofia's sarcasm.

"This place is a safe space for people who currently don't have a home but it is by no means legal for us to stay here. If we don't keep rules we might as well give away our location to the cops right now. Those rules exist to keep this place secure. Everyone has to follow them"

"Okay, fine. Anything else?"

"You're kidding? I just started. How old are you? Remember we don't like liars here"

"17 since January 1st if I have to be specific"

"Now look at that, we're the same age" he smiled "Why are you homeless?"

Okay, that was blunt.

"What?"

"Do you have any family? Is someone looking for you? I know it's uncomfortable to speak about but I promise it stays between us. I just need to determine if it's safe to allow you to stay here"

"I ran away from my house, from my step-father"

"Do you need any help? A doctor?"

Sofia shook her head.

Anastasio nodded. And went silent for a moment. He stood up and leaned over the desk with his arms crossed over his chest. He was now closer to her and he was looking with his intense gaze at her.

"I buy your story so far. It's not an uncommon situation to run from abusive parents or guardians. But there's something different about you. A teenager running away usually chooses to go to a different city or a different state. You chose to go to a different country. Why?"

"I suspect I have a family here" Sofia explained.

"Only suspect?"

"My mother wasn't speaking about her past. So I don't really know"

"You've must have lost a ton of money for a trip. Why risk it? You're 17. You could wait out with waiting for finding a family after you're 18 legally have a job and money to leave. Instead, I assume you've spent all your money for a ticket if you didn't have even a place to crash"

Damn. He was sharp.

"You're asking a lot of questions"

"Are you going to answer or are you going to leave? You have only two choices here"

"That's because I couldn't wait. If my step-father found me within that few months something very bad would happen to me"

His sharp eyes went gentle when she told him that. He was about to stay something when someone interrupted them

"Boss?"

"What is it, Veronica?"

"I thought I saw her face somewhere," the girl said as if Sofia wasn't present in the room "So I went out to confirm it" Then she dropped the wrinkled newspaper stained with a dark liquid. It looked like she picked it straight from the trash. Despite its state, it was clear. The first page had a huge picture of Sofia's face.

"Fuck" Anastasio muttered.

"I can't stay right?" Sofia said quietly. This was all for nothing. Police were searching for her and her case became big news since she was from abroad last seen in another country. Sofia started to regret her choice. Maybe she made a judgment mistake. Maybe looking for her family was the best bet. She should've stayed in Texas. Hide somewhere for over 11 months and wait.

The only problem with that thinking was that if Paul found her after she's 18, even if she had money and she was working he still would try to catch her and sell her and do god-knows why. Her case wasn't just a normal abused teenager thing. How many teenagers end up living in a house with a human trafficker? She couldn't protect herself from him if she was on her own. She needed someone who would know her and search for her if she disappears. She needed a family. Tears started welling up her arms, her heart felt heavy. She had no one. No one would help her.

"I'm sorry Sofia. Tomorrow you will have to find a different place" Anastasio decided.

"Tomorrow? You're letting me stay for the night?" She asked hopefully with tears now streaming down her cheeks.

"Yes, I'm sorry I can't do more"

"You're doing too much already. This girl will get us in trouble!" Veronica snarled annoyed.

"Get out" Anastasio instructed with a strict voice and the girl in fact left the room without another word.

"I'm sorry for the trouble" Sofia muttered her apologies, she felt completely miserable right now.

"You have nothing to apologize for. I was the one who was supposed to help you and I can't do it. I'm sorry"

"Actually you still can help me with something" Sofia finally said after she calmed down a little.

"What is it?"

"I need to make a call. Would you borrow me your phone?"

He handed her his phone wordlessly.

She wasn't able to use the phone with the video for calling anyone because it didn't have a SIM card and the one that had the SIM card she didn't take with herself to the plane. She was too afraid that the police would trace her.

Sofia dialed the number on the phone "Nadia?"

"Sofia?" A surprised voice asked on the other side of the call.

"That's me. A friend borrowed me the phone I needed to check if you're alright"

"I'm not," she said coldly.

„What?"

"Police is constantly bothering me. I've been questioned seven times already. My parents are being main suspects in your case, father lost his job. Your step-father is threatening us. You've made my life hell I regret helping you. Don't ever contact me again" Nadia hung up.

Sofia was shocked. She could barely process what has happened. She barely recognized the suffocating pain she was feeling in her chest. The sadness and the sense of loss that accompanied her daily life ever since mother died.

She just lost her last and only friend.

She recalled how she asked Nadia for help. They both fully didn't understand the consequences that would follow.

Nadia and Sofia went to their favorite coffee shop right after school. The allure of this place was simple: books. A lot of books everywhere. Nadia wasn't as avid a fan of reading as Sofia was but even she could appreciate the library aesthetic this place was offering.

"I have a request to ask but it's a lot so I'm not sure your going to agree.

"I'm willing to do anything to cheer you up. How can I help?"

Nadia was aware that Sofia just lost her mother. She couldn't imagine how it feels to lose a parent. Elio's death was another hit that affected both Nadia and Sofia but Nadia was aware that Elio was never just a friend to Sofia. He was more and now he was gone.

"I need to leave the country," Sofia said "and I have to do it without Paul's knowledge"

Nadia looked at his best friend as if she lost all her marbles.

"Wait, what? How?" She asked shock painted on her face. Sofia was about to start speaking when Nadia lifted her hand in a stopping gesture. "No. Don't tell me how, not yet. First I need to know why"

„Because I'm not safe with Paul"

"What do you mean? What did he-" Nadia nervously tries to get to the bottom of this crazy request. Sofia didn't want to talk about it. The idea of thinking about it was making her head hurt. She just couldn't.

"Come with me," Sofia said firmly.

"Where?"

Sofia wordlessly started dragging her best friend to the bathroom stall and started taking out her shirt.

"Sofia, what are you doing?"

She went quiet the moment she saw red welts covering her friend's skin.

"Oh my God" she whispered, "Paul did this to you?" Her eyes started shining with tears. Sofia nodded. They hugged each other. "We need to call the police"

"We can't"

"What? Why? Sofia-" Nadia pulled away so she could look her friend in the eyes. She was determined to convince Sofia to get help.

"Police is not going to help me. I need to leave"

"Why? They will help. I know they will. It may seem like they have procedures for sure. They know what to do. You can stay at my place until-"

"No. You need to trust me, Nadia. They're not going to help"

"How can you be sure?"

"Elio died because he filmed the cause of my mother's death. Carl disappeared as well I'm worried he might be dead too. I can't trust the police"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm saying that Paul killed my mom and Elio was the witness. Carl found the evidence and disappeared after that. In the message he left me he told me to run and that's what I will do" Sofia whispered

"No. I don't believe this. This is crazy"

"Nadia, focus. I need your help"

"What? What can I possibly do?!" She half yelled half-whispered. We were still confined in a small space of a bathroom stall.

"Convince your parents you want a sightseeing trip to Houston. Ask them to take me with you"

"And then you're going to escape?"

"Yes"

"He will know we helped you"

"If you don't want to do it I will understand" Sofia responded despite knowing Nadia is her only hope.

"No. I will do it" Nadia said with determination she wouldn't have if she could foresee the future.

Hi guys,

I have a question: do you prefer it when flashbacks are typed in italics or a normal text?

Also, who do you like better as Sofia's love interest: Bruno or Anastasio? 👀