carmine hued eyes stared at the imposing storefront of the local music store. due to the early hour, few people meandered the street, but even with the miniscule crowds, his heart continued to pound in his chest, threatening to slam into his ribs and forcing him to cautiously sneak through the shadows. the darkness camouflaged his frame and provided him with a momentary sense of tranquility. feet pounded against the concrete streets in a staccato pattern, echoing in his mind and continuously reminding him of his precarious position. soren questioned his own decisions. terror clawed at his heart as he stepped further into the shadows, slinking into the comfort of darkness and refusing to risk the necessary reveal. why did he bother to venture into the districts? he only worked himself into a fit, teetering on the edge of dissolving into a panic attack and leaving himself vulnerable to the vultures that stalked the streets.

his gaze shifted away from his destination, falling to land on his combat boot clad feet. pale lips quirked into a frown while he forced himself to take deep breaths, inhaling the oxygen and slowly releasing the captured air in one fluid movement. adrenaline coursed through his veins due to his irrational response to crowded venues. apprehension colored his features, but he needed to reestablish control over his wayward emotions. the purplette refused to admit defeat, realizing that to survive he needed to conquer his fears—proving that the terror lacked the power to control his life. a pale hand trembled as he lifted the appendage to press against his chest, fingers curling and clutching at the fabric of his shirt. it’s simple, soren murmured with his head bowed and body curved inward. just… step out of the shadows and cross the street. don’t stop. don’t linger. just walk. the recited words morphed into a mantra as he lifted his head, eyes shifting from face to face as they passed the entrance of the alley.

soren forced another deep breath through his lungs, tugging his petite frame into an upright position and squaring his shoulders. the emotions vanished from his features as his hand dropped away from his chest, fingers curling and tugging at the hem of his sleeve. despite the warmer temperature, the dark haired informant refused to adorn himself in revealing garments, preferring to diminish the likelihood of physical contact with strangers. after expelling the oxygen from his lungs, he bravely stepped forward—exiting his sanctuary and crossing the streets in a hurried pace. his resolve did not triumph over his fear, resulting in his rushed movements. each motion contained a jerky undertone, which belayed the extent of his terror. why did he subject himself to such torment? a shaky breath escaped him as his feet connected with the far street, figure halting momentarily as he regained his bearings.

easy, he breathed while releasing his shirt sleeve and then curling his fingers into a fist, fingernails biting into his palms. with his shoulders hunched, soren strode across the remaining distance, ducking inside the store and casting his gaze around the quaint area in obvious nervousness. he rarely decided to visit the various businesses that littered the gibbous moon district, having barely managed to survive shopping for groceries; however, his violin needed new strings, translating into his urgent desire to visit the music store—electric beats. crimson tinted eyes studied the nearby shelves while confusion surfaced on his effeminate features. where would they keep the string instruments? he mused aloud while carefully shuffling forward, attempting to remain out of sight and searching restlessly for his desired object. hopefully… his trip would be short and sweet.

LAIKA OF GS!