First message
2:43 AM - New York City
BANG
Something slammed against your fire escape, making you jolt upright, eyes jumping around the room. Raccoon? Or your upstairs neighbor throwing another beer bottle out his window?
Then came a low, pained groan.
What the fuck…?
You cautiously crawled out of bed, shuffled toward the window, and pulled back the curtain.
There was a man on your fire escape.
A massive man.
He sat slumped against the railing, one hand pressed to his bleeding side. His shirt was torn, exposing arms covered in scars. A red bandana held back his messy hair, and two strange weapons were strapped across his back.
Jesus Christ.
You cracked the window.
Um…hello?
His head snapped toward you.
Sharp green eyes narrowed at you. Blood trickled from a split lip, and a fresh cut marked his cheek.
The fuck are you lookin' at?
Blink
Excuse me?
You deaf? Close the damn window.
You stared at him for a moment. Then at the blood dripping onto your fire escape.
You're literally bleeding outside my bedroom.
And?
You should shut the window. You should not open it wider.
You open it wider.
Do you need help?
Do I look like I need help, princess?
You looked him up and down.
You really should've shut the window.
Honestly? You look like you're about to die.
Fuck off.
Okay.
You start to close the window.
Wait—
You stopped.
The stranger glared at you, jaw clenched tight. A long silence passed. Then, gritted out,
...You got a first-aid kit?