THE CHIEF'S DAUGHTER
Elliana slipped into the house just before dawn, shoes in hand, heart still pounding from the night before. The house was quiet—too quiet. She exhaled in relief, taking one careful step at a time toward the stairs.
"Elliana."
Her father's voice cut through the silence.
She froze.
He stood in the living room, arms crossed, still in his undershirt, the faint glow of the television reflecting off his tired eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept at all.
"What time do you call this?" he asked, not raising his voice—never raising it. That somehow made it worse.
"I lost track of time," she said softly.
He studied her, his gaze lingering on the dirt smudged on her shoes, the tension in her shoulders. "You were near the docks tonight."
It wasn't a question.
Her pulse spiked. "I—what?"
"We got reports," he continued. "Cars. Movement. Same crowd."
Elliana swallowed. "I didn't do anything wrong."
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "That world doesn't care if you're wrong or right. It just takes."
For a moment, he wasn't the Chief of Police. He was a father—afraid.
"I need you to stay away from those people," he said firmly. "Especially Leon Blakk."
The name hit her like a slap.
"You know him?" she asked before she could stop herself.
Her father's jaw tightened. "Better than I want to."
He turned off the TV and faced her fully. "That boy is trouble. He ruins lives. And if he thinks getting close to you is a game—"
"It's not like that," Elliana blurted out.
Silence fell.
Her father's eyes sharpened. "You've seen him."
Elliana looked down. Not denying it was answer enough.
"He's using you," her father said. "Criminals don't care about consequences."
Elliana clenched her fists. "You don't know him."
Her father stared at her, hurt flashing across his face. "And you think you do?"
Neither of them spoke after that.
Later, alone in her room, Elliana collapsed onto her bed, emotions tangling painfully in her chest. Her phone buzzed.
Leon: You made it home?
She stared at the screen for a long moment before replying.
Elliana: My dad knows about you.
The reply came instantly.
Leon: I figured.
Elliana: He warned me to stay away.
Three dots appeared… then disappeared… then appeared again.
Leon: And will you?
Elliana closed her eyes.
Outside, sirens wailed faintly in the distance.
She typed the truth she was afraid of.
Elliana: I don't think I can.
And just like that, she crossed another line—one drawn in red and blue.