Alex studied the two men standing fifteen feet away, his heightened awareness cataloging details most would miss.
The taller one... Damien... kept his weight evenly distributed, ready to move in any direction.
His companion maintained visual contact while scanning their surroundings. Their clothing was unremarkable but quality, suggesting resources without drawing attention.
Most telling was their positioning: close enough for conversation, far enough to react to threats, with clear escape routes mapped.
These weren't amateurs.
Despite their obvious capability, Alex detected no immediate malice. Their body language spoke of caution and desperation rather than aggression.
"And who are you?" Alex asked, his voice carrying neither fear nor challenge.
Damien's eyes flickered with surprise. He'd expected fear or anger from a college student, not this calm assessment.
"We came from afar," He replied carefully, watching Alex's face. "It's a long story."
