"hello," he'd spoken to her as she cowered into the back of della's car. her face soaked in grime and his smile too cheerful for her soul.

"dear, this is my son, ryker."

but she simply breathed the air in heavily,
trying to guard her ripped porcelain skin
and her fragile form.

because ryker was male.

and she remembered what happened the last time she'd talked to a man.

"you're safe with us, okay?"