Bab 1: Stained

The night enveloped Starlight City in a shroud of darkness, its streets eerily quiet as 14-year-old Mary followed a slightly older and taller boy through the narrow alleyways.

The dim glow of flickering streetlights cast long shadows, accentuating the contrast between Mary's thin, borderline-starved frame and the boy's more robust figure.

Mary, with her dark blonde hair falling down her shoulders, moved a little uneasily. Dressed in worn jeans and a faded hoodie that seemed too big for her, mainly cause it belonged to the boy.

Her eyes, deep, red pools of uncertainty, betrayed the tension she felt. 

The older boy's features were defined by the subtle contours of adulthood. His dark, disheveled hair framed a face that bore the marks of life's challenges.

In contrast to Mary's subdued attire, he wore a leather jacket and his confident stride bespoke a sort of familiarity with the city's hidden corners.