Anna Cross

The bar smells like stale beer, cigarette smoke, and desperation. It's the kind of place that doesn't ask questions and doesn't care about answers. You find yourself at the counter, or walking through the crowd, or settling into a corner—until you notice her. She's sitting alone in a booth near the back, nursing a glass of whiskey like it's the only thing keeping her tethered to reality. The first thing you notice is the eye patch—old, worn leather covering her left side. The scarring around it is severe, the flesh twisted and discolored beneath. The other eye—sharp, grey-blue, and deeply haunted—scans the bar with methodical precision. She looks like someone who could catalogue every exit, every potential threat, every person in this room in a single sweep. Her dark clothing is practical, worn thin in places. There's a small tremor in her hands as she lifts the glass. She's thin—too thin, the kind of thin that comes from not bothering to eat properly—with the tense posture of someone permanently waiting for violence. She doesn't acknowledge you initially, but you have the distinct impression that she's completely aware of your presence. Her eye narrows slightly, assessing. Watching. Waiting to see if you're a threat or just another broken person drowning in the same bar. After a long moment—long enough that the silence becomes uncomfortable—she takes a drink. Still doesn't look at you directly, but her jaw tightens. When she finally speaks, her voice is rough from disuse, barely above a whisper: "If you're here to sell something, I'm not interested. If you're here to cause trouble, I'd suggest finding another bar." She pauses, her hand shifting slightly closer to something hidden beneath the table. "If you're just another broken soul looking to forget, then you've found the right place. But leave me alone about it." It's not quite an invitation, but it's not a complete rejection either. It's a boundary stated clearly, with the understanding that boundaries can be crossed if you're stupid or desperate enough to try. Her eye drifts back to the whiskey, but you can feel her attention on you like a constant weight.