chapter 1

The dim, flickering glow of Zaun’s streetlights illuminated the alley, casting long, uneven shadows against its cold, damp walls. The sharp chill of Zaun’s night bit through Mia’s tattered shirt, each step sending shocks of pain through her bruised ribs. She clutched her side, her breath hitching as she leaned against a wall slick with grime.

Blood dripped from her split lip. She wiped it away with a shaky hand, smearing it across her dirty sleeve. The metallic taste lingered, sharp and bitter, like the words that haunted her.

"You’re not my daughter. You’re just another failure."

Failure. Useless. The words clung to her, suffocating her as much as the thick, acrid air of Zaun’s underbelly. Shards of broken bottles and memories stabbed at her mind—her mother passed out on the couch, her father’s violent tirades, the empty promises that always cut deeper than his fists.

Each step away from home was a rebellion, a breath of life she hadn’t known she craved. But the streets weren’t kind, and neither was her body. She stumbled to a stop, leaning against a crumbling wall.

That’s when she heard it—a faint, hiccuping sob.

Mia froze, her instincts sharpened by years of survival. She turned her head, scanning the shadows, and her gaze landed on a small, curled figure illuminated by the dim glow of a flickering light.

A little girl.

Mia approached cautiously. The girl had blue hair, matted with soot, and clutched a doll so tightly her knuckles were white. She rocked back and forth, whispering to herself.

“They hate me... I ruin everything...”

The words stabbed at Mia’s chest. She knew that kind of pain. Her bruised ribs and busted lip faded from her mind as she crouched beside the girl.

“Hey,” Mia rasped, her voice hoarse but soft. “What’re you doing out here?”

The girl flinched, pulling her doll closer. “Go away,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I’m not worth it.”

The rawness in her tone shattered something in Mia. She sat beside the girl, leaning back against the cold brick wall. “Yeah, well... neither am I,” Mia muttered, tilting her head back. “But here we are.”

The girl peeked at her through tear-streaked lashes. Mia smirked faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m Mia,” she said after a beat. “What’s your name?”

“...Powder,” the girl mumbled.

“Powder, huh? Sounds like trouble,” Mia teased lightly.

Powder’s lips twitched, almost a smile. But the moment passed, and she gripped her doll tighter. “They left me,” she whispered. “Vi... Milo... Claggor. They’re gone. It’s my fault.”

Mia’s heart clenched. She didn’t know these people, but the anguish in Powder’s voice was unmistakable. She reached out hesitantly, placing a hand on Powder’s shoulder.

“It’s not your fault,” Mia said firmly, her voice carrying a conviction she didn’t feel. “People do shitty things. That’s on them, not you.”

Powder’s tear-streaked face turned to Mia, her wide eyes searching for something—hope, maybe.

Before Mia could say more, a shadow loomed over them. She tensed, instinctively pulling Powder closer.

A man emerged from the darkness, his figure tall and deliberate, the dim light catching his mismatched eyes.

“Well,” he drawled, his voice smooth and calculated. “What do we have here?”

Mia’s body went rigid, shielding Powder. “Who the hell are you?” she snapped.

The man’s lips curved into a faint smirk. His voice was velvet over steel. “A friend,” he said softly. “And I believe you two could use one.”

Powder peeked out cautiously, her curiosity overriding her fear.

The man crouched, meeting Powder’s gaze. “You’ve been abandoned, haven’t you?” he asked, his voice dripping with sympathy. “Cast aside. Left to fend for yourself.”

Powder nodded hesitantly, tears welling again.

Mia bristled. “She’s not alone,” she said sharply, her tone like a blade.

The man’s gaze shifted to Mia, his smirk growing. “No,” he agreed. “She’s not. And neither are you.”

Mia narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”

“I want to help,” he said simply, standing again. “Zaun chews up those who can’t fight back. You’ve both been fighting alone for far too long.”

He extended a hand, first to Mia, then to Powder. “Come with me,” he said. “I’ll give you a place where you belong.”

Mia hesitated, every survival instinct screaming not to trust him. But then her eyes fell on Powder—fragile, scared, and so much like her younger self.

With a deep breath, she gripped Powder’s hand tightly. Then she reached out, taking his.

The chill of his touch seeped into her skin, and for a fleeting moment, she wondered if she’d just traded one trap for another.

And just like that, their lives were changed forever.

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