The chilly autumn wind whipped through the streets of Manchester, carrying with it the first crisp hints of the approaching winter. The city's famous red brick buildings loomed in the darkness, their windows glowing like scattered constellations.In the heart of this sprawling metropolis, the Manchester Royal Infirmary stood as a beacon of hope and healing. Its automatic doors swished open as a tall, broad-shouldered man rushed in, his arms cradling a woman who writhed and moaned in pain. Her long, dark hair was plastered to her face with sweat, her eyes wide and unfocused."Please, someone help!" the man shouted, his deep voice, tinged with a distinct Mancunian accent, booming through the bustling hospital lobby. "She's in labor, an' she's in a right state!"The night shift nurses at the reception desk leapt into action, their professionalism overriding any initial surprise. Sarah, a petite blonde with kind blue eyes, grabbed a wheelchair and hurried over. She had been working in the

The dorm room was a haze of smoke and stale beer, the air thick with the tang of sweat and cheap cologne. Mikey lounged on his bed, one arm slung over his face, the other dangling off the edge, a half-smoked joint pinched between his fingers."Oi, Mikey!" A pillow thwacked him in the face, jolting him upright. "Stop bogarting the spliff, you wanker."Mikey squinted through the haze, making out the grinning face of his roommate, Liam. "Sod off," he grumbled, but he passed the joint anyway.Liam took a long drag, holding the smoke in his lungs before exhaling in a steady stream. "You see that fit bird in Econ today? The one with the tattoo on her neck?""Nah, mate, I was too busy trying not to fall asleep." Mikey rubbed his eyes, trying to focus. "Professor Jameson's lectures are like fucking sleeping pills."Liam snorted. "Maybe if you didn't stay up all night playing FIFA, you wouldn't be nodding off in class.""Fuck off, I wasn't playing FIFA." Mikey dug in his pocket for his phone,

Danny stepped out of his sister's car, the crisp Manchester morning air filling his lungs. He slung his backpack over his shoulder, trying to ignore the twinge of embarrassment at being dropped off like a kid on the first day of school. His tall, athletic frame, honed by years on the basketball court, felt awkward and gangly as he unfolded himself from the passenger seat."You sure you don't want me to walk you in?" Jenna asked, leaning out the driver's side window. "I don't mind. It'd be nice to see the old place again."Danny shook his head, a stray curl from his cropped waves falling into his eyes. He brushed it away with a grin. "Nah, I'm good. Don't want to cramp your style, what with you being a big shot university dropout and all."Jenna laughed, reaching out to punch his arm. "Oi, watch it. I can still put you in a headlock, you little muppet."Despite his nerves, Danny grinned. This was their way, the easy back-and-forth that had always been the glue of their relationship."I

Danny and Taji were still at the bar, the party raging around them. They'd been arguing about the UK rap scene for the last ten minutes."Nah, fam, you're bugging," Danny said, shaking his head. "Bone's the realest in the game right now. His flow, his lyrics, it's unmatched."Taji scoffed. "Please. Mans just another industry plant. You want real talent, you gotta dig deep."They went back and forth, throwing out names and tracks, each trying to one-up the other. Danny was grinning, enjoying the debate. Taji had a sharp wit and a deep knowledge of the scene. It was refreshing.Their discussion was interrupted by the return of JB and his crew, Tariq in tow. They surrounded Danny, all smiles and dap."Yo, Danny boy!" JB clapped him on the shoulder. "We been looking for you, fam. It's time to get you set up proper."Danny raised an eyebrow. "Set up with what?""With Icarus, bruv! It's the only way to be in the know 'round here. All the best gigs, the top parties, it all runs through the a

Danny wandered through the halls, his eyes flicking between the room numbers and the schedule on his phone. He'd been at this for what felt like ages, poking his head into different classrooms, only to find them either empty or full of unfamiliar faces."Bloody hell," he muttered under his breath, his frustration mounting. "Where is this sodding room?"Just as he was about to give up and ask for directions, he spotted it. Room 221B. His first lecture of the day. Danny heaved a sigh of relief, shouldering his backpack and making a beeline for the door.But just as he reached for the handle, a familiar figure rounded the corner. Danny blinked, taking a moment to place the face without the pulsing lights and pounding music of the club.It was Taji, the bartender from last night. But she looked different in the harsh fluorescent light of the hallway. Her green curls pulled back, revealing the intricate tattoos that snaked up her neck and down her arms. She wore baggy combat pants and a lo